The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-27
OPENINs OF THE BlJOU
NEW WELLS THEATRE DREW
 LARGE AUDIENCE.
"AIphonse and Gaston" Failed to Please But Cosy Playhouse Was Ad- mired Greatly-Win Build
 In Mobile.


 Montgomery yesterday evening paid tribute to the deservedly good reputa- tion of Jake Wells as an amusement purveyor.
 A great audience, one that filled every bit of it's, available space, attended the opening of his cosy little Bijou Theatre. But for one thing-one important thing the formal opening of the Playhouse would have been a notable evcNt. The management made mistake in select ing "Alphonse and Gaston" as the pre- mier entertainment. The production was not satisfactory.
 Many there were. when they got their first glimpse of the interior of the play house and saw what had been done there in the way of improvements, who forgave the "Alphonse and Gaston" er- TOT of judgment, sat back and enjoyed themselves in gasps of delight at the | transformation wrought by MT. Wells's corps of theatre builders.
 Initiated ones have known for weeks that the old Mcdonald Theatre was be. ing turned into a theatre that would speak of tasteful elegance but the large | audience that went there last night was treated to a revelation. From the large arc lights that brilliantly illu- minated Bibb Street in front of the play house to the rear walls of the stage,
 
 there is little to remind one of the old theatre but the four walls.
 The main lobby Is a thing of beauty. It is decorated with artistic panels and the green floor covering and white and gold walls are illuminated by myriads of incandescents. Potted palms here and there about the lobby gave the whole touch of dignified refinement.
 The color scheme. green, gold and tr fAI In mt decorations. There are green carpets and green draperies and more palms raise their heads in front of the pros- centum boxes. The seats have been re- touched and improved and the stage has been widened.
 The attaches of the house from Man ager o. A. Neal to the humblest usher vied with each other in attendance upon the patrons and for first night in new house there was little friction and no complaint on the score of accom- modation.
 If the audience did not take kindly to the entertainment offered 1t left with a good impression of the Bijou Theat- tre and with the Wells system of cater ing to the public.
 Jakc Wells was there himself. Out in the lobby the big. good natured theatre magnate held a sort of levee.
 
 gomery.
 T came direct from New York;" he said ito be here at our opening. The Bijou here Is not yet what we intend to make 1t. We are now negotiating for property in Mobile on which to build a new theatre to be conducted in connection with our house here. This will be done by next season and then we will be enabled to give Mont hot rIo af af Moreover, I think Manager Neal will be able to please |the Montgomery public this season. He has some real good bookings. It is our purpose to continue to improve this house, as we go along. Our new theatre in Rich- mond will be opened on Thanksgiving day taking the place of my smaller theatre there. Some of the handsome furnishings in the small house will be transferred to Montgomery.
 MT. Wells will leave this morning for New York where he is preparing q company for the road to produce | Babes in Toyland." This company will include Mary Marble, Little Chip | and Otis Harlan.
 If the audience at the Bijou last night did not approve "Alphonse and | Gaston" 1t was recompepsed by the music discoursed by the theatre or-
  Lindner. The Gustav Luders numbers | were especially well rendered. The | standard of music at the new theatre is promising.
 Little Is to be said of "Alphonse and | Gaston." At their best such entertain. ments do not require dignified treat- ment but when they are served up by | mediocre entertainers the task of treat. Ing of them at all Is irksome.
 As most of us know, the play Is merely an excuse for a series of spe- cialtles. If these specialties are di- 1 verting. good enough: we applaud. If | they are poorly done and of the crop | of other seasons, we wonder why they | are allowed. It has been written that | the entertainment failed to please l This is sufficient.
 In passing, 1t might be said that Miss | Stuart and MT. McGrath sang in good | voice and little Miss White was fetch- ing; that Mir. Gibson did 'Hooligan" about as we'll as could have been ex- pected and that all of the people in | the company wore nice, new looking | costumes.
 As for the two men who essayed the | ridiculous Frenchman and the woman | who attempted Mrs. Katzenjammer, they were impossible.
 However. the audience was glad to