December 1905 – G. F. McDonald Passes Away – Veteran Theatre Manager is No More
Prof. George F. McDonald, for forty-four years a citizen of Montgomery and the oldest manager of theatres in the Southern States, died at 3:45 o'clock yesterday afternoon at an infirmary after an illness of ten weeks…..
Owing to his connection with theaters Professor McDonald was widely known. Until recently, for more than twenty years he was the manager and owner of McDonald's Opera House on Bibb Street. He was known also because of his membership and close association with members of the Knights of Pythias, the Red Men, the Masons and the United Confederate Veterans….
He was born at Rockford, Coosa County, in 1829. His father was a native of Dundee, Scotland and he settled in Coosa County before the war. Professor McDonald received his early education in the best schools of Coosa County and at the age of 16, removed to Wetumpka, where he spent his early manhood. He developed a marked talent as a musician and took up the violin as his favorite instrument. He was studying medicine at the outbreak of the war and had almost completed his course when he volunteered his services as a soldier in the Southern army. He was assigned to duty on the medical staff where he served for three and a half years.
At the close of the war he located in Montgomery and began giving dancing lessons and continued in that business for twenty-five years and, because of his tutorship, he had a large acquaintance in this city.
Embarking in the theatre business in 1881, he built McDonald's Opera House on Bibb Street and managed it successfully until about eighteen months ago when he retired from business on account of failing health and leased the playhouse to Jake Wells, who now conducts the house under the name of the Bijou Theatre. Upon his retirement, Professor McDonald was the oldest theatre manager in the South.
Long before he conceived the idea of building a theatre on Bibb Street he had managed the Montgomery Theatre. In 1857 he began playing second violin in the Montgomery theatre orchestra, when Matt W. Canning was managing the theatre. The glamour of the theatre appealed to him and he never gave it up except when he went to war. Serving in some capacity or another about the theatre until 1875 Professor McDonald leased the Montgomery Theatre and on October 8, 1875 it was opened under his management with a performance by Dupree and Benedict's Minstrels. He continued to manage the Perry Street play house until he built McDonald's Opera House. Later, from 1889 to 1894, he managed both houses.
Professor McDonald was a contemporary and personal friend of Edwin Booth, John McCullough, John T. Ford, the old Baltimore manager, Lawrence Barrett, John T. Raymond, Janauschek, Mary Anderson Modjeska, Frank Mayo, Joseph Jefferson, Emma Abbott, Lotta, Caroline Richings Bernard, Sol Smith, Kate Claxton, Fanny Davenport, Stuart Robson and other eminent actors of the old American school. He managed the theatre here at a time when the booking depended largely on the relationship between the star and the house manager and he pointed with price to the fact that it was mainly through his efforts that many of these really great artists were first introduced to Montgomery audiences.
Many years ago, Professor McDonald adopted as his motto, "The Lord Will Take Care of His People." On every program printed by the veteran manager and on his stationary this motto has appeared in black type and has cause much comment among strangers unacquainted with his quaint philosophy. "That motto," said McDonald "means to me just the way it reads. The Lord has promised to provide for the faithful. He has taken care of me and mine and in my old age I have a competency."
Prof. George F. McDonald, for forty-four years a citizen of Montgomery and the oldest manager of theatres in the Southern States, died at 3:45 o'clock yesterday afternoon at an infirmary after an illness of ten weeks…..
Owing to his connection with theaters Professor McDonald was widely known. Until recently, for more than twenty years he was the manager and owner of McDonald's Opera House on Bibb Street. He was known also because of his membership and close association with members of the Knights of Pythias, the Red Men, the Masons and the United Confederate Veterans….
He was born at Rockford, Coosa County, in 1829. His father was a native of Dundee, Scotland and he settled in Coosa County before the war. Professor McDonald received his early education in the best schools of Coosa County and at the age of 16, removed to Wetumpka, where he spent his early manhood. He developed a marked talent as a musician and took up the violin as his favorite instrument. He was studying medicine at the outbreak of the war and had almost completed his course when he volunteered his services as a soldier in the Southern army. He was assigned to duty on the medical staff where he served for three and a half years.
At the close of the war he located in Montgomery and began giving dancing lessons and continued in that business for twenty-five years and, because of his tutorship, he had a large acquaintance in this city.
Embarking in the theatre business in 1881, he built McDonald's Opera House on Bibb Street and managed it successfully until about eighteen months ago when he retired from business on account of failing health and leased the playhouse to Jake Wells, who now conducts the house under the name of the Bijou Theatre. Upon his retirement, Professor McDonald was the oldest theatre manager in the South.
Long before he conceived the idea of building a theatre on Bibb Street he had managed the Montgomery Theatre. In 1857 he began playing second violin in the Montgomery theatre orchestra, when Matt W. Canning was managing the theatre. The glamour of the theatre appealed to him and he never gave it up except when he went to war. Serving in some capacity or another about the theatre until 1875 Professor McDonald leased the Montgomery Theatre and on October 8, 1875 it was opened under his management with a performance by Dupree and Benedict's Minstrels. He continued to manage the Perry Street play house until he built McDonald's Opera House. Later, from 1889 to 1894, he managed both houses.
Professor McDonald was a contemporary and personal friend of Edwin Booth, John McCullough, John T. Ford, the old Baltimore manager, Lawrence Barrett, John T. Raymond, Janauschek, Mary Anderson Modjeska, Frank Mayo, Joseph Jefferson, Emma Abbott, Lotta, Caroline Richings Bernard, Sol Smith, Kate Claxton, Fanny Davenport, Stuart Robson and other eminent actors of the old American school. He managed the theatre here at a time when the booking depended largely on the relationship between the star and the house manager and he pointed with price to the fact that it was mainly through his efforts that many of these really great artists were first introduced to Montgomery audiences.
Many years ago, Professor McDonald adopted as his motto, "The Lord Will Take Care of His People." On every program printed by the veteran manager and on his stationary this motto has appeared in black type and has cause much comment among strangers unacquainted with his quaint philosophy. "That motto," said McDonald "means to me just the way it reads. The Lord has promised to provide for the faithful. He has taken care of me and mine and in my old age I have a competency."
December 1905 – G. F. McDonald Passes Away – Veteran Theatre Manager is No More
Prof. George F. McDonald, for forty-four years a citizen of Montgomery and the oldest manager of theatres in the Southern States, died at 3:45 o'clock yesterday afternoon at an infirmary after an illness of ten weeks…..
Owing to his connection with theaters Professor McDonald was widely known. Until recently, for more than twenty years he was the manager and owner of McDonald's Opera House on Bibb Street. He was known also because of his membership and close association with members of the Knights of Pythias, the Red Men, the Masons and the United Confederate Veterans….
He was born at Rockford, Coosa County, in 1829. His father was a native of Dundee, Scotland and he settled in Coosa County before the war. Professor McDonald received his early education in the best schools of Coosa County and at the age of 16, removed to Wetumpka, where he spent his early manhood. He developed a marked talent as a musician and took up the violin as his favorite instrument. He was studying medicine at the outbreak of the war and had almost completed his course when he volunteered his services as a soldier in the Southern army. He was assigned to duty on the medical staff where he served for three and a half years.
At the close of the war he located in Montgomery and began giving dancing lessons and continued in that business for twenty-five years and, because of his tutorship, he had a large acquaintance in this city.
Embarking in the theatre business in 1881, he built McDonald's Opera House on Bibb Street and managed it successfully until about eighteen months ago when he retired from business on account of failing health and leased the playhouse to Jake Wells, who now conducts the house under the name of the Bijou Theatre. Upon his retirement, Professor McDonald was the oldest theatre manager in the South.
Long before he conceived the idea of building a theatre on Bibb Street he had managed the Montgomery Theatre. In 1857 he began playing second violin in the Montgomery theatre orchestra, when Matt W. Canning was managing the theatre. The glamour of the theatre appealed to him and he never gave it up except when he went to war. Serving in some capacity or another about the theatre until 1875 Professor McDonald leased the Montgomery Theatre and on October 8, 1875 it was opened under his management with a performance by Dupree and Benedict's Minstrels. He continued to manage the Perry Street play house until he built McDonald's Opera House. Later, from 1889 to 1894, he managed both houses.
Professor McDonald was a contemporary and personal friend of Edwin Booth, John McCullough, John T. Ford, the old Baltimore manager, Lawrence Barrett, John T. Raymond, Janauschek, Mary Anderson Modjeska, Frank Mayo, Joseph Jefferson, Emma Abbott, Lotta, Caroline Richings Bernard, Sol Smith, Kate Claxton, Fanny Davenport, Stuart Robson and other eminent actors of the old American school. He managed the theatre here at a time when the booking depended largely on the relationship between the star and the house manager and he pointed with price to the fact that it was mainly through his efforts that many of these really great artists were first introduced to Montgomery audiences.
Many years ago, Professor McDonald adopted as his motto, "The Lord Will Take Care of His People." On every program printed by the veteran manager and on his stationary this motto has appeared in black type and has cause much comment among strangers unacquainted with his quaint philosophy. "That motto," said McDonald "means to me just the way it reads. The Lord has promised to provide for the faithful. He has taken care of me and mine and in my old age I have a competency."
Prof. George F. McDonald, for forty-four years a citizen of Montgomery and the oldest manager of theatres in the Southern States, died at 3:45 o'clock yesterday afternoon at an infirmary after an illness of ten weeks…..
Owing to his connection with theaters Professor McDonald was widely known. Until recently, for more than twenty years he was the manager and owner of McDonald's Opera House on Bibb Street. He was known also because of his membership and close association with members of the Knights of Pythias, the Red Men, the Masons and the United Confederate Veterans….
He was born at Rockford, Coosa County, in 1829. His father was a native of Dundee, Scotland and he settled in Coosa County before the war. Professor McDonald received his early education in the best schools of Coosa County and at the age of 16, removed to Wetumpka, where he spent his early manhood. He developed a marked talent as a musician and took up the violin as his favorite instrument. He was studying medicine at the outbreak of the war and had almost completed his course when he volunteered his services as a soldier in the Southern army. He was assigned to duty on the medical staff where he served for three and a half years.
At the close of the war he located in Montgomery and began giving dancing lessons and continued in that business for twenty-five years and, because of his tutorship, he had a large acquaintance in this city.
Embarking in the theatre business in 1881, he built McDonald's Opera House on Bibb Street and managed it successfully until about eighteen months ago when he retired from business on account of failing health and leased the playhouse to Jake Wells, who now conducts the house under the name of the Bijou Theatre. Upon his retirement, Professor McDonald was the oldest theatre manager in the South.
Long before he conceived the idea of building a theatre on Bibb Street he had managed the Montgomery Theatre. In 1857 he began playing second violin in the Montgomery theatre orchestra, when Matt W. Canning was managing the theatre. The glamour of the theatre appealed to him and he never gave it up except when he went to war. Serving in some capacity or another about the theatre until 1875 Professor McDonald leased the Montgomery Theatre and on October 8, 1875 it was opened under his management with a performance by Dupree and Benedict's Minstrels. He continued to manage the Perry Street play house until he built McDonald's Opera House. Later, from 1889 to 1894, he managed both houses.
Professor McDonald was a contemporary and personal friend of Edwin Booth, John McCullough, John T. Ford, the old Baltimore manager, Lawrence Barrett, John T. Raymond, Janauschek, Mary Anderson Modjeska, Frank Mayo, Joseph Jefferson, Emma Abbott, Lotta, Caroline Richings Bernard, Sol Smith, Kate Claxton, Fanny Davenport, Stuart Robson and other eminent actors of the old American school. He managed the theatre here at a time when the booking depended largely on the relationship between the star and the house manager and he pointed with price to the fact that it was mainly through his efforts that many of these really great artists were first introduced to Montgomery audiences.
Many years ago, Professor McDonald adopted as his motto, "The Lord Will Take Care of His People." On every program printed by the veteran manager and on his stationary this motto has appeared in black type and has cause much comment among strangers unacquainted with his quaint philosophy. "That motto," said McDonald "means to me just the way it reads. The Lord has promised to provide for the faithful. He has taken care of me and mine and in my old age I have a competency."
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