The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-14
OPENS JANUARY 5
New Novelty Theater Is Near
ing Completion.
Decorators Are at Work on the
Walls.
WILL BE A MODEL.
One Of Prettiest Play Houses in
the West.
May Offer an Entrance for
Independents.


ager, for the opening of the new Nov
city theater which has been in the
course of construction during the fall
months at the northwest corner of East
Eighth avenue and Quincy street. 1t
Will be the home, primarily, of the
highest class of vaudeville that is pre-
sented in this country. And when its
doors are thrown open to the public To-
pekans will have an opportunity of see
ing one of the finest theaters in this
part of the country. Not a cent has
been spared to make it as handsome
house of amusement, as we'll as COM
Portable one, as any of its size in the
whole land. 1t is of no small size either
for it will have a seating capacity or
about one thousand.
But the opening of this theater means
more to the theater going public of To-
peka than is contained in the statement
that 1t is to be the home of high class
vaudeville. Mr.. Wells is satisfied, as
well as are others who are in touch
with the theatrical situation in the
country, that before another theatrical
season rolls around the theatrical man
independents and who are headed
by David Belaseo and Harrison Grey
Fiske, will have established a road cir
cult stretching from New York city
clear to the Pacific coast. Steps are
already under way by the independ-
ents to secure independently controlled
theaters in all of the important cities
across the country in which they will
be able to produce the many excellent
plays and present the many talented
actors they have under their control,
who have been compelled, perforce, to
shine only in the big cities of the east.
When such circuit is tablished 1t
is Mr.. Wells intention to book all of
these independent attractions which |
come Topekaward that it will be pos
sible for him to obtain. He will sus- |
pend his vaudeville shows for one or
two nights each week in order to have
these sterling shows presented here. /
This means that Topekans will have
chance to see some of the stars on the
of the theatrical trust" And so when |
such a condition of affairs is accom- !
plished the people Of this city will be |
provided with as high a class of the |
atricals as the people of any other city |
in the country, for all Of the good |
shows and fine actors who tour the
west under the direction of the trust" |
are also booked for Topeka
AS stated the new Novelty will be |
one of the finest theaters of it's size in /
the country 1t ;Mill be most modern
in all of it's details and it's interior |
decorations will surpass in beauty any
thing that has ever been seen here
along that line. These decorations, |
which are being put in now, are from
designs from the facile brush of Mr..
Albert 7. Reid and are wonderfully |
InorG ARE many HOFCl al
in the new theater, such |
as are found in the most modern of
the houses in the east. Not a post or /
pillar of any sort looms up on the par
quet floor to bar In any way the view
of anyone, the gallery being supported
by steel trusses. The seating capacity
down stairs will be $40, exclusive Of the
boxes. There will be two commodious
lower boxes on each side OF the house.
TWO of these boxes will seat ten each
and the other two seven each. Over
these sets of boxes and adjoining the
gallery will be two sets of boxes of the
Shakespearean type. The gallery Will
nave a seating capacity of something
over 400.
shows has been fixed by Mr.. Wells
which ought to meet with favor. The
seats on the lower, or parquet floor will
he 25 cents each and those in the gal
ery Is cents each, while the prices for
seats in the lower boxes will be 80
cents. The price for all OF the matt
natinees, will be ten cents for any
seat in the house and children's mat
nee at five cents a ticket for the young
,ters will be given on every Saturday
afternoon.
Mr.. Wells has planned to give three
,hows each day. The matinee will be
1t 2:30 o'clock in the afternoon and the
irst evening performance VIII be given
md one-half The second night per-
ormance will begin shortly after 9
o'clock and will be concluded about
0:30 o'clock. i
The vaudeville shows for the house
will be booked through the medium of
he Sullivan & Considine circuit, which
upplies a string of the highest class
-audeville houses in the country from
.oast to coast. Many Of the acts con- g
rolled by this booking concern are the J
lovelties, European and American, on
he vaudeville stage. The bills for each Il
week at the Novelty consist of from =
i've to seven acts in addition to an il
ustrated song and a series of moving +
lectures.