100 years ago in Spokane: New theatrical circuit could bring top shows ‘in advance of their New York premieres’

Spokane was excited about the prospect of being one of the Northwest stops on a major new theatrical circuit being organized by A.L. Erlanger, “the Little Napoleon of the theater world.”

Erlanger was setting up a circuit to include Portland, Seattle and Spokane, “which will correspond to that of Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago and New York in the east.”

The plan called for bringing in new plays “simultaneously or even in advance of their New York premieres.” The Auditorium Theater in Spokane would be the Spokane venue.

About 30 titles already were on the advance booking list. They included famous plays such as “Ben Hur” and “Pollyanna.” Some of the stars included Harry Lauder and Otis Skinner.

The manager of the Auditorium said “it will mean a great deal in a theatrical way for Spokane” and that “we have not had our share of good shows for some time.”

This new Western circuit would also include Los Angeles and San Francisco. Erlanger was currently in Portland, setting up the new circuit.

From the literary beat: Famous author Zane Grey was at the Davenport Hotel, visiting Spokane for the first time.

The author of “Riders of the Purple Sage” and many other Western novels had just finished a visit to Glacier National Park. He was headed to Pullman and then California.

Grey was from Ohio and admitted to a reporter that he had never lived in the West and had never even visited the Northwest before.