The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-14
New Bijou is Likely to
 Supplant Others.
NO POSITIVE ANNOUNCEMENT
Jake Wells Talks of the Coming
 Seasons Attractions.
MeAtEpmery is Charged More, He Says, for some shows Than Other Cities Because They Can't
 Stay Long.

Although plans have not been finally completed. it is practically certain that when the new Bijou Theatre is opened the present Montgomery Theatre and .ne ola Btjou will be closed all of the S1actions playing in the new theatre on Dexter Avenue.
 Sske Wells, who has the manage ment of the new theatre, and who was Larkeiy instrumental in it's erection. was Tn Montgomery yesterday in con terence with Messrs. Hirscher Bros. sar' wells says that he is not yet ready 70 announce to the public what will oe oone when the new theatre Is open- eo' He also declined to say what pre- vented a decision on this matter, fur tner than that the time was not ripe
 Montgomery theatre -goers lare very much concerned to know whether the new play house is to be filled with Bitou circuit attractions at high prices when the regular Klaw and Erlanger productions are not booked here. Mir. Wells said positively yesterday that all Y. & E. attractions, or rather the big shows, will be given precedence over those playing for popular prices.
 Montgomery will get every good show that goes to New Orleans" he said, ~and when the bookings are com pieted Montgomerians will see that the list Is the largest and best in class that they have ever enjoyed.
 Many people confuse the idea of popular price attractions with the rep ertoire companies playing at ten, twent' and thirt'. The popular price shows that we have on the Bijou circuit are the same in class as Montgomertans have been paying q dollar and a dollar and half D see. We play these shows at popular prices in cities like Atlanta and Birmingham for the sim pie reason that we are able to keep them there a week and pack the house for nine performances. The expense of billing the town, handling the baggage and railway fare Is the same as it would be for one night stands. In Montgomery experience has proven that neither these shows, nor any oth- CT, will draw paying houses for more than one night or two at the outside. Consequently we are forced to charge a little more than we do in the week stands.
 Where Montgomerians have been paying s1 and $1.69 for attractions not of the very best order. We propose to give them to them for 50 and 75 cents. Some of these shoSvs carry as many as thirtys4ye people and are made up of good tAlent.
 ''We have come to Montgomery to  tended before. The old Montgomery Theatfe was not suited to city of the impotance of Montgomery. Many who would like to go to a nice, comforta- bie theatre. stayed away for the req sonithat the house was old. poorly arr ranged. poorly ventilated and with few comforts. The stage was bad, the up- stairs also seriously affecting it's desir- ablH qualities.
 fThe old Bijou was also in bad shape, and after losing a good deal of money we found that two theatres cailld not buck each other and exist, add it was either combination or skut both down.
 "We have made a start which indi- sates to the people in Montgomery that We intend to give them the best that money affords In the way of theatre Recommendations When the new Bijou hs completed, 1t will be as handsome land comfortable as any theatre in the south, excepting none. No expense has been spared in securing decorations. seats and other furnishings, ana the stage will be the best equipped Tn the South.
 with A seating capacity of over 1,7o0 neople. we will be able to take care of anv audience that is likely to assem- bIe in Montgomery for any attraction. There will be cloak rooms. smoking rooms and every other accessory found in a first-class theatre.
 MT. Wells said that he hoped to have inc new Bijou open by October 20, and work is being pushed to that end The entrance from Dexter Avenue will be pushed to completion as rapidly as pos- sibIe. and 1t is possible that the house will be ready for use before this Is fin- ished. but 1t will be used temporarily in order that the better class or shows in November and December can play