Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-21
NEWPORT NEWS.
To Have n Play-Housc-Thc n"'
ships-Dricfs.

NEWPORT NEWS, VA, March "
| Cspecial)-At last deal has been con-
summated that will give Newport News a
creditable playhouse with a stage large
enough and well enough equipped 10 ac-
commodate the most important or the
travelling shows. Mr.. AL Nitners' OIL
Gloucester county Va. will build at once,
at the corner Of Washington avenue anu
Thirty-third street, modern opei "a
house with n seating capacity OIL l'ivv'
to cost not less than $4,000. MI. u D. a
Booker. manager OF the Newport News
Opera House, and Mr.. Thomas G.. Leath'
manager Of Richmond, Norfolk, ana Pe-
tersburgs high-class playhouses, have
signed lease of the theatre for Ten
years. with a big option on additional
time. Mr.. Booker will have the cohtroh-
ing interest in the lease, and VIII manage
the house. The lessees will be backed Dy
the well-known theatrical syndlcale'
Frohman q Hayman, Nixon q Alllnlei
man Klaw d Granger. and VIII Dook
only their attractions. \ contract LOT
the next few years has already been en-
tered into with klaw & ErlanSer' WHO
do all of the syndicate's BOOKING MS
will give Newport News all OF the SHOWS
that go 20 Richmond and Norlolk, anu
the new house here will be the only one
paying syndicate attractions on the VIZ
ginia Peninsula.
Captain Dimmock. the well-known Rich
mond architect. has been selected TO draw
the plans for the house and superntend
its erection The theatre must be finished
bv August 2Sth. as Al. Fioldss big min
strel organization has been booked 10 open
the season August 18th 1t can be stated
ox the authority Of Mr.. Booker that the
new theatre will probably be the pretuest
I'm the State. and will compare favorably
with the houses in Richmond and Nor
folk I'm size The orchestra here VIII De
larger than in either Of the other cltles.
The stage Will also be larger ana VIII De
better equipped. Sixteen full sets OF
scenery have already been ordered, with
the curtain, from Chicago firm oil scene
PAINTERS. The theatre proper Will De
I25 feet by 70 feet, but at the northeast
corner Of the property there Will be
large wing which will be the full height
of the building. and will be used on the
first floor for storage purposes, on the
second floor as dressng-roOms, ana on
the third as sleeping apartments. Mana
gers Booker and Leath have conceived
the idea of accommodating the members
OF the travelling companies at the
theatre. and will have sleeping-rooms Tor
their benefit. one of the four large stores
under the theatre will be conducted as
cafe by Messrs. Booker q Leath.
Arrangements will be made WIN inc
Chesapeake and Ohio railroad TO run
trains from Old Point and Hampton be-
fore the show and back again AFTER tnc
fan Of the curtain. Similar arrangements
have been made with the Newport News
and Old Point Railway and Electric Com
pany.
Captain Dimmock will go 10 New YORK
this week to consult with theatre archl-
tecfs about the plans for the new house,
and will return next week
II is learned that the papers bringing
about this important deal were signed at
Hotel Warwick at 4:S0 o'clock last Friday
morning. after the parties had been con-
ferring for hours.
NEW STEAMBOAT LINE.
II IS probable that the Norfolk and
Ocean View Railway Company Will PUT
on a steamer between Newport News ana
Suffolk. Mr. Il. Il. Dumvillc. eX-p0stm1s-
ter Of Suffolk, one of the citizens across
the river who is interested IN securing
regular lire between the two cities wrote
Mr.. c. j. West, Of the Busines7-@ich 3
Association to-day that he has beeh III
correspondence with General-Supelinteiu
cnt Hegdrty. or the oli'ih anu
View railroad. and has reason TO beheVe
that some Arrangement can be made by
which a steamer Will leave SUFFOLK dally
i'm the morning. discharge passengers ara
freight here. and then go TO Ocean view.
4 letter from Mr. Hegarty says ne VIII
be pleased TO talk the matter over WIN
the Busincss-Mcn's Association OF 'hiS
civ on his return from the north, where
he went To witness the trial trip OF Il
new steamer to take the place OF the
Granite CITY. lie seems TO think the line
should nay from the start There Is con-
siderable interest manifested both here
and I'm Suffolk In this matter, and tho
next few DAYS will doubtless see con-
ference of the businessmen Of the two
cities and the officials Of the Norfolk ana
Ocean View railroad.
The New York. Philadelphia and Nor
folk steamer Cape Charles, which was
burned at her dock at Norfolk, sunk of
Rerklev flats. and was later raised, Is
now M the ship-yard. The steamer will
he rebuilt throughout and converted into
q freight ship. Roach's ship-yard, which
built the vessel sold it 10 prominent
steamboat man Of this vicinity several
DAVIS ago. and this man at once gave the
contract 10 rebuild the Cape Charles 10
the Newport News Ship-Building and
Drv-Dock Company. The contract In
wolves an expenditure of about @5.oD on
the work. which will be rushed 70 COM
pletion.