The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-28
THEY WANT A NEW THEATER.
MESSRs. KLAW & ERLANGER To
HAVE ONE IN SAVANNAH.


MIR. KIaw Has Referred the Matter
of an Available Site, Centrally LO-
Gated, 20 MIR. c. n. Dorsett-TwO
Theaters Might Not Pay, He Says,
But It's n Question OF the Survival
of the Fittest-Hfs Idea i TO Have
an Elegant once Building i'm the
business Section With n Theater
in the Rear.
Mr. Marc Klaw Of the firm Of Klaw &
Granger Of New York. which represents
theaters and makes theater bookings
throughout the country. arrived yester-
day on the Birmingham and IS at the De
Soto. Mr. Klaw is accompanied by his
son.
Mr. Klaw came to Savannah for the
purpose Of looking into the matter Of get
ting a new theater here. il being well
known that the present theater Is con-
trolled by the GreenwaI Theatrical Cir
cult Company OF New York city. Mr..
Klaw went to see Mr.. C. II. Dorset.
TO his plans. and stated yesterday that
the result OF his interview with Mr.. Dor
sett was very satisfactory.
Il was referred to Mr.. Dorsett," Mr..
Klaw said. "as a real estate man who is
thoroughly posted on the situation here.
and for the present have left the mat
ter entirely in his hands. There are
good many questions to be considered in
making the selection of a site. Such
building as we would want should be
near the center of the city or in the bus
mess portion, and the location of the
street car lines must be considered. Mr..
Dorsett will look into the matter and see
what advantageous sites can be secured.
What plan do you propose TO pursue?"
Mr.. Klaw was asked.
MY idea is" he replied, that hand
some Office building in the business sec
ton of the city, with theater back or II
would pay handsomely. We expect TO in
terest the people here in the matter, and
TO take a share in 1t ourselves. Then, OF
course we would guarantee and secure
the lease for a certain number OF years.
Such a building should cost from $ZoO'VOO
to 500, 600, and on that amount, 1 am sat
isfed. would easily pay 10 per cent. Sa-
vannah has very few fine office buildings,
and such a structure would prove an at
traction as well as a paying investment.
We expect to come here, and We look on
this as the best plan, especially Tor the
people here as there would be an additional
interest In the theater. If we cannot get
here on this plan, however, we Will do
so on some other"
do you think two theaters would pay IN
Savannah" was asked.
mo, / do not" Mr.. Klaw replied. But
it's a question of the survival OF the Mt
test, and we are going TO take our
chances. Savannah needs a frst-class
theater. The city occupied peculiar po-
sition under Mr.. Johnson's management,
but now it is made simply an annex 20
Atlanta, and the theater-going public win
necessarily suffer. l have jotted down
list Of fourteen attractions that will play
at Charleston, Augusta, Atlanta and all
around Savannah, but will not come TO
this city this season. They are: 49, Sol
Smith Russell, Julia Marlowe, Crane,
Shore Acres Camille d'Arville, Twentieth
Century Girl, Princess Bonnie. Merry
World, Harrigan, Della Fox, Damrosch
Opera Company, Ada Rehan and Frederic
Ward Some of these attractions Will not
come to Savannah because they do not
care to go on the Greenwal circuit and
be compelled to play at the small house
in Atlanta Others are booked exclusive
lv over our own circuit. OF course, we
would not book any attractions to the
other circuits theaters, but If they want
to come to Savannah we never tell them
not TO.
1--WE control fifty first-class attrac-
tons" Mr.. Klaw said, land represent
800 theaters in different parts of the coun-
try. In the winter Savannah caters to
the northern travel and should have q
really frst-class theater here. The pres
ent building will have simply an improve
ment of the front and back, and do not
think it will answer as a real first-class
house.
1--WE are not fighting anybody" Mr.
Klaw said, land there would never have
been any trouble had not Greenwall fool
ishly involved himself in a broil with
Deceive in Atlanta, and antagoniEed us at
other points. We shall, of course, do
nothing in Savannah this year, as we will
not book any attractions to the other
house, but if any of our people want to
come here we. shall make no objections
Mr.. Deceive writes me that the office
building in front of his theater in At
lanta pays handsomely, and l am certain
that such a project would be a paying
institution for Savannah"
Mr.. Klaw leaves the city this morning
for New Orleans, and will come to Sa-
vannah again about October. He says
his firm is in earnest in the matter, ana
will not stop until it has a house in this
/ city.