Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-28
PREPARED FOR WORK.
Alvin Joslyn Bobbs Up Serenely and
Talks About His Plans.
THE CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN LET,
And, He Says, Work Will Positively Begin
on the First of April.
HIS TENANTS GIVEN NOTICE TO LEAVE

Alvin Joslyn, that staid old farmer, laid
aside his long hair and hay rake yesterday,
and donning his big fur coat, came 'dawen
tawen" to look alter his interests here.
He was wary of strangers, evidently hav-
ing recently read few bunko stories, and
at first refused to talk about the plans for
his new theater.
People have said I was only talking"
said be, "and that I'm not going to build
my house. 1 propose to say nothing, but
put up the new theater as the proof of my
statements. They said the Duquesne would
never be built, but it was. and mighty
pretty little theater it is, too."
Mr.. Davis was found in the lobby of the
Duquesne, and as the above remark was
made he became deeply interested in the
performance, and positively refused to talk
business. After the close of the perform
ance he relented somewhat, and conde-
scended to talk about his plans, though the
more important details he stamped as not
yet ready for the public eye. He showed
his bookings for % weeks Of next season,
and the list includes some Of the best attrac-
tions on the road.
HE LIKES PITTsBURG PROPERTY.
''I came here partly to look after nv East
End property, for which my agents, Straub
u Morris, have purchaser" said Mr..
Davis, "but decided that like Pittsburg
real estate so we'll will hold on to it. 1
also came 20 have the three months notice
served on the tenants of the property on
which the finest theater in America is to
be built. The work OF tearing down the
old building will begin on April 1,
and the construction of the building will
rapidly follow. All the contracts for cut
stone and brick have been let. and in fact
all the contracts have been given out. The
chairs are being made. scenery is being
painted, the relief work is under wav,
stained and cut glass is being designed.
You see, have given most of the contrac-
tors nearly 10 months in which to do the
work, and there will be no hitch. The cur
tains and portleres are being made, and the
tapestries will be imported from Paris.
Among the features will be an elegant
smoking room, with the finest kind of fur
nishlngs. The lobby will be fitted out with
marble and bronze statuary, paintings. etc.
have very large collection of works by
the best American painters, including Will
lam Hart, j. G. Brown, Hamilton Hamil-
ton, Arthur Quartley. P. Moran. George w.
Gay, j. G. Dearth, Paul Brenner, w. II.
Plummer and W. H. Judson. European
artists are also represented.
what do think OF the talk of the Grip
pling of the Bijou and Opera House? 1
know nothing about either. If the Biiou
gets down on the ground floor it will be a
good thing for the management and for
Pittsburg.
BOUND TO BE A GO.
IT know that the city needs a new
theater, but if 1900 were built now it
would make no difference with mine.
have promised to give Pittsburg the hand
soonest theater in America, and I will keep
my promise. have seen every theater from
Portland, Me-. to Portland, Ore. and 1
know whereof 1 speak. The contract price
of the building will amount to SOS, 900, and
the total cost will reach S400, 900. The
theater will seat $500 people, exclusive of
ten boxes and loges, though could crowd
in 300 more chairs on the first floor.
"I have been having most prosperous
season, playing at a profit OF from 81, 200 to
81. 500 weekly. 1 have been actor and man.
ager for 80 yeai and 1 am getting tired of
bumming around over the country, and
that is my reason for building this theater.
l am going to bring my dogs and horses to
Pittsburg, ut the end OF this season, and
make this my home, permanently. 1 will
superintend the construction of the house,
and will take the sole management. leaving
the road altogether. I am a member of 13
different secret orders, and 1 will affiliate
with these societies in Pittsburg''
Mr.. Davis gave many more of the details
of his plans. but they were mostly not
ready for publication. One of the features
he mentioned was 20 exits that could be
used in case Of fire. He left the city, last
evening, for Boston,