Ming's Opera House records, 1891-1902
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Ming's Opera House (Helena, Mont.)
- Title
- Ming's Opera House records
- Dates
- 1891-1902 (inclusive)18911902
- Quantity
- 1.3 linear feet of shelf space
- Collection Number
- MC 119 (collection)
- Summary
- Ming's Opera House was a Helena, Montana, theater and variety house, built by John H. Ming in 1880. Records include incoming and outgoing correspondence (1898-1902) of Receiver Eugene T. Wilson concerning the booking of programs including minstrel shows, comedies, hypnotists, operas, burlesque, etc.; account journals (1891-1893) for theater productions; receipt books (1900-1901); licenses (1900-1901); and miscellany.
- Repository
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Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov - Access Restrictions
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Collection open for research.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical Note
John H. Ming opened Helena's first opera house, described by one city newspaper as "Montana's first pretentious theater," on September 2, 1880, featuring Katie Putnam in a production entitled "Old Curiosity Shop." Ming's Opera house was a general variety theater offering Helena audiences a wide selection of entertainment, including minstrels, comedies, dramas, hypnotists, magicians, opera, musicals, romances, burlesque, bands, Shakespeare, melodramas, and vaudeville. The Eastern production companies stopped to play Ming's as they travelled west to the coast on the Northern Pacific Railroad. Ming's Opera House, located at 13 N. Jackson, underwent a lavish remodeling and celebrated a second grand opening in October 1888, shortly after the death of its founder. Operation of the theater continued under the guidance of the Ming family, primarily James L. Ming, until 1898. In November of that year, the opera house was purchased by Eugene T. Wilson, receiver of the First National Bank of Helena, as settlement of the Ming mortgage held by the bank. Wilson served as the theater's manager until 1901. Dates and terms for bookings were decided by mail. Most shows played only one night, and a contract generally gave the theater from 20 to 35 percent of the house. The division of the proceeds depended on the type of show, on the need for special effects such as music or scenery, and on the type of advertising used (some troops provided advance men, posters, and street parades to promote a production). E.T. Wilson sold Ming's Opera House in April 1901,for $15,000 to John Cort of Seattle. In 1902, the theater was managed by Fred W. Gatz as the Helena Theater. By 1915, the Ming's Opera House building was replaced by the Shrine Consistory Temple and the Helena Theater had gone out of business.
Content Description
This collection contains the records of Ming's Opera House primarily during the years it was under the management of Eugene T. Wilson (1898-1901). Materials include incoming and outgoing correspondence; sheriff's certificate of sale for the theater; receipt books for advertising, orchestra, and staff expenses; theater licenses; and miscellaneous reviews, etc. Two additional financial volumes are account journals listing expenses for individual productions during 1892 and 1893.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Use
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.
Preferred Citation
Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.
Administrative Information
Return to TopDetailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection
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Incoming Correspondence
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Description: Letters re booking of attractionsDates: 1899-1900Container: Box/Folder 1 / 1-7
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Outgoing Correspondence
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Description: Removed from letterpress booksDates: 1898-1899Container: Box/Folder 1 / 8-10
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Description: Removed from letterpress booksDates: 1899-1902Container: Box/Folder 2 / 1-5
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Description: MiscellaneousDates: 1899-1900Container: Box/Folder 2 / 6
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Court Papers
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Description: Sheriff's certificate of sale (includes inventory)Dates: 1898Container: Box/Folder 2 / 7
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Financial Records
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Description: Account journal for theater productionsDates: 1892-1893Container: Box/Folder 2 / 8-9
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Description: Receipt book for bill postersDates: 1901Container: Box/Folder 2 / 10
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Description: Receipt book for orchestraDates: 1901Container: Box/Folder 2 / 11
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Description: Receipt book for stage managerDates: 1900-1901Container: Box/Folder 2 / 12
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Description: Receipt book for usherDates: 1900-1901Container: Box/Folder 2 / 13
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Description: Receipts and invoices for printing and advertisingDates: 1899-1901Container: Box/Folder 3 / 1
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Description: Miscellaneous receipts and invoicesDates: 1899-1901Container: Box/Folder 3 / 2
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Legal Documents
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Description: LicensesDates: 1900-1901Container: Box/Folder 3 / 3
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Photographs
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Description: List of photographs transferred to the Photo ArchivesDates:Container: Box/Folder 3 / 4
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Miscellany
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Description: Reviews; advertisements; etc.Dates: 1899-1901Container: Box/Folder 3 / 5
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Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Performing Arts
- Theater
- Theaters
Corporate Names
- Ming's Opera House (Helena, Mont.) (creator)
Geographical Names
- Helena (Mont.)--Libraries, museums, and theaters
