From Barber to Theatrical King in Butte
Phil Levy, barber turned theater magnate, rose to president of the Northwest Pacific Circuit and Montana State Exhibitors’ league. Managing Ansonia Amusements in Butte and Helena, he parlayed wealth from show houses into influence while recalling his early days shaving patrons and acting on stage. He was alderman in 1888, a stance born from his wide ties with Butte’s Catholic and Hibernian communities.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Butte
Northwest Pacific Circuit
West
Phil Levy
Butterday
Northwest
Klaw and Erlanger
John Cort
Montana
Milwaukee
Buttebroke
Arion Theater
Daly Bank
Phil
Dunc McDonald
Pete McCoy
Helena
Coeur d’Alene
Charley Joyce
Arion
Joyce
Trishmong
Ansonia Amusement Company
Ansonias Orpheum
Princess
Broadway
Levy
How Lone Chinaman Nearly Caused Anaconda to Be Capital of Montana
In 1887 Great Falls expelled a Chinaman who opened a laundry, prompting labor leaders to link Chinese presence to the capital fight. Marcus Daly funded Great Falls to win the capital, but in 1894 Helena narrowly prevailed over Anaconda by 1,906 votes, shaping Montana politics for years.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Anaconda
Montana
Great Falls
Clark
Daly
Amaconda
Treasure State
Marcus Daly
W. A. Clark
Helena
Bannack
Beaverhead County
Grasshopper Creek
Sidney Edgerton
Virginia City
Last Chance Gulch
Meagher County
Virginia
Supreme Court
D. 8. Wade
Hiram Knowles
Francis G. Servis
Supreme Court of the United States
Montana Territorial Supreme Court
Meagher
Benjamin F. Potts
Butte
Bozeman
Deer Lodge
Boulder
State Federation of Labor
Ira Myers
Mr. Myers
Charles’ M. Webster
A.E- Dickerman
Iran Myers
Myers
Townsite
Hill Interests
Matt Dunn
Copper City
United States
Butte Scaffold Set for June 29 Hangings in Murder Case
Frank Fisher and John O Neill are slated for the extreme penalty for the September murder of Thomas Higgins after a Wyoming and Silver streets holdup. The scaffold at Deer Lodge has a grisly history, with prior executions including Miles Fuller and Rock and Hayes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Butte
Frank Fisher
John O’neill
Thomas Higgins
John K. O’rourke
Deer Lodge
Rock and Hayes
Robinson
Frank Conley
Miles Fuller
Henry Gallaghan
Fuller
Dan Lucy
Dotson
McArthur
Potts
Metzger
Tom Sing
Bozeman
Rock
Hayes
Fisher
O'Neill
Sullivan
Wyoming
Silver Streets
Higgings
Sullivans
O’neill
Phil Levy Shaped Northwest Show Business Leader
Phil Levy rose from Dakota street to head the largest Northwest show organization. He helped form Ansonia Amusement, built and owned major theaters, brought Pantages vaudeville to Butte, and pushed a Northwest Pacific circuit for high class road shows. He remained plain Phil despite wealth and now runs a Ford era car yet values practicality.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ansonia Amusement Company
Ansonia
Orpheum
Princess
Broadway
Butte
Montana
Pantages
Northwest Pacific
Northwest
Phil
Dakota Street
Gustaf Walters
United States
Levy
Chased Judge and Jury Out in Bitter Root Trial
Judge Frank H. Woody, who died at Missoula, helped defend Tin Cup Joe in a 1862 Bitter Root case tried at Hell's Gate under Washington laws. A saloon fight erupted, the jury fled, later caught and returned. Plaintiff won $90 including costs. appeal planned but settlement reached with Bar on O Keefe.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Frank H. Woody
Missoula
Montana
Hell's Gate
Henry Brooks
Washington
Tin Cup Joe
Baron O’keefe
Joe
Bolte
Woody
Tin Cup
Brother of Montanan leads American Red Cross
Eliot Wadsworth, brother of O F Wadsworth of Great Falls, heads the American Red Cross. Prompted by Taft and others to take the role, he moves to organize national relief during wartime. Formerly with Stone Webster in Boston, he aided dam rebuilding and Rockefeller Foundation relief funds in Europe. He has visited Montana several times.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
American Red Cross
Eliot Wadsworth
O. F. Wadsworth
Great Falls
United States
Taft
National Red Cross Organization
Stone& Webster
Boston
Hauser Lake
Helena
Rockefeller
Foundation
Europe
Mr. Wadsworth
Montana
Justice of the Peace Hedrick Delivers Impromptu Justice
Justice of the Peace J W Hedrick acts as sheriff judge and jailer in Wolf Creek scene after John Ryan disturbs a citizen and grabs $10. Hedrick arrests Ryan, convicts him, and serves as jailer until the Helena train arrives delivering him to the county jail. Hedrick then returns to Wolf Creek.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Justice of the Peace
J. W. Hedrick
John Ryan
Wolf Creek
Montana Power Company
Missouri River
Handy
Hedrick
Ryan
Helena
Don t Knit Socks Warning From Army Quartermaster
Col Daniel E B McCarthy of the Central Army Department urges women not to knit socks for soldiers. He notes 15 cent a pair government purchases versus 50 cents at home, counting time and energy. He recommends knitting scarves and wristlets instead.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Daniel EB. McCarthy
Central Army Department
United States Army
Also Mentioned on This Page
Barber
Theatrical
BIG’ Combine
Gets
Political Bee
Sun River
Great Northern
Jim Matkins
Electric City
State Penitentiary
ELK Run Herefords
McDonald
Mer
Highwood
Shirley
Ford
Mont
Ereford Heifers
Ereford Range
King Cattle Company
Bouth St. Paul, Minn
A. C. B. Power
John Evans
Cascade
N. 8
GUN River Stock & Land Company
District Court
Colville Wash
the Big Farm Loan Bank
Banking Corporation
First National
First National Bank
Lished
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!