88R21427 KO-D
By: A. Johnson of Harris H.R. No. 1061
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Residents of Houston are celebrating the 100th
anniversary of one of the city's most popular performing arts
venues, the Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, on May 12, 2023;
and
WHEREAS, The theatre is named in honor of Jesse Wright
Miller, a mining engineer and cotton broker, who left property to
the city for municipal purposes upon his death; the proceeds from
the sale of the Miller estate were used to build a permanent
bandstand in Hermann Park, initially called the Miller Memorial
Theatre; on May 12, 1923, the first presentation at the venue,
Springtimes of Our Nation, featured some 2,500 performers, and the
theatre's inaugural production, The Rose Maiden, was led by the
director of city bands on May 18; in the ensuing years, sports fans
gathered at the venue to listen to radio broadcasts of the World
Series and world championship boxing matches, and in 1941, the
Houston Symphony played its first free concert there; and
WHEREAS, The city built a new theatre in 1968, and the
award-winning structure opened on September 1 with a performance by
the Houston Symphony; that same year marked the beginning of a
55-year history of annual musicals presented by the Theatre Under
the Stars company; today, events at Miller range from performances
by the Houston Grand Opera and the Houston Ballet to celebrations of
Juneteenth and Cinco de Mayo; with the guidance of the Miller
Theatre Advisory Board and Houston First Corporation and with
funding from the City of Houston and the generous support of other
sponsors, the Miller Outdoor Theatre currently offers an
eight-month season of free performances, and it attracts hundreds
of thousands of attendees each year; and
WHEREAS, Over the past century, the Miller Outdoor Theatre
has entertained countless audiences, showcased the talent of
numerous performers, and greatly contributed to the cultural
vitality of the community, and it is a pleasure to honor this
beloved landmark on this important milestone; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Miller
Outdoor Theatre and extend to all those involved in its operation
sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the theatre as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.