The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-23
THE BIJOU IS READY
NEW THEATRE WILL BE OPENED
 MONDAY NIGHT.
Old Playhouse Has Been Compieteis Modernised by Jake Weils--Man- ager o. A. Neal Talks
 of Policy.

The Montgomery public will be sur prised and delighted with the Bijou
 theatre when the new play house IS formally opened next Monday evening
 with a production of "Alphonse and
 Gaston" a satirical musical comedy.
 Under the direction of Jake Wells l the well known theatrical promoter.
 the old McDonalds theatre on Bibb Street has been transformed into a l beautiful and modern home of the dra-
 matic art and has been rechristened. | The Bijou is more than "a trinket or little box" 1t is a gem of play house. After securing a long term lease on 1 the house several months ago MT. Wells began the work of modernizinE 1t throughout. His own construction corps under the direction of Superin- tendent Joseph Essig of Richmond, Va. was sent here to do the work and the corps included his own scenic artist. George Talbott. who has painted the new scenery for the stage. The work of this corps of men Is nearing com pletion and the public will witness the result of their labors, representing an expenditure of more than $5.0OO, next Monday evening.
 Little has been left about the build ing to remind one of the old McDon- aids Theatre. Everything Is new and modern. The building has been re- painted and redecorated within and without, the stage has been widened and rearranged. new boxes have been provided, there are new carpets and curtains new dressing rooms and all attaches of the house will be new men. The color scheme of the interior is green, white and gold which colors, by the way. mark all of the Wells the atres. They are the favorite colors of Mr. Wells who borrowed the idea from the Majestic Theatre, New York. The interior decoration will be set off with A profusion of incandescent lights the lavish use of which Is also pet idea of Mir Wells. The floor of the lobby
 is laid with green iinoleum and green carpets are on the floors of the auc:- torium. The walls are decorated in
 white, gold and green and the draper ies are in green.
 The narduet has been extended about
 five feet to the orchestra pit and the stage has been widened two feet on either side. Additional boxes have been added and a handsome new drop curtain will add greatly to the appear | ance of the stage.
 The fresco work was done by an artist of no mean ability and is sure | to be admired by lovers of the artistic. With the change in management
  | regulations governing the house. Chief l of these in point of interest to the the atrexoers is an entirely new arrange
 ment for the accommodation of me-
 groes. The entire gallery or third
 balcony is to be given over to the blacks, no mixing of the races, and this gallery is to be reached by a sep arate entrance provided with an in- | dependent box -offce for negroes. They
 may secure seats in advance. too, an | arrangement having been perfected
 whereby seats to the house for negroes
 may be reserved at a negro drug store. l 9v this arrangement the main lobby | of inc theatre Is reserved exclusively
 for white persons. Here the main ticket office is located It has been
 extended so as to secure more room. l The ticket office hours will be from 9
 m. to p. m. The office is pro-
 vided with a telephone and the man
 apement will make a speciality of re-
 serving seats for all entertainments | by telephone.
 have been the guiding rules of the constructor in remodelling the old nIav house and from these view points he has excelled. He has wrought A | that will be the pride Of citizens of Montgomery
 O. A. Neal. young man of Rich
 rond, Va. who formerly had charra of inc Bijou In Birmingham. has cone to Montgomery to be manager of ths new theatre. MT Neal said yAster-
 dav that 1t was his purpose to strive to please the piay'goers of Moutgom-