Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-08-22
MANAGER JESSE K. BAYLIS
Ie Has the Lease Of the Grand Opera
House for Five Years.
assumed CHARGE LAST MONDAY
Will Establish a Uniform Rate
of Admission.
lLANS FOR PLEASING THEATRE-GOERs

Lease tho management Of the Grand
Opera House to jesse X. Baylis for the
Next Five Years-rhe New Manager Talks
Briefly About His attentions.
The Grand Opera House was Friday
night leased by the directors of the
Masonic Hall Co. to Jesse X. Baylis,
he former manager, for period of five
years. The papers were signed Satur-
day and Mr.. Baylis assumed charge of
The theatre on Monday.
At the annual meeting of the direc-
tors of the Masonic Hall Co., which
was held last January, Mr.. Bayls offer
ed to lease the playhouse at an annual
rental Of IS, 600. The offer was refused,
and it was the intention OF the board
to re- employ William Il. Williamson,
who has been manager for several years.
Friday night another meeting of the
board was held, the purpose of which
was to make final arrangements for the
management of tho theatre during the
approaching season. A few days ago a
representative of the directory went to
Mr.. Baylis and asked him if he was
still willing to lease the Opera House
1T the terms he offered last winter. He
replied that he was, and the PROPOSE
ton was brought up at the meeting
Friday night, when the board decided,
unanimously, TO put the house in the
hands Of Mr.. Baylis.
The new manager, or rather, lessee,
Saturday filed his bond and the lease
was executed to the satisfaction of all
concerned.
Mr.. Baylis is one Of the best known
men in Wilmington. At the last city
election he was chosen president of
City Council, which position he now
holds. He was the first manager Of
the Opera House, which he conducted
admirably for 10 years, during which
time he made hosts Of friends, not
only among the citizens of Wilmington,
but also with theatrical people all over
the country. He was, and still is, well
posted in all theatrical matters.
The theatre was opened in Decem-
Der. 1871, and was run by the
board of directors until 1874, when Mr.
Baylis was installed as manager. He re-
NAMED in that position until March
25th, 1889, when the house was leased
to Proctor & Souier who ran it in
conjunction with the Academy of
Music. The annual rental paid by
Proctor a. Soulier was 81, 900. The
new lessees found that the price was
little too steep, and after an expert
ment of two seasons threw up the lease.
When Proctor & Soulier relinquished
the management William h. William
son was chosen to run the house. He
has been the manager ever since.
Mr.. Baylis was seen to-day by a
reporter of Every Evening". He said
one Of his first steps will be to in
augurate uniform price Of admission
which will remain the same all the
time. "But," the genial manager ex-
planned, I" il an extraordinary attraction
should be booked and it became neces-
sary to raise the price of admission, |
should advertise it well beforehand, so
that the people may know at all times
just what they arc going to pay. As a
rule, the admission rates will be the
same all the time. " Mr.. Bayls re-
counted some events connected with
his former management of the house,
From the time tho house opened until
! assumed the management the first
time, il was put out on rental terms,
but when l took control | deemed IL
the wisest plan to let it out on shares,
which- course ! followed throughout.
] found the plan worked well and ii
was continued from the start. "
The first attraction that was booked
by me was Lucille Weston. who played
for three nights, giving East Lynne
two nights and oliver Twist" tho
third. think the dates were March
10Th, 10th and 18th, 1874.
During my first year had such at
fractions MS Clara Louise Kellogg, Ed
win Booth, Charles Fechter, Mr.. anC
Mrs. Barney Williams, Charlotte Cush
man and others of the same class. Ii
fact the people Of Wilmington wer,
accorded the same kind of amusemen
as the people in the great cities.
shall pursue the same plan now, ant
will only bring here good attractions
such as are known to possess real merit
If the company has 20 or % peopl
] shall not advertise that there are II
or 30. ] will only make such announce
ments as ! know are correct My Who'll
cndeavor will he to please the theatre
going people Of Wilmington, and witt
my knowledge nj the business an
practical experience ! have no doub
that will succeed.
Mr.. Baylis was asked il there woull
he any changes made at tie house
lie said he did not know. Everythin
had been done SO recently and al he
not yet installed so that he is unahl
To say what may be necessary.
There were general expressions q
satisfaction this morning from thus
who knew Of the new management
and the majority Of people in W
mington who are acquainted with Mi
,,~t,. 1r..T A.