100 years ago in Spokane: Paris Symphony coming to town

The Paris Symphony Orchestra, from the famous Paris Conservatory of Music, announced that it would play a concert in Spokane as part of a brief tour of the United States.

The Spokane Chamber of Commerce arranged the visit, “as part of its policy of bringing to the Spokane people the best in thought, art and music.”

The visit had a political component as well. The U.S. tour was intended to increase the “entente cordiale” between the two allies.

From the film beat: A small article about the imminent release of the Washington Motion Picture Corp.’s first film struck an optimistic tone.

It said the Spokane-made movie would be ready for sale on the New York market by the end of the month, and that members of the company who had seen the movie were “enthusiastic” about it.

However, the first ominous signs of trouble were evident in a disclaimer: Members of the company “hope the film will sell for sufficient to pay off all the (bills or bonds) and allow a balance for the production of the next picture.”

In other words, the corporation seemed to be teetering on the edge of insolvency. This was one of the first hints that all was not well with Spokane’s dream of becoming Hollywood North.

Also on this date:

(From Associated Press)

1972: A federal grand jury in Washington indicted seven men in connection with the Watergate break-in.