Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-09
|BIlOU has BIRTHDAY d / !.
loAD STREET PLAY-'HoUsE
oleulEBRATED FOURTH AMI
yERsAaY YESTERDAY.
HISTORY OF THE HOUSE '':|lJ E:
u.w Jake Wells Went Into Trunk
ss.re TO Duy strap. and Started
rAe.trc-Bi. Rapid Rise and
Achievements.

Yesterday marked the fourth annfver-
sary OF the opening OF the Bijou. as that
pretty little playhouse was thrown open
to the public January S. 1899. under the
management OF Jake Wells and =. u.
Barrow. Barrow was at that time prest-
dent Of the Atlantic League OF Base-Bali
Clubs. and Wells was manager OF the
Richmond club. which was member OF
that organization.
The story of how the two men went
into the place. to buy strap. as the
theatre had been abandoned. and was
being used at that time as trunk
store. is now a matter Of theatrical his
tory. Arrangements were made and con-
sur,mAted with E. H. Spence. who was
1t that time the proprietor Of the store,
looking to Its transformation into thea
tre. And in few weeks afterward. as
soon as the necessary repairs could be
made, It was opened as vaudeville house
and chr1stened -'Bijou."
WHERE MAC" CAME IN.
Charles Mckee, who was the owner Of
the Paterson. N. J., baseball club, came
70 Richmond rs Barrow's representative.
and afterwards bought out the latter's In
terest for a mere song, as the venture did
not promise to be profitable one.
After Mckee >ccame connected with the
theatre. however. business took decid-
ed turn for the better. and since that
time the Bitou has steadily increased
In patronage. and in the class of attrac-
tions offered the public until now. 1t is
recognized as one OF the most profitable
popular priced houses in the South.
Only last summer the house was COM
pleteiy remodel.cd and redecorated: new
boxes were added. and the interior and
stage considerably enlarged to meet the
growing demands Of the theatre.
WELLS, HAS GROWN.
Manager Wells. who Is recognized as
the Oscar Hammerstein Of the South. not
content with owning one theatre. has
steadily encroached upon other territory.
and now has houses In Norfolk. Atlanta,
and Birmingham. controls several summer
parks. and the Bijou Musical Comedy
Company. which was organized several
years ago.
Both Managers Wells and Mckee are
dessrvedly popular. and the attaches of
the pretty little playhouse are polite and
accommodating.
By a happy circumstance the popular
Biiou Comedy Company appeared at the
place OF its birth yesterday at two per-
formances in "A Contented Woman" one
Of the lamented Charles Hoyt's most pop
ular and successful plays.
AGNES LANE is BACK
Another happy fact in this connection
was the temperance Of Agnes Rose
Lane, who was leading woman Of this
coterie OF players for several years, but
who left them at the beginning Of the
present season to star in new play in
the West. She was specially engaged by
the management to again appear as Grace
Holme In "A Contcnted Woman part
she had previously played with the same
organization with great success.
The Bijou was crowded yesterday. both
matinee and evening. and the popular
players were given warm reception upon
their appearance. and the demonstration
for Miss Lane. who is deservedly popular
here. amounted almost to an ovation.
IT WAS WE'LL PLAYED.
All OF the characters In the play. which
is keen-cut political satire on woman's
suffrage. were well sustained. and the
play went with the same snap that has
characterized previous productions in this
city.
Max Hoffman introduced some new.
catchy music, and Mary Marble and the
Fajama Pollies had consequently great
opportunities
Little Chip. Otis Harlan. and Tony Hart
were as Irresistible as Of yore.
The play was prettily staged. and the
costumes bright and attractive.
The anniversary of the Bijou and the
temperance of the Comedy Company In
deed marked an ANIMAL in the local theat-
rtcal world. "a Contented Woman with
Miss Lane as the woman. will be the bill
for the week, with the usual Saturday
matinee. j. w. A.