Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-02-26
Surprised Officials Threaten to
Block Sale Of Control to
Martin Beck.
j. H. GARRETTs LITTLE COUP.
GETS Corner on Stock and Then un-
Ioads--what Beck Proposes to
DO With Property.

There were some SURPRISED stock
holders this morning when the an
nouncement was published that martin
Beck. general manager Of the orpheus
oirouit had. secured control Of the
prpheus Vaudeville company STOCK
through the purchase of the holdings
OF ]. II. Garrett, Joseph Nelson. Par
lev p. Jensen and Earl Garrett who
for months past have been quietly
buying up certificates
The announcement came as a total
surprise to President Karl A. Schied,
Vice President w. S. Wallace and
three OF the directors who were not on
the inside An informal meeting fol-
lowed during which the statement was
made that they had TO be shown that
the control had passed into the hands
Of the vaudeville magnate. John q
critchlow, one of the directorate.
promptly offered Mr.. Garrett 80 cents
a share more than Mr.. Beck was re-
sorted to have paid, or s1O.5O a share,
cash delivery in 10 days, for the stock
which had not yet been delivered MT
Garrett, according to Mr.. Critchow'
declined, but stated that those present
could turn in half their holdings at ylo
II they so desired. This also WAS ue-
clined for the present.
A directors meeting Will be called
probably tomorrow to discuss the lat
est phase in the deal and 1t was stat
ed this morning that concerted enort
win be made to block the sale II pos
sible.
In the meantime Mr.. Garrett Is smll-
ing because he says the deal mas Deen
made and the goods viii be dehVefeu.
Those who we're not in on the trans
for hint darkly of trump cards and say
lust walt, ,y,o
Tha Officers of the Orpheus Vaude-
vile company are as follows harl a.
schied. president; w. $, wallace, VIE
president; j. H. Garrett, secretary "ne
treosurer, Farley p. Jensen. John Q.
Critchlow, willard Scowcroft ana Al
win Beesley, directors: ,..,.od
THE 10 per cent dividend declared
this week is not included with the
stock in the sale.
DEAL CLOSED.
rhe deal was consummated during
the recent visit of Mr.. Garrett 10 Chr
eaeo. Mr. Garrett ostensibly going east
Ia make preliminary arrangements lot
a stock company to hold the poaras az
the Orpheum this summer wlth possibly
William ingerson us the leading man
on the arrival OF Martin Bech, sen t,
oral manager OF the Orpheum clrcui'
Yesterday afternoon he announced le
She nress that he had secured contro
~ the local company and that ne pro
noeed to sign Il contract for the erec-
lion of another theater in SAT- Lake
WILL SEAT 1900 PEOPLE.
Il nave been looking over the sites, .
said Mr. Beck, and Just as soon as
the plans are completed work will start
on the new playhouse which VIII seat
at least 1000 people. This VIII be
known as the Orpheum, While the
name OF the present home OF the Or
phelln1 will be changed and high class
musical comedies and plays will be put
on there.
Beck. cit takes about two years before
you get the New York successes. What
we propose 10 do is to have chain OF
theaters covering all the leading cities
buy the books OF the successful produc-
tions and put them on in the west. This
Of course, means that the prices Will
be raised slightly and when we have
the old Orpheum going In this chain II
will be dollar house
SUNDAY PERFORMANCES,
Mr. Beck announced that when the
new Orpheum was opened there woulc
be SUNDAY matinee and evening per-
formanees, III they viii let u.s. a'
he put it, and there would be seven acts
Instead OF six now in vogue, The prices
would remain the same, with possibly
l0-cent gallery above the balcony.
MAY BRING INDEPENDENTS"
Charles Felekey. musical director
who has been To salt Lake with trav-
cling companies accompanied Mr.
Beck. He win make New York his head
quarters and look after the production
OF the musical comedies and comi,
operas. II IS the plan to have the
choruses repain IN the various cities
on the circuit, and change the princi
pals often az occasion may require. or
occasion, so says rumor, some of thu
"independent" stars win appear II
legitimate drama. This circuit o
theaters viii include the Princess II
san Francisco, and theaters in Lo
Angeles, Salt Lake, Denver. Kansa
city. Omaha, New Orleans, Memphis
Minneapolis, St Paul. Portland, Seattle
and Tacoma. Butte also may be in
Guided In the list AS far as the or