The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-19
BEGIN WORK ON
 NEW THEATRE Project Backed by Mont gornery Capital.
 COMPANY ALREADY FORMED Playhouse to Be Opened to Pubic in September.
 Jake Wells cenfsrs With Stockholders On Enterprise and Leaves Plan for struc.ure--wiu Cost sso 900.
COMPANY ALREADY FORMED

acw and expensive theatre in Mont
 gomery, as announced In The Advertiser some time ago Is to be carried our, wa !
 confirmed yesterday, when a statement
 was given out that a company, the capital of which Is furnished princi- pally by Montgomery business men, has
 been formed and will be Incorporated
 as soon as inc necessary papers can
 be drawn.
 That the theatre was to be built al
 once was evidenced yesterday, when
 workulen began, tearing down the 0.j
 and unused structure in the rear of 21d
 Dexter Avenue, in order to make way
 for the erection of the theatrical struc-
 ture
 The news that the theatrical, company
 Is to be backed by Montgomery capital came as a surprise to Montgomery bus
 jness men. Some time ago Jake Wells,
 of Richmond. va., who Is. interested In
 circuit Of pla yhouses throughout the South. paid flying visit 10 Montgom-
 cry and virtually completed the deal
 for the purchase of the Greil property
 on Dexter Avenue, between Lawrence
 and McDonough Streets. At that time,
 however. 1t was understood, he was
 acting in his own interest. and the
 interest of those who have been asso-
 c!ated with his other theatrical enter. prises.
 Yesterday. however 1t was stated two thirds of the capital for the erec- ton ef the structure Is to be put up by Mont gomery people. and that Major R. F, Steiner, one of tho stockholders has been elected President of the com pany. The name of the other Nons- gonlerians interested in the project have not yet been given out Mir. Wells yesterday paid anotslef flying visit to Montgomery. Arriving at o'clock in the morning. he held q consolidation with the persons inter- ested in the enterprise. left with them ground plans for the new structure and left the city at 3 o'clock in tee af ternoon. In the short time he was ii Montgomery, the situation was gone over thoroughly. and .he details of the plan mapped out
 The theatre structure will cost. il is estimated, in the neighbOrhood of $6o,- 00e. Tn addition to the theatre, how l ever. it is the intention of the company | to erect a building which will be used for offices and stores, fronting on Dex, | ter Avenue. The auditorium and stage will be In the rear of this structure and will have seating capacity oi 1 1,T00 persons.
 | The property wn:ch the theatre com I oany has purchased from the Grell in 1 terests has a frontage on Dexter Ave nue of eighty feet It is 195 feet deep 1 The theatre portion of the building i will be entered by a passageway al I hail sixty feet in length. leadins l through that portion of the buiidin. l which will be given over to office ant ! stores. after the pattern of the Crane | opera House In Atlanta 1 In the erection of the building, it Ia the intention of the company to have i'the theatre portion Of the structure
 built first. In time to open the season September h. The building fronting on Dexter Avenue. comprising Nos. 2lt tn 216. Is at present occupied, but will t-bS torn down after the theatre. audi
 torium and stage have been built. The contract for the theatr eporiion, it wa; If Is expected ground for the founda- tions will be broken during tho present week.
 While the capital with which the company will be Incorporated, will he furnished principally by Montgomer- ians there is also considerable money
 from New York interested Tn the enter
 prise Mr. Wells himselr. has an ip-
 terest in the building. The property will be owned by tke company, hut thc
 theatre will be operated by the Eij"u Theatre Company. of Richmond, Va. Of which MT. Wells Is . iarge stock
 holder. which has secures a lease fot ten years.
 when we open next September" said MT Steiner yesterday "the theatre will be prepared to furnish to the peo- ple of Montgomery good line of shows It will he open six nights in the weeK for ten months of the year"