The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-08
ATL ANITA THEATRE
FOR JAKE WELLS
Richmond Manager Going to That
City To-Day and May Build
Since LYceum Eu;ned.

Jake Wells WILL in all probability,
build Il new theatre in Atlanta. This
step has been decided upon Within the
OF the destruction by fire of the new
I.yceum Theatre in Atlanta on Wednes-
Clay afternoon. The new Iyceum was de-
voted to vaudeville, and any theatre Mr..
Wells might build III Atlanta would be
for similar shows. Incidentally there may
be a race in the building Of new thea
tra there.
Mr.. Wells had one little turn with At
lanta, in the early part of this year,
enough to demonstrate to his entire
satisfaction what manner OF anus ement
that city wants After two weeks as
ilan:ger of the new Lyceum, the play
house just burned there, with r. Coley
Anderson as lessee, Mr.. Wells decided
that he and Mr.. Anderson could not get
along tCgetler;. hence his determination
to drop out Of the city until he could
build Il house of his own. He introduced
vaudeville to Atlanta, the only city be-
tween Richmond and New Orleans where
in the best of vaudevillas has been seen,
and Immediately after his withdrawal tie
house contained to do well. 1t has. how
ever been Il loser, it is stated authori-
tatively, owing to tie fact that it could
work in no circuit with any other house,
and therefore Mr.. Wells believes. that
with q new house in Atlanta added to
his present circuit, which includes the
Chase circuit, the tide there would be
tur, ed to Il golden stream Of profit.
The New Lyceum in Atlanta was the
property of Thomas l.. Bowles, through
the foreclosure of d mortgage on the
Cunningham estate, and was known as
one of the 'Jonahs" among playhouses
of the country. Atone time it was on the
.Greenwald circuit, and played such at
fractions as Mansfield, Lillian Russell ana
the French Opera 1t had never met with
financial success. however, until It was
opened by Mr.. Wells for vaudeville, and
even with the disadvantage of being To-
Gated many blocks out of the run Of traf-
fic. it drew crowds.
With this house removed from the field
it will be Mr. Wells IDEA to build another
house, tirst-class in every respect, in an
absolutely central location. There Is now
being constructed in Atlanta the Peachtree
take all the central traffic of the city, and
it is, therefore. Mr.. Wells's desire to set
his new playhouse on this structure. All
the old buildings along the streets on the
yiaduct have been torn Gown, and it is
believed that Mr.. Wells can easily make
the necessary contracts for such a house
as he may need.
There is {. possibility that another vau-
oeyiIle house will be built in Atlanta by
Mr.. Anderson or his colleagues, but this
is extremely doubtful If such a house
should be built, however, there5.wiI prob
ably be u race between Mr., Anderson and
Mr.. Wells. while there is at the same time
a possibility that the eGive interests in
Atlanta will break into vaudeville with
the Columbia, their populsE-price house.
This is generally regarded as being the
most feasible scheme Of them all, but
even should this be done there is no doubt
that Mr.. Wells will build if he can make
suitable contracts He will go to Atlanta
at once to look into the matters