Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-03-27
EMPIRE THEATRE TO
OPEN NEXT SATURDAY
ROBERT STARR ENGAGES VIM.
BETHKE AS MANAGER.
Will Begin With Motion Pictures
and Illustrated SOngS--If Bust
ness Warrants viii Later Add
Vdudeville-Will Also Start Film
Exchange.

The Empire Theatre will open
again Saturday evening under the
management of VIM. ]. Bethke of
this city, who has been engaged by
Robert Starr of Milwaukee, who holds
lease on the local play house and
whose venture under the numerous
arrangements of the past did not prove
mint for MIR. Starr. The theatre
will open first with thu latest motion
pictures and illustrated songs, it be-
Ing the intention to give good little
performance at small admission
price and later, as the patronage in
creases, to add vaudeville. Accord
ing to the plans as outlined by Mr..
Bethke,, he will not adopt the tactics
of managers who preceded him-that
of biting off more than he can chew
but start in modest way and expand
as the business increases and the
amusement lovers of Watertown evil
dence by their patronage that they
desire good vaudeville Mr.. Rethke
thoroughly understands the business
and will no doubt through conserva-
tive management build up good bust
ness and put the house on paying
basis. The local friends of Bob Starr
sincerely hope that this try will prove
a success and The Leader for one be-
lieves that under the conservative
management of Mr. Bethke, it will
prove such. In addition to conduct
ing the local place of amusement, Mr..
Bethke has arranged to conduct film
exchange herewith the Empire Theatre
building as headquarters. He has
arranged with the Davis Film Ex-
change of indianapolis, the purpose
uf the local exchange being to supply
films to theatres in this section of the
country. Eight trunks of films have
already arrived and Mr.. Betnke ex
poets to be able to start his exchange
business in the course of few days.
MIR. Bethke leaves this morning for
Milwaukee for the purpose of engsg
ing the services of piano player and
illustrated song singer to be on hand
for the opening of the theatre on Sat-
urday evening.
The Palace Theatre is running along
in the even tenor of its way, giving
good little performances to fairly
good crowds. The entertainment
which ended last evening was excep
tionally good. The three motion pic
lures were fine, especially "Ihe Pia-
rates. end that it was appreciated
was evidenced in the applause. The
"Airship Burg lars and "The Plank,
of comedy nature, were also very
good. Then there was good illus
trated song and harp solos, with must
cal selections upon the piano and vi
olln.
Tonight, there will be change of
prog RAM The illustrated song will
be, "From the Garden to the Cross
Alone The songs AZ sung by Mana
ger Florent are feature, and con-
traet from the mechanical phonograph
selections. The gentleman has an
exceptionally good voice. The pic
lures for the change of program be-
ginning this evening are 1.-THE Drunk
Cure and "Four Footed Hero.
There will also be the usual selections
by the Palace orchestra. Beginning
on Saturday, March %, two illustra-
ted songs will be sung at each per-
Torrance, thus offering a good little
performance we'll worth the price of
admission.