Old Missoula

‘Uncle Charlie’ Harnois

Liberty Theater Renamed Harnois

The Liberty theater, formerly known as the Harnois theater, which will reopen shortly for the Missoula public, will be known again as the Harnois theater, according to a statement made yesterday by W. A. Simons, manager.

The re-naming of the theater, said Mr. Simons, was done at the suggestion made in the Oracle column of the Missoulian yesterday morning.

“It really is the right thing to do,” said Mr. Simons. “A man who pioneers in a work like ‘Uncle Charlie’ Harnois did in Missoula, should be remembered, and have his name associated with his work.”

Mr. Simons then explained how the old Harnois theater came to be renamed. He said that in running a chain or theaters, as the Liberty, management was doing at the time I took over the Harnois show-house, it is much cheaper to have them all the same name, because of the accessories that go with the business. He mentioned for example the stationery, posters, electric signs for which repairs must be ordered at different times, and other accessories, which may become standardized, and by so being may be bought in larger quantities, thus reducing the buying and miscellaneous cost.

“However,” Mr. Simons continued, “it is perfectly agreeable with the present management to open the theater as the Harnois theater and abide by that name.”

The Harnois theater was built by “Uncle Charlie” Harnois about 15 years ago. “Uncle Charlie” formerly was manager of the Missoula opera house, a frame building which stood opposite to the Harnois theater, and which burned down after the latter building was erected. After the change of management of the Harnois theater, “Uncle Charlie” left for Santa Clara, California, where he went into the bill-posting business.

According to C. E. Johnson, secretary of the local Elks club, Mr. Harnois sold his business in Santa Clara recently for a sum bordering upon $30,000. He has retired from business and is still residing at Santa Clara.

The article above appeared in The Daily Missoulian on September 8, 1923.

 

The article below is from French Ferguson’s Missoulian Column “The Oracle” of September 6, 1923:

The Harnois Theater

The Liberty theater is in new hands. We always have had a real affection for that place, probably because it is about as long in Missoula as we are. Well do we remember the night it was opened. There we were (in a $10 seat the Old Reliable [Missoulian] had paid for) to watch “Brewster’s Millions” and Jack Keith and “Uncle Charlie” Harnois as they dedicated the theater to the amusement of Missoula. (We happen to remember that we sat next to Sid Coffee.)

A great deal of the heart’s-blood of “Uncle Charlie” was in that theater – and always will be, we reckon – and he chocked with emotion as he spoke briefly before the new drop curtain. We can see him yet, dressed up to the nine-hole, in all the glory of a new white vest, striped trousers and a frock coat.

We remember also that he stood so that, from our angle of vision, he seemed to be actually part of the scene on the curtain. He thanked the people who had made his dream come true. And we recall that he thanked the Old Reliable for having taken a leading part in the campaign that built the house.

But the dream of “Uncle Charlie” turned out to be a nightmare. The theater went great guns for a while, but, for some reasons never entirely clear to us, afterward he lost control of the house.

“Uncle Charlie” left Missoula with bitterness in his heart – and went to California and became modestly wealthy. But, we reckon, he never has lost his affection for the theater that was the daughter of his dreams.

So, while it is none of our business, we cannot refrain from suggesting that it would be a fine bit of sentiment for the new management to return to the original name of the theater. It is cut in the stone of the façade in two million-point letters and always will be there, anyway.

The article below appeared in The Daily Missoulian on June 5, 1941.

Charles Harnois Taken by Death In Southern City

Pioneer Theater Man of Missoula Passes at Santa Ana, Cal.

Word of the death of Charles A. Harnois, well-known former Missoula resident, at Santa Ana, Cal., Wednesday morning was received here yesterday afternoon. Funeral services will be conducted at Santa Ana Friday.

By A. L. Stone.

“Uncle Charlie” Harnois – To the newer generation of Missoulians the name means nothing more than just another name. To those who were Missoulians in the nineties, however, it has rather deep significance; to them it recalls two pictures, indelible and brought back strikingly today by the sad news from California.

First, there is a fast-moving picture of a slight figure, standing on the platform of a two-wheeled newspaper delivery go-devil, drawn by a bony cayuse at high speed peddling his papers in high endeavor to beat his rival. That was “Uncle Charlie” into his labors as circulater of a newspaper in the days when competition was fierce.

Second, the same slight figure moves shyly from the wings of a stage to take place before the footlights which flood the narrow space in front of the drop curtain. A great audience roars its delight. The figure turns and “Uncle Charlie” in almost a murmur speaks. He thanks the crowd for its presence and friendship. Then a shuffling retreat. The Harnois theater has been dedicated by a “ten-thousand-dollar house.”

Simple incidents to be recalled by the news of the passing of their leading figure – but each is characteristic of the life of the man whose death occurred yesterday. Whatever he did was done intensely and whole-heartedly. Within a fragile body there was a vigorous mind. An unassuming man attracted friends and held them by his very sincerity. Uncomplaining in discouragement and not boastful in successful achievement, “Uncle Charlie” Harnois was a good citizen.

Charles A. Harnois was born in Saint Joseph, Mo., October 31, 1857. He studied in the local schools and later matriculated at a Christian Brothers college. The Missouri river was becoming the highway to the Montana goldfields; in 1875 the youthful Harnois found himself making the journey. He was a round-trip traveler, though, for he was booked as cabin boy on the “Josephine,” plying between Yankton and Fort Benton. Nearly five years he spent in the river traffic.

In 1880 he established himself on solid ground; he forsook navigation at the Montana end of the route and located in the booming town of Maiden, where he conducted a restaurant two years, selling his property at a considerable profit. Thence to Helena. Operation of the Northern Pacific was starting; the company needed news agents on its trains; on the run between Bismarck and Spokane was Charles Harnois. There he remained till the Bitter Root branch was finished; then he was given a contract to handle the train news service as a personal venture. So he became a Missoulian.

As a side line he handled the circulation of The Missoulian and The Gazette, then heated rivals. Testimony is that he did well for both papers. The next change took him to Helena, where he became publicity man for the Ming opera house by the billboard channel. Then expansion of his outdoor advertising took him to Butte and Anaconda, where he pasted and posted for the theaters until 1892, when he decided to return to Missoula. Here he took over the billboards and resumed direction of newspaper circulation. He fell heir to the management of the old Bennett opera house and later acquired the old Union theater. When this playhouse was burned, Harnois was broke but not discouraged. Local friends backed him sufficiently to make possible the erection of the Harnois theater. It’s called the Liberty now and not many recall the glories of that house – at the time, it was as finely equipped – though not as large – as any theater in the region.

Enter, the motion picture. The Harnois shared the fate of so many real-play houses. Mr. Harnois went to California. Occasional letters to friends here and newspaper clippings testified that he prospered on the coast but the letters declared his chronic nostalgia.

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