The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-25
WILL BUILD NEW THEATRE Wells Company to Erect
 Playhouse. DEAL VIRTUALLY SETTLED Building Will Be Located on Dex-
 ter Avenue. AEreement Resched With GreI Broth CT. ResardIss sale of Property
 fer s7o.ooo structure-Eo
 Seat I,soo People.

Within a period of ten months at the outside, Montgomery is to have a new theatre.
 Plans looking toward this end as- stunned definite shape yesterday when Graner Neil and Jake Wells of Rich mond, partners in the Jake Wells Company of that place, virtually clos cd deal with. the Greil Brothers, looking toward tine purchase of the property lying on the south side of Dexter Avenue between Lawrence and McDonough streets. That the pur- chase was not definitely concluded was owing to an uncertainty in details. which, however. will be satisfactorily arranged in a few days.
 While last night both parties to the sale were reticent, in regard to the matter. 1t is known an agreement was made, and >that the theatre will be built.
 That the Jake Wells Company has been looking forward to the estab- lishment of new theatre In Mont- gomery for some time, Is an open se- cret among the followers of the. the- atre in the city. The little. Bijou Theatre has been regarded by the Wells Company as being entirely too small for their needs. With a seating capacity of only trifle over 300 has, on a number of occasions, proved un- equal to the task of taking care of its patrons. It has been believed by the owners of the playhouse that a new theatre would be to their financial benefit and the plans for the deal have been in the air for a long time.
 Messrs. Wells and Mel reached Montgomery yesterday morning Me- gotiations looking toward the pur- chase of the Greil property on Dex- ter Avenue had been entered into some time ago. A price. 1t is under stood. had been set and had been sub. mitted to the theatrical syndicate. When the representatives of the Wells company reached Montgomery, how ever, and made an examination of the land which they desired to buy, 1t was found that certain details still remained to be arranged which deterr- ed them from closing the deal imme- diately.
 An understanding was reached it Is understood, however, by which the theatrical company will take over the property as soon as these have been satisfactorily settled. The land will have to be surveyed, and measure ments must be taken before the deeds are signed
 When the property changes hands, 1t is expected the work of erecting, the theatre building will commence immed- lately, 't Is Understood to be the in- tention ot the Wells Company to put up their building In order to be ready for the theatrical season of 1907-190s This Will mean that the structure will be Finished and ready for occupancy some where around September l. or October l, It IS thought. at the latest
 While the plans of the theatrical people have not yet been definitelv. de- clded upon. 1t is known they will not put up building which will seat less than i,5O0 people. It will cost in the neighborhood of s7O,0o0, and will be ilnlshed Tn the most up-to-date style. and will be complete in every respect.
 When seen,last night, Meyer L. Grlei refused to make a statement in regard to the agreed sale.
 The matter has been talked over by ourselves and the Wells people for some time" he said, but no sale has yeebeen made" He made no reference tokan agreement in regard to the actual, sale
 Mir. Wells was equally 10th to talk.
 ' have no hesitation in saying" he declared, that we have considered the erection of theatre in Montgomery. As to whether or not we have conclud- ed sale today. I would prefer not to make' any statement. If the sale had been accomplished, should not care to say anything about 1t until we were Tn readiness to go ahead and do soms- thing"
 That the sale has been virtually &C., complished, however, was learned on the best authority later.
 The money and the papers have not yet changed hands, but the price has been agreed upon. and the deal will be completed in the very near future.
 Mr Wells and Mir. Neil left Mont gomery last night for Mobile.