St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-02-03
MAKING IT THREE-HANOED
The Peoples Theater Fairly Involved in
the Merry Theatrical War.
SOME INSIDE WORKINGS.
Manager Sterling Caught in a Quiet
Little Game Of Freezs-0ut,
81. Apparently.

i The transfer of the lease of the Peo-
pies theater to Kohl, Middleton &
Co. proves not to have been exactly a
sale, but somewhat peculiar transac-
ton, in which Manager w. E. Sterling
appears to have been practically frozen
out. The house has always played to
good business and made money, and yet
the change of management is attributed
on the part of the people most
E Interested to the fact that Hays & Ster-
iling, the lesees of the building, have
forfeited their fifteen-year lease by nom
payment of rent. The reason of this
thusness is an apparent mystery, but a
possible explanation is found in rumOr
that Mr.. Sterling thinks he has been de-
ceived by his partner. 1t is stated that
he has denied any knowledge of the
fact that the rent was not paid,
and it is now understood that he has
limited at the cOnniyance of Treasurer
Theo Hays in scheme to ''do'' him out
of the lease by holding out the rentlOng
enough to constitute a forfeiture of
contract. Whether this is true OF not
is. Of necessity, matter of conjecture
to the public, but those best acquainted
with the affairs of the house admit the
reasonableness of the theory.
1t was learned yesterday that James
Harrison. the stage manager Ut the
theater, will have nominal charge of it
until the arrival of MessrS. Kohl 81 Mid
dleton, and the closing of the deal,
when the new management will take
charge, and an improved stock company,
with some Of the best actors in the
present aggregation retained, will fill
dates at the house until it is closed dur
ing the summer for $40, 600 worth of i'm
provements. Miss Marie Wellesley
Mrs. Sterling-will of course retire
from the company, and another leading
lady will be secured from the East. 1t
is understood that among other changes
the new management propose to re-
move 1.-The greenrOom." which occupies
one of the fine stores In the front part
of the building.
The house after being renovated, re-
furnished and put in the best possible
condition, will be run as first-claSS
! house in connection with another hand
some theater in st. Paul, and will book
nothing but the very best attractions.
All of this is contingent upon the sue
cess of the effort to GUST Sterling, who
will probably make a strong legal fight,
which can at least be expected to result
in considerable delay from the nature
of the action necessary to eject him.
The new deal leaves the value OF the
Hennepin Avenue theater an unknown
quantity, as there seems to be no par
ticuIar way in which it can be made
profitable without a house in st. Paul
to be run in connection, and it is very
doubtful if three first-class houses
would be found profitable in either city.
On the other hand, the Pence opera
house people are jubilant over the idea
of having corner on the cheap theater
business in Minneapolis, and if things
go as is now anticipated, it is thought
that j. w. Pence, the owner OF the
property. will build new $1,000 0 the
alter, to be leased by Book and Colburn,
and run as a popular price, house.