Celebrating History: A tribute to newspaper owner R.X. Lewis

By Emily Mayer

A few weeks back, it was announced that R. X. Lewis, former proprietor of The Havre Plaindealer and later The Havre Daily Promoter, had passed away. He was a well-respected man in Havre and throughout Montana. His family and friends were planning a tribute to the late newspaperman. This article was published on the front page of the Plaindealer’s Oct. 14, 1916 issue:

WILL PAY TRIBUTE TO R. X. LEWIS

At a Meeting in Court House Next Thursday

A well deserved recognition of service to Northern Montana in general and the city of Havre in particular will be given to the late R. X. Lewis at a meeting called for next Thursday evening at 8 o’clock in the Hill county court house chambers.

At this meeting letters of tribute from pioneers associated with the late Mr. Lewis in the early building up on Montana will be read and made a matter of record.

The Northern Montana Newspaper men will also be represented at the meeting.

An address will be delivered by an old associate of Mr. Lewis, and the Rev. L. J. Christler will deliver the “Memorial Appreciation” on behalf of the people of Northern Montana.

The committee in charge of this “Appreciation” meeting are the Hon. T. W. MacKenzie, Rev. L. J. Christler, A. J. Brodrick, S. Y. B. Williams, L. W. Pierson, J. K. Bramble, Judge L. P. Evans of Glasgow, Hon. Charles N. Pray of Great Falls, Col. R. L. McCulloch of Great Falls, Hon. Harry B. Mitchell of Great Falls, Ex-Senator Lee Mantle of Butte, Hon. Harry Cunningham of Helena, Senator Fred Whiteside of Kalispell, together with the Northern Montana Newspaper men. The occasion will be one in which the general public will covet to take part, for no public servant could have been more highly appreciated than the late Mr. Lewis.

Mr. Lewis and A. J. Brodrick operated the Plaindealer during its founding years. Messrs. Williams, Pierson and Bramble all operated newspapers in Havre.

Also during this time frame 100 years ago, the film “Birth of a Nation” was released to great fanfare across the country. Havre was no different, and this account was also on the Plaindealer’s front page:

STUPENDOUS PICTURE SEEN BY HUNDREDS

’Birth of a Nation’ Shown at the Orpheum Theatre

Hundreds of people of this city and from towns both east and west of Havre witnessed the big screen production, “Birth of a Nation”, at the Orpheum theatre Wednesday and Thursday of this week, and not one expressed any disappointment with either the picture or the splendid music furnished by the 20-piece orchestra traveling with the picture. Four performances were given here, and with the exception of the matinee on Wednesday afternoon, the S. R. O. sign had to be displayed at each.

Manager Hirschberg of the Orpheum has several other large feature films billed for the near future, among them “Civilization”, said to be a film fully as stupendous as the one shown this week.

While “not one expressed disappointment” with the movie 100 years ago in Havre, it was not without protest and controversy in the United States when it was released in 1915, and today it is widely viewed as a racially charged film. I personally would like to see the contrast between the 1915 version originally titled “The Clansman” (yes, it took a little while to get here, and yes, that Klan.) and the new version, which coincidentally was released last week exactly 100 years after the film arrived in Havre. Movies were still silent in 1916 and music always accompanied the films. Some musicians were of local talent, but this one obviously featured its own traveling band. The film was the highest grossing film in American history and held that title until “Gone With the Wind” was released in 1939, smashing its record. Regardless of sentiment, “Birth of a Nation” was a groundbreaking movie and musical score.

Social events were scant 100 years ago. “Amron” offered this explanation for the lack of Havre Society news:

Whether because of the turmoil incident to the approaching election, at which the ladies will cast their first vote, or because of the canning season, society in the Gas City seems to have tekan on an unwonted quiet. There has been a noticeable lack of the brilliant affairs that mark the social side of Havre for the past few weeks, but it is understood many large affairs are being planned for the late fall, with functions galore outlined for the winter months.

I can’t wait!

Here is one of two entries in the Society column, though, so not all is lost:

Mrs. Pray Entertained

Mrs. Chas. N. Pray, wife of the republican candidate for United States senator, who is traveling with her husband in this campaign over the state, was the guest of Mrs. A. J. Broderick while in Havre Tuesday. Mrs. Pray has often visited Havre and has a host of friends in this city.