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flit FINDLAY WOBNIND NEfUBUCAN. FBI DAT. NOVEMBH 7. H30-PASE EIGHTwin Theater Fire Recalls Memories of Early DaysProves Final Curtain For-Far Famed PlayhouseTNWUn j Theste“Auspicious Opening” of Marvin in ’93 AcclaimedFormally or With lir at Vohicletecalar midnight fl plstely wrecked t Iter oa North Mftln ncwter mirtt wm th« _a to ths history one -tern Ohio’s bait known of lbs test half cen-' ta ths late sumaar of Marvin Opera House m Omb known, waa tha pride » ottjr of Findlay. NaUonally ; ictor* and celebrities ; In tha boose before capac-‘Icnece.Qpload In 18N «ctlon of tha building wm _ two years prerlooily. After delays and difficulties the ‘ was finally finished in the it the gas and oil boom in nmnnity. ._ __■ considered a glowing credit and was surpassed at that time ^by few in the ooontry. William Mdrvln, tha first owner, was called • hiniffnrT— to the community for ■ ‘I work in constructing the thea-r.Vho theater was formally opened i Monday evening, Sept. 18. with • foremost tragedian in America, naan W. Keene, as the sttrac-«. He appeared In his great -JMMter of “Richard III with a Ugh Maas company.F*e the opening night, according to o story in the Morning peyuhttme for Sept 2, 1888, the iauowtng admission prioes wore arfOd: parqaette. $S* draaa Via, Pi balcony, $LM; gaUery, ; house, eeotiag a party of atx.10 the oauw 'teg tesghhUcM*•« tkedtra ai laano of the Morn-I in Ohio. AO the are of the moat mo The stage la largo t pot on tha most etebor-:. and itrla furnished with Ofigal to the heat in the rtttos. The electrical ap-‘ nly by onlt;„Tbo~honso has Its owni are of the largestlag phuumd an weU that ievery seat In the house U on clear Hue of vision with the stage. The building Is not only solid end substantia^ hut It has lsrge out side exits from every floor, giving every opportunity of escape in cum of fire. The building Is now nearing completion and will b ready for the great opening night.Theatrical Center.Opening with dramas from the legitimate stage, tbe theater became the recreation center for miles around. Special excursions were formed from Tiffin, Lima, Foetdrta, Kenton and other surrounding towns in Northwestern Ohio.Light operas soon made their debut at the local playhouse. These were followed by minstrel shows and later, about 1804 the first burlesques were presented. A few years later projection machinery Installed for the silent plc- Not until March 15 of thisyear was the theater equipped with talking picture apparatus.However, strange to say, the Marvin theater was perhaps the first show In^ Findlay to exhibit the early forms of tbe talking picture. One week from Ai*g. 17 to Aug. S3, 1.808, the Marrln featured talking pictures along with a vaudeville attraction. A talking machine playing records synchronized with the motion picture films was used. TMs, however, did not prove very satisfactory.Oldtlmers yesterday calling a fire scare which took place in January 1888 And which almost reunited in n panic in tbe theater. Only by the quick work of the actore on tbe stage who entreated tbe audience to remain in their neat] waa a disaster prevent-JhDaring'Sally In Our Alley” with nette Lowrie, Janie ttcCree Richard Carroll taking the cl pal roles, an are tight ta tho balcony caught fire. Thashot up in the air and UgL__theater very brightly. These la the balcony made a rush for the eatta Only with the greatest of dfteeufty waa the panic-stricken crowd quieted. Little dhmage was done by “e blase.Unlike the opening stage attraction of the opera house in IMS, tbe final entertalamant in the Marvin theater Tuesday evening was Greta Garbo In “Romance” tn a talking victors. Only n email audience witnessed tbe evening's entertainment nt very low prices ofThe Meralng Republican, in its Issue Tuesday, Sept 18, 1888, described the opening ef the Marvin Ihealer, ns follow*.The auspicious opening of the magnificent new Marvin Opera-house last evening marks the dswn of a new epoch la the theatrical annals of Findlay and tha plaudits of the large, cultured and appreciative audience present doubtless brought greet satisfaction to I the antiior of thin enterprise, loag awaited but now fully realised. The bouse was rilled to its utmost capacity, every seat being occupied amid the beat people of the city present.After a fine selection from “All Babe’’ by the orchestra at the opening, the eminent tragedian, Mr. Keene, appeared before tbe curtain and In a characteristic speech thanked those present for the honor done hm. He stated that honor wra due not to himself but to Mr. William Marvin who had given the people such a complete and handsome temple for their pleasure and Instruction. Ha apoke of the theater as aa educator, and elosecf by urging the people to show appreciation of the enterprise by their continued patronage.Hon. David Joy was called on tor a response. He appeared on the stage and In a very happy speech eulogised the pluck and enterprise which in William Marrln had responded to Ftodlay’s long-deferred hopes. Mr. Marrln was called cot uext and said, “1 can play a pood gpme of checkers, but I can’t make a speech. This is ton proudest moment of my llfa.” Thera was a loud and long-continued applause at this dumcteriaUo utterance. .Of Shakespeare's great play mod Its grand lnterprsation by Thomas W. Keene and his excellent company, nothing'iim SafneWhen thein Was Built 39 Years , There When It Burnedmore then bed keen expected, in name of the passages he rose to the gubUme. Mr. Frank Henning, win played Richmond, divided honors wtth the Mar. Mias Hhndrlettn Vbders, as MUanheth, distinguished herself. The balance of the' coat were tolly up to the requirements.The apodal weary waa fine, of conn* bet not to scenery ■lean to thSTprodoetien remarkable. ntejir iq ft M b the great nw of properties which Is sold to exceed in value any other collection In the world. Between the firet end second acts, Prof: ClaudeMarco rendered a violin oolo accompanied by Mrs. J. J. Jells;- which elicited much appreciation. The orchestral numbers were all new and were rehearsed especially for the grand opening night,Altogether the evening was one which afforded happiness for ail present, not only In the pleasure Immediately enjoyed but also in those promised for the future In the establishment ol condition* which will make it possible to get hlgh-claes theatrical and musical attractions for the public entertainment and Instruction.The new opera hall, though lacking In the full measure of Its contemplated adornment, presented a brilliant scene and pleased everybody.SAW MANY PARIY RALLIES IN YEARSEast OrangeMarvin Theater Was Scene of Large Number of Political MeetingsBRYAN, OTHERS SPOKECity Official Recalls Time When Haas* Waa Target for Tomatoto ell, Mr. Sutton said Common i Judge Wlllium F. Duncan presided as chairman of. tha meeting and introduced Mr. Bryan.Oovernor David B. Hill, Democratic leader of New York City, also spoke at the Marvin, Mr. Sutton said, after Bryan had I “ nominated for tbe presidency.Sutton said he hud never forgotten Governor Hill’s answer to a query from one of his listeners when he saM:“I am still a Democrat—but d—n stUl.’Others Thera, Tee.Fred P. Whitely, a Democrat leader, hera to those days, presided at the meeting.U. 8. Senator Simeon D. Fussspoke at a Republican rally there! tn more recen' years as did the late 8enator Frank B. Willis. Exsenator A‘.Ira Pomerene, Democrat, In hfai campaign for re-election also delivered an address at the Marvin lc 1822.J. Moorhead, servlce-aafety director, said he remembered the time when Mark Hanna, chief hacker of William McKinley for president, spoke to an over-flow crchd In front of the Marvin. The opera boose waa packed to the doors tor a political meeting atnl Hanna agreed to address 1,000 or more Jammed on Main street about the entrance.It was daring Hanna's talk that someone hnrled a totmato and itstruck the speaker on the lapelhis coat, Mr. Moorhead said, but Hanna continued on with his speech as though nothing had happened.Among other notables who appeared at the Marvin were Congressman Nicholas Longwcrth and Mrs. Longworth, the former Alice Roosevelt, daughter of the lr.te president. They were here Oet. 12, 1905.Charleston, S. C., la an ^ li portant center for tbe refining ai distribution of oils.glen, Scotland.The missionary meeting of the Riley Creek Baptist churth will he held In the home or Mrs: Roy Marshall on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 12. Every member is urged i be present.Mr. and Mrs. B. J. Boutwell and sons, Byron Leo and Rayon, spent Sunday evening wtth Mr. and Mrs. Will Bontwell and family of Ada.Mr. and Mrs. Fred Crible* and daughter, Dorothy, and son, Frederick, had as their Bunday dinner guests Mr. and Mrs. Emanuel Crtbley.Mr. and Mrs. Harry Rtem spent Bnnday evening with Mr. and Mrs. George Heidman and dapghted, Wlldn Ruth.Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Heidman and son, Cffiarlee, ahd Grandma Geotx-Inger spent Sunday evening wtth Will Neff and family. 'Josephine Boutwell, of Ada, spent the week-end In the B. J. Boutwell home and was a visitor at the Rawson high school, Friday.Mr. and Mrs. Milt. Piter and daughters, Evelyn and Marguerite, entertained In their home, Sunday, Rev. and Mrs. Roy Longenecker, of Pembervllle, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Plfer and daughter Joan, Mrs. J. J. Gallant, James Gallant Mr. and Hilbert Montgomery and figugMere, Ina Jean, Geraldine and Anna Louise, Mr. and Mrs. N. N. Basinger, Mrs. Effle Ream, Mr. an* Mrs. Harry Ream, Mr. end Mrs. John Carle and children, Arlene ahd Richard, Mr. and Mre. B. J. Boutwell and eons Byron, Leo and Rayon, Gerald Cribles and Russell and Claude Ream.Mr. and Mm. C. E. Agin and eon Eton, and Marguerite* Neva, Betty and Donald Sternal apeto Sunday, evening with Milt Marquart and family.New Orleans led ajl other cities In the country in lumber exports during the year ending June 80.Many stormy Republican Democratic political gatherings were held at the Marvin opera honse, as it used to be called, the convention days when the two major parties assembled their egates and drafted the city and county slates.Old-timers yesterday recalled the appearances there of a number of nationally prominent political figures and platform lecturers.Recall Bryan There.John O. Sutton, member of the board of. elections, said he recalled William Jennings Bryan’s lecture on ‘'Peace delivered from the stage of tbe Marvin bouse after his unsuccessful campaign against William McKinley for president.Mr. Bryan appeared here at a non-partisan --therlng and although It had been hie practice to charge admission for all of his lectures he opened the doors freeYouwffl likeCHEFCSFFEEwith its smoothitsabemmn come.ss.rs «wkteh waa being built Marvin, grandfatherAkkra? before mlf-toe. chatting witothe few stages In the country o wtoch Ben Hur could be shewa.I Chariot raeen and the rowing ofi “ e galley boats were depicted on a Marvin stage.Without a deubt, the largest opera la point of numbers to be i given in Findlay was The Show: Gun which was preseated at the! Marvin. Christ! McDonald was' tha leading lady with John Hen-■baw taking the chief eomedlan rale. The company numbered 100i, to Mar the__a the tire which ' the theatre.made wtth its aid tactode breed, cfreeeo, etc._. -v.-i WAOMto hag been allotted by toe Soviet Geveraaeat to *•» !»***•( Menegere.Wing of 188tap Sgpnirtac, Asto WarnI charges of it at From 1808 to 7 the opera hoaae yL R Caanfag-■r. Gillette fromj the business 1 theatre for some-dtnetioa of the—--- la that Inch withlcatokrtttoo which [. m. the Marvja Iisakxull*yraa. »fegHWPFBROS.BAZLEYis the time to save!Fur-TrimmedCOATS$14-75andHere is the proof that your money boy* more dm year .. . more style, better quality.and the kind of wcffkatadlaqp that ig usually footed only » higher priced wots. Indodeda«dMiayyamwdtetomhto,,faditoni of ^ Weetib... trimmed wiA for $e il» lfSO snwr. x Tloy oio a trififk in vahso-gmng... doet fafl to wkriwwi soon fee yaonrif.J. C. PENNEY CO„ Inc.soe-its*!** M.bi stmt «stor.ew»-SubstantialSavingsonSilkDressesat$4-98$6.90$9.90. Now you can save substantially on the new silk dress you have been mt-ing.... aad ah the aaa» tune have the ityle-rightness that you rlmuuid. There are draaes with tunics, with softly flattering necklines, with interesting sleeves, boleros and all the rest of the details that stamp them as the smartest models of the season! You can wear them on most any occasion . . . confident that they look ever so much more expensive than they really are! We suggest that you see them as soon as possible ... . while the range of sizes, colors and styles is complete,J. C. Penney Co*, Inc.406-IS South Main StmtFindlay, Ohio
Newspaper Details
Findlay Morning Republican
Findlay, Ohio, US
Fri, Nov 07, 1930
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Kevin B.
