The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-11-09
Action Will Result in Bitter
Fight Before Court.
MANAGEMENT UNSATISFACTORY
Imperial Theatre Bone Of Contention Be.
tween J. A. Foster and SpItl and
Nathanson, Prospective New lsssss

II looks as though there was 10 be a
legal fight over the possession OF the I'm
perial theatre. The theatre is owned by
]. a. Foster. and since il was opened has
been operated under a lease TO Col. Felix
r. Wendelschaefer. and for the past year
Spitz & Nathanson have been associated
with Col. Wendelschaefer IN the manage
ment OF the house.
Mr.. Foster has cancelled the lease, the
terms OF which he claims have been
violated. and a. soon as the present
trouble is settled will lease the theatre to
a western man, j. NJ. Allison, who Is rep
resented mere by Elwood r. Bostwick.
who Is fairly well known among local
theatrical people.
Spltz & Nathansou have consulted coun-
sci and say they will not give up the
theatre and unless they are forced out by
the courts will not give up possession.
They have placed deputy sheriff In
the theatre to look out for their interests.
Mr.. Foster, when seen by a reporter.
confirmed the report that he had ter
nina ted the lease Of the theatre, saying
he had good reason TO do so. and re-
ferrng the reporter TO Mr.. Bostwick for
further information. The latter was at
the theatre all day. He was not pre-
pared to make any definite statement,
he said until he had talked matters over
with Mr.. Allison. lie did say, though,
that no change was contemplated In the
policy OF the establishment and that the
stock company would be continued.
Spitz and Nathanson stated that they
were still in possession OF the house and
would not give IL up unless evicted by the
! courts. Mr.. Spitz said:
1--WE consulted our lawyer today and We
! found out what we can do. Here are the
keys of the place. and that doesn't look
as II we had given up possession. does II?
| No, sir We still have possession, ard
we intend TO keep AZ. If We have TO fight
| il In the courts until We have lost every
brick In the Empire.
This is nothing more than a conspiracy
to get US out OF the house. But they
can't do IT, We have a partnership with
/ Col. Wendelschaefer. and how could the
| lease be given up without our consent?
| After talking the matter all over Wendell
| schaefer, Nathanson and myself went TO
| see Mr. Foster yesterday. and II was
| agreed that Wendelschaefer was 10 give
| up his interest in the theatre and that the
house was 10 be newly leased 70 Nathan-
son and myself.
THAT was what We expected. and now
this thing Is sprung on US this morning
without any warning
1--WE made Wendelschaefer an offer of
$4,000 for his interest IN the house three
weeks ago. Then We offered 10 give him
5000 and let him retain third interest.
hut we were TO have the sole manage
ment. He would not accept any OF tho
propositions we made.
This thing will be fought. and We in
tend TO hold on until we are ordered out
bv the court, II IL happens TO be decided
against us. And Mr. Courtleigh and the
stock company will remain right there
under our management, just as they are
at present. There will be no change
in that
Colonel Wendelschaefer, when inter
viewed said he had not been satisfied
with the management wmcn cAslcu lor
some time and that he had tiled tiledS 70 hanS ,,SS
the partnership between hlmselt ana
Snitz a Nathanson dissolved They were
unable however, TO reach any sauslac-
tory agreement ,,s. g.. 40
sun,a ali the liabilities OF the establish
ment Of Spltz & Nathanson, II they would
drop out and leave him with the entlre
management This, Colonel NehueisJnae noe iafsr
changed their minds and asserted they
would not reliquish their interest Tor any
Toiorai Wendelschaefer said: Il told
then weeks ago that things were not go
ing satisfactorily and that III MT. roster
became dissatisfied with the way the
terms OF the lease were being broken ne
would cancel It and turn us out.
then, whereby the partnership would De
dissolved either disPeeiffs at -ff4S-e -t+t--
tercst to them, or taking over their 10,
terest but we could not agree on 1t.
warned them that something IKE TINS
would happen II things were not taken
care of I'M accordance with the terms OF
the lease, and now the expected mas oc-
CURED ...,,.i,,,- ,,.
IN a more communicative mood and talked
quite freely. ,-.., J.. ..ts .,he.
cause the house has been run IN an un-
go refractory manner and the terms or the
lease have been broken That was the
sole reason, and I might have taken ad-
vantage OF special clauses IN the lease
10 that end some time ago, but | let II
run on. a., .,a.s. -.
heen conducted and | was not satished
vvitb rho business that was done. inc
business has been poor for q long time,
and Ali that sort OF thing tends To IN
iure the value Of the property IN case
7 should want 20 sell II or lease II at any
tive All that however Is incidental. /
tools posseesinn because the terms OF the
icosc had been broken
With the partnership management be-
tween Colonel Wcndelschaefer ana Spitz
e. Nathan. Mr.. Foster said he had Moth
ing 20 do