The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-08
BIJOU ID REMAIN
 OPEN ALL SUMMER
Baldwin-MeIviIIe Stock Cen-
 panyln Big Attractions
WELLS TALKS OF PLANS
Plays Have Been Very Popular In New Orleans, and Managers Believe Birmingham Will Support
 These Attractions.

After prolonged negotiations Jake Wells, head of the Jake Wells circuit of theatres, and Walter S. Baldwin, proprietor of the Baldwin Melville Stock company. met in Birmingham last night and perfected an agreement by which the Bijou will offer to the peo- pie of Birmingham high class summer entertainment in the form of the latest dramatic successes presented by that company, beginning May IS. The Baldwin, Melville company is composed of carefully chosen players and the organization needs no introduction to southern theatregoers. It has been popular in the south for a number of years and has wide following, espe- cially in New Orleans. It is planned to put on a number of the most elab- crate productions during the summer months and the plays offered will be among the reigning successes.
 We want the people of Birmingham to understand that this venture will be far above the usual class of summer theatricals," said MT. Wells last night. "As a rule, people look on stock company a makeshift and the plays as rubbish worn out years ago. We propose to put on such plays as The Man on the Box The Three of Us and eight or ten others equally as good and fully as new. We are not going to stop at a mere matter of expense in | securing the rights to produce these plays, and we are now negotiating with theatrical firms to obtain some of the greatest Broadway successes. These plays, elaborately mounted and pre- scented in finished style, will be offered to local theatregoers at the usual Bijou prices
 We realize that we are taking some chances in making heavy expenditures for summer amusement, but we believe that when the people of Birmingham, see how we intend to produce these plays the most liberal support will be given us. There will be none of the objectional features which usually characterize the shows put on by sum- mer stock companies. We will have an enlarged staff of men put to work at the Bijou and these men will con tinue on duty permanently. We will paint our own scenery whenever nec- essary, the costumes will be on a cost ly scale and we guarantee the strength of the company.
 Tt has been a matter of some dif- fculty to perfect arrangements for the engagement of the Baldwin Melville company but all the details have now been straightened out and we shall go to work at once to inaugurate the most ambitious season of summer plays that the people of Birmingham have ever enjoyed. We feel sure that our undertaking will meet with cordial support, as Birmingham has been ex- tremely liberal toward us in the past"
 MT. Baldwin will be on active duty when the engagement of the Baldwin Melville company begins and his long experience in such enterprises will be brought into service. We feel that we are going considerably above the ordinary in presenting to the people of Birmingham such plays as we have in mind" said Mir Baldwin. We will establish at the Bijou complete plant for producing our plays and all the details of production will be looked after by capable electricians, sceae painters and costumers. I feel that [ am well enough known in this part of the country to he taken at my word and l confidentally predict that loc U theatregoers will be surprised at tn dramatic treats we have in store"
 It is possible that the summer seas, at the Bijou will become permanei after this year. There will be no a, vance in the scale of prices now pr, vailing. The Baldwin Melville col pany arrives May IS.