Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-04
A THEATER DROPS In.
Chas. L. Davis Secures a Location
With q Sixth Street Entrance.
FULL DETAILS OF THE NEW DEAL
The Theatrical kaleidoscope Evolves An
other Combination.
THIS SITE LONG A CIRCUS GROUND

Where in former years the circus clown
cracked his diaphanous jokes and the ring
master his sinuous whip, Charles L. Davis,
calvin Joslyn," will erect commodious
theater, with an entrance on Sixth street.
The SPOT is historic. For % years every
circus that pitched its tent in Pittsburg up
to within a few years, gathered In the
shining dollars at this place. Since then
the ground has degenerated into horse
market, with humble sawdust scattered on
the ground. 1t has been very unproductlye
of revenue, but has nevertheless been upon
the market.
Mr.. Davis states that his ambition to be-
ccme manager in Plttsburg dates back six
months, when he commenced a correspond
ence with Messrs. Staub & Morris, the Wood
street real estate dealers. But Mr.. Davis
ambition dates further back than the above
period. Six years ago he assured the writer
at Emporia, Kan, that his desire was to ac-
cumulate enough money to build a theater
in some Eastern city. That he is in earnest
the details of yesterdays transaction go tar
to indicate.
THE PROPERTY PURCHASED.
From the Shields estate Mr.. Davis has
purchased for S95, 900 the following realty:
Lying along McCrea alley for depth of so
feet, and with a 25-foot frontage on Sixth
street. the entrance to the theater is provided
ns f0r Sixty feet from the Sixth Sixth street
built. 1t is 1OOxi4O, and has three open Sides
viz, McCrea alley between it and the Bijou
Theater, Barker's alley at the rear, and the
ha Rar M al ha rfv
side. Thus. without paying the S375.000 re-
quired to purchase the entire frontage on
Sixth street, Mr.. Davis secures an amply wide
main entrance and enough land at the rear to
answer all his needs. There will be numerous
side and rear entrances from the three alleys
and by some 70 exits Mr.. Davis calculates that
the building can be emptied inside of two
minutes.
The terms of the purchase are very easy. s.
A. johnson, Esq, drew up the deeds. Mr..
Davis paid 5000 down, and is to pay SO, 900
more when the deeds are examined and re-
corded. Mr.. Davis hauled out a fat roll Of
greenbacks when the first payment was made,
remarking that checks might suit some people,
but he liked to produce the bullion" Seventy
thousand dollars yet remain to be paid, coV-
cred by mortgage on easy terms.
Mr. Davis agrees to erect building costing
not less than Sl00, 0O0 but states that his new
theater will cost much more than the specified
sum. As the holder of the lease of the Sixth
street frontage has until April l, 1891, in which
to find other quarters, Mr.. Davis will defer
building until that time. He expects to rush
the building. and will open it in October, 1891.
When seen yesterday Mr.. Davis gave glow
ing description of the theater-to-be. and talked
as If his means were practically unlimited. He
stated that Reed Bros, the Evansville, Ind.
architects, had prepared plans which met his
appreciation although two others were under
consideration.
WILL BE STRICTLY FIRsT-CLASs.
Mr.. Davis declares stoutly that the house will
be entirely first-class, and enumerates a num-
Der of innovations calculated to dazzle Pitts
burgers. He says he has commissioned Staub
& Morris. who conducted the theater deal, to
secure for him commodious residence in the
East End.
Manager Gulick. of the Bijou. was skeptical
about the Davis theater. and while commend
ing Mr.. Davis as travelling attraction and
manager, seemed to think that Uncle Alvin"
was playing bluff game. He said that the
Duquesne Theater and Mr.. Harry Williams
house were now certain to be built, and that
Mr.. Davis would find it scaly Shedding. Mr..
Gulick vigorously denied the soft impeach-
ment that himself and Mr.. Bennett were with
Mr.. Davis in the deal" and said the Bijou
Theater would do business at the old stand
Neither Mr.. Gulick nor Mr.. Joseph Horne
would say ANYTHING about the renewal of the
Biiou lease, two years hence, although both
gentlemen are popularly credited with being
best qualified to speak upon that subject.
Common talk is to the effect that Manager
Gulick and his hacker enjoy such friendly re-
lations with Mr.. Harry Williams that those
who are used to the faces now seen in the Bijou
box and managerial offices will smile upon ap-
plicants for admission to Mr.. Williams new
combination house. Manager Gulick and his
associates certainly have the very best TO say of
Mr.. Williams embryonic playhouse. Mr..
Gulick says that Manager Henderson means
business, and will do all he has'promised.
In theatrical circles the Supreme Court de-
csion upon Controller Morrow's street bill is
looked upon as a clincher of the Diamond
n of
tactics, refuses to say anything at all for pub
lication.
Mr.. DAVIS leaves tonight for Niagara Falls.
His "One of the Old Stock" is laying off on
account of Holy Week. An advance agent
here in the city claims that Mr.. Davis has
threatened by the column to build theaters in
Philadelphia and Boston, but hasn't carried his
threats into execution.