SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 494
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 Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
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 from the
Texas Senate.
Whitmire
Alvarado Creighton Miles Alvarado Creighton Miles
Alvarado Creighton Miles
Bettencourt Huffman West Bettencourt Huffman West
Bettencourt Huffman West
Patrick, President of the Senate
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 1, 2023.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate
Alvarado Creighton Miles
Bettencourt Huffman West