The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-04
COUP GIVES WELLS
/ THEATRICAL TRUST
/
Routs Enemy and is Forming Six.
Week Circuit.
HAS ATLANTA HOUSE NOW
Vaudeville Association Franchise Given to
Tim and Will Open In tae Grand-iiis
Plans for Big Concert Goes 10 At
ia lo-csy TO Sign >catracts.

With control now OF the Bijou in TINS
getty, the CRANKY Of Norfolk, and the,
ticolumbia Theatre in Atlanta, Manager
Jake Wells. Of the Bijou Company, is
contemplating and perfectIng the forma-
laon of FIVE or six-week circuit though
Il the South. lie has secured the. vaudeville
8Managcrs' Association franchise in At
Hianta, over the head Of r. Co!ey Ander-
Hson. of that city. forcing Mr.. Anderson
4 Ito conduct II vaudeville theatre only on
lines and about April 7th
MIR Wells win take the Grand opera
SHouse in Atlanta for a season of e!Ght
weeks and possibly longer Between the
first and the middle Of April the cciu1n-
bia in Atlanta will be closed and eiapo-
Iaie renovaJions made.
These developments are the result OF
Which have been under way
'3ior some time. Mir Wells eayeS TINS
) city for Atlanta to-day and viii remain
E,Ill the week. Ii Is possible that he
EkNil go even further South working TO-
Inward New Orleans, through Birmingham,
! bin the interest Of his wider circuit. Mr.
Wells has just returned from the meeting
EEof the Vaudeville Managers Association
hin New York with the Atlanta franchise
FEn his pocket.
h PLANS MADE PUBLIC.
= The changes to be made in the Columbia
lin Atlanta will lie radical. The present
Elsntrance Will be torn out and grocery
8ktorc directly under the theatre con
Inverted int a grand lobby and entrance.
H1nslde the, house will be revoluionzo1,
lhhese changes being made Immediately
i;t1tcr the regular season lets up. lhG
thouse will. be reopened in September as a
civ omit :. -
tnle same shows put ON here will be 'ent
hhcre For the first time yesterday Mi.
~ made public his plans for the new
+ cult and the now houses he VIII take
Fl charge.
FIR am going to Atlanta to sign the con-
Eislct for the Columbia" he said. when
Il went To Atlanta in The matter of q new
hit.atre / first took it up with Ar.
tHtaiey. later with MIR 1Iokc Smith, and
hate with the De Gives. I>law d Err
Ehnacr. who control the Columbia, finally
flaw that ] intended TO lruild there, and,
thinking shat the lease of the Columola
Mo me would prevent another FUlldlnG'
| .h.y agreed, through MIR. De Give, TO let
Fine have it.
/ About April list TO 18th the Columbia
Is iii be closed and the work Of making
Ithe alterations will begin. Meanwhile,
Elhave arranged to send the Bijou Comedy
& a
Iwu go into the Grand for a season OF
ut least eight weeks. There ] shall play
the Comedy Company and vaudeville ''l
| the best class by the time ] finish there
.uhc Columbia should be ready, although
/. shall not open that house until about
IlSeptember.
i at is NV intention at present 20 form
litrcuf+ OF five or six weeks. With the
If3iiou. the CRANKY and the Columbia, and
iIith Newport News and other cities up
Inns way in the circuit / can take az
Ewartions off the northern circuits ana
l.,a. them straight through. shall also
talay the Bijou Company in the Jeheis >.
ill., birmingham. and in other cities Of ihe
liar south. While am in the South inns
fime too. shall take up the matter OF
Ii summer attraction circuit Inc SIX
lyeeks circuit now looks TO tae>a seitieo
sanair a,,.
II shall not go into Atlanta to iiGht
tMr Anderson with the vaudeville iran
Il Thisc. lie has been dropped by the as
/ .ociafion. but can still do NanaeV'lle
/ musiness there If he wants to, altl"u5 4
7 tindependentIy Of course. shall play 'hG
tn1anapers' attractions, and should one Oh
these acts appear in.a house not III ',e
association. it would be dropped by the
AgSe0Cia ton.