Christmas at the Metropolitan

It was a full day of entertainment when the $2 million Metropolitan Theatre opened on Dec. 25, 1926.

The main attraction was the silent film “Stranded in Paris” starring Dallas native Bebe Daniels.

“I know that the Metropolitan will establish itself instantaneously as one of the outstanding theatres of the Publix Chain,” she said, in a telegram published in the Chronicle.

Throughout the day, patrons also saw:

• Helen Yorke and James Quinlan in the production of “The Inaugural Banquet,” produced by Paul Oscard. “The young producer was visibly impressed with the magnificence of the Metropolitan,…” the Chronicle reported.
  


• Charlie Calvert, comedian and dancer
  


• Mabel Hollis, singer
  


• Irnamette, a dancing violinist with the ability to dance the Charleston and play her instrument at the same time
  


• The Eight Leonara Steppers dance team
  


• George Dayton, comedian
  


• “Melodies of Southern States,” featuring the Metropolitan orchestra
  


• “Organs I Have Played,” featuring the “internationally famous organist” George Latsch

99 years ago today

The city block located where the Harris County Administration Building sits today was the scene of a large fire Dec. 1, 1907.

Fortunately, no one was killed in the blaze, but three people were injured by falling debris.

What caused the fire was a matter of speculation the following day, the Chronicle reported. Most witnesses at the time heard an explosion just before the fire started.

One such witnesses was H.J. Larson, deputy county clerk. He told the Chronicle in its Dec. 2 edition that while standing at Main and Congress, an explosion appeared to lift the roof of the Dunn Building "several feet and then settle back in place again." By the time firefighters arrived, the blaze spread to other buildings on the same block.

Among the items lost in the fire were federal court papers. The court was located on the top floor of the Houston Theatre Building which was destroyed.

"There was not a vault or safe provided for all of the valuable papers and decrees of the court and except for reports sent to Washington, the court will be without a paper or record to show the disposition of a single case which ever came before the court in this city," the Chronicle reported.

Other buildings destroyed and/or damaged were:

• The Houston Theatre on Main Street
• The Julia Sellers Building, Congress at Fannin
• The Miller Building, Preston at Fannin
• The Pillot Building, Main Street
• Three saloons, including the Texas Bar
• The Levy Brothers Building
• The J.J. Sweeney Jewelry Company Building, Congress at Main

The Sweeney Company Building, aka the Sweeney, Coombs & Fredericks Building still exists.

In the end, damage was estimated at $477,500 ($9,800,005 in today's dollars).

Muddy day in Houston

Main Street, looking south from Franklin Avenue, circa 1907

(Sorry for the delay in posting. I've been on vacation this week!)