The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-26
NEW PLAY HOUSE
One to Bs Built i'm Topeka at
Last.
"Orpheum" Name of the Pro-
posed Theator.
CIRCUIT is FORMED
Includes High Glass Vaudeville
Houses I'm West.
Effort VIII Be Made to Secure
Schubert Attractions.

Topeka is to have another new
theater-a show house with a seating
capacity for between twstve and f1f
teen hundred persons and which vii
be most modern in all of its details. i
will be the home of the highest class
of vaudeville that is seen in this coun-
try from New York to San Francisco
The new theater will be called the
Orpheum and a sort of an option has
been secured on a piece of property
centrally located in the city by those
who are back of the enterprise, which
will be an ideal place for the house.
The deal for this property has not
been closed as vet so ii would hardly
be fair to name the location for OBJ
vious reasons.
In addition to being the home of
high class vaudeville 1t is hoped by
the projectors of the theater that an
arrangement can be made by the Shu-
berts whereby at least two nights in
the week can be devoted to the play
ing of the productions controlled by
these theatrical managers. If such a
deal is accomplished it will mean that
the theater going public of Topeka,
and its number is large, will have an
opportunity next season of witnessing
some of the finest theatrical DrOduc-
tions on the American stage which are
now barred from Topeka because the
prominent actors and actresses Civ
ing them will not submit to the op-
pressive dictation of the theatrical
trust.
This new theater for Topeka is to
be built by the Orpheum Adjustment
company, whose headquarters are at
Leavenworth- This company was in
corporated with the secretary of state
on Saturday of last week, the state
charter board having granted it the
charter for which it applied. This
company is Incorporated with a capt.
tai stock of $50, 900, all of which is
paid in and which is held by the di-
sectors of the company who include
w H. Hooper. George w Hankins.
Stance Myers, H. W. Mehl, Lee Bond
and John n. Atwood, of Leavenworth
and s. r. Wells, of this city. Mr.
Wells is the manager of the Novelty
theater here. and this popular little
play house has enjoyed a wonderful
success under his mana cement
The Novelty theater is owned by
small syndicate consisting of William
H Hooper, II. W. Mehl and Mr.. Wells
and these three men have controll-
ing interest in the stock of the Or
pheum Amusement company This
company has already purchased the
new Orpheum theater at Leavenwortf7
and in addition to putting in the
house at Topeka it proposes to erect
one at st. Joseph. Mo, and Kansas
City, Mo, all of which will open at the
same time as the Topeka house. that
is September 1.
The vaudeville attractions for these
houses will be booked by the Western
Vaudeville association which books
for a string of twenty-efght of the
large vaudeville houses throughout the
entire country that are on what is
Known as the Orpheum circuit None
but the best of the vaudeville acts in
the country are shown at any of these
olr1v E1NJ1
some of the European vaudeville nov
elites. The prices which will be
charged at the Topeka theater for the
vaudeville shows will be Is, % and 35
cents.
Mr.. Wells, when asked about the
new house, did not wish to go into de-
tails at this time. ''It is true" he said. !
that the Orpheum Amusement com
Saturday last, and in which the other
members of the Peoples Amusement |
syndicate and myself hold control |
ling interest. intends to erect a mod
ern playhouse here In Topeka which |
we expect to have open by September |
/ This new company has already |
the new Orpheum theater |
at Leavenworth and propose to erect |
new ones at st. Joseph. Mo, and kan I
sas City, Mo. These houses are to be |
devoted in the main to the presenta-
tion of the highest class of vaudeville |
acts.
We are going to make an effort.
continued Mr.. Wells. ito make some /
with the Shuberts so that
we can present some of the produc- /
tions controlled by them in our To-
peka house. We think that the people
of this city would welcome a chance
to enjoy these Shubert productions
and hope to make such arrangements
with the Shuberts that we can devote
two nights each week to their shows
In the Topeka theater. The rest of
the week will be devoted to high class
Mr.. Wells was pressed for some fur
-her details about the new house He
replied that a centrally located site had
been selected for it but the deal for
the property had not been closed. so
he did not feel at liberty to make the
location public.
1T will be a new and most modern
heater in every particular" Mr. Wells
vent on. 'and will have a seating ca
pacity of between twelve and fifteen
hundred, say between eight and nine
hundred downstairs and between four
md six hundred in the balcony"
Mr.. Wells stated that the building
and the opening of this new theater
would not mean the closing of the
JOpular Novelty. 1.-The Novelty" said
'ir. Wells, will continue to be run as
he home of the highest class of ten
ent vaudeville"