The Diamond Gaff: How John Considine Cornered Spokane's Variety Theaters

John W. Considine, the statesman, theatrical manager and free spender, was in the city a few days ago looking up old friends and chewing gum. Last night Considine called at the Washington. He is looking exceedingly well. 'She was a jolly good fellow,' he said in a joking manner, and his diamond stud twinkled a silent remark. He was told that if he took those two rocks down off those two towers the hoodoo would be removed. Then he laughed a few seconds, walked to the sidewalk and pounded it with his cane and continued: 'No, I guess the theater was a natural curiosity.'

Considine can talk free silver or theatrical matters. He admitted regretfully that he had corralled all variety theaters in Spokane, and that he was forced to do it. After opening the People's theater he found the managers of the Comique and Dot were making it warm for him. They tried to get the titles of performances and made things difficult. Then he got determined and set his severe jaw down with a thud which meant that something was going to happen.

In the course of time a man came to Spokane from Chicago—or near there, the place he was supposed to hail from. He gave his name as Meredith and said he was there to open a variety theater, and was prepared to shut out all competition by leasing any other building that would afford facilities to a competitor. He showed a large roll of greenbacks, and as he talked some very large diamonds on his fingers and on his shirt front sparkled in a careless way. The man of diamonds and greenbacks mentioned he intended purchasing wine by the barrel, probably about twelve or fifteen at a time, and draw the liquor direct.

Of course, it was whispered that this conversation was dropped into the ears of S. J. Holland, who owned the Comique theater that was closed for the summer. Mr. Meredith desired a lease of the Comique for one year at the low rental of $150 a month and a two years' lease on the Louvre at a bargain rate, the stipulation in both cases being that Meredith should purchase liquor from S. J. Holland.

After the deal was made it is said Holland went home to the Post-Intelligencer chuckling to himself, and announced that he had leased his theaters, and that they would reopen in a short time. Unfortunately there is no record of the look that went over Mr. Holland when Considine produced the leases and told him that Meredith was his friend and agent from Seattle. What a tale it was—that the diamonds and greenbacks that had dazzled Mr. Holland belonged to Considine.