The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-13
NOVELTY TO OPEN
Vaudeville Season Begins in To-
peka Monday.
Manager s. r. Wells Will Try a
New Plan.
THREE SHOWS DAILY.
One i'm Afternoon and Two in
Evening.
THREE SHOWS DAILY.
The Price Reduced to Ten and
Twenty Cents.

vaudeville in Topeka, and their num-
Der is many. The Novelty theater is
to reopen two weeks before the time
contemplated when this popular little
place of amusement. probably the most
popular one in the city, closed its
doors for the summer some time ago.
These doors will again swing open on
Monday of next week. August IL, and
from that time on the patrons of the
place will have a chance of seeing,
hearing and enjoying the best things
in vaudeville that come to this section
of the country.
That this will be so is evidenced by
the fact that the Novelty this year, as
it was during the close of last season,
will be under the control of Mr.. S. r.
Wells. who in building it gave to To-
pekans one of the prettiest and cozi
est theaters In the entire country. Mr..
Wells has made a deserved reputation
during his theatrical career of a cou-
pie of years in Topeka. of providing
the best vaudeville shows possible I'M
der all circumstances. When this
house was first opened his hands were
fettered "a bit by some of the members
of a stock company that erected the
theater. but before the season was
over he managed to gain absolute con-
troll of the house through a long term
lease to himself from the stock COM
pany of which he was a member. And
as soon as he got this complete con-
troll there was a noticeable improve
at the theater. 1t will be Mr.. Wells
policy during the coming season.
which is at hand. TO present the very
best vaudeville acts that it will be pos
sible to secure. He is going to book
these acts personally and SO he will
not be compelled to take lot of
mediocre acts that booking agencies
are ever to willing to send to Vaude-
vile houses that they supply with
shows. Mr.. Wells has had a wide ex-
perience in vaudeville. He knows the
quality of about every act that is
playing throughout the country and he
will be able to get the best of them
as they pass from the the larger cities
of the east to those of the west He
also has an arrangement with the
Sullivan & Considine circuit. which is
now recognized as one of the premier
vaudeville organizations in the country.
by which he can book such of the acts
under its control as he pleases and he
has already booked many of the best
of these acts that will come through
this section of the country during the
season. -...
Mr.. Wells has also decided on some
changes in the conduct of the Novelty
to that which prevailed during last
SedSOH. lnSlcdo VI IWO SHoWS a OdS
like last year. there will be three
each day this year. matinee starting
at 2:3O in the afternoon and two
shows in the evening, the first start
ing at o'clock and running until 9:15
and the second beginning Immediately
at the end of the first and ending at
1890 O'Clock. No doubt these two
shows will be a convenience that will
be greatly appreciated by the
theatergoing public. There is also to
be a Encouragement of the charges
of admission in the way of a general
reduction for the evening shows. The
matinee prices will be ten cents for
all parts of the house and for the
evening shows the prices Will be ten
and twenty cents. The seats for the
first show each night will be reserved.
but this plan will not be followed for
the second evening show.
Considerable interest win be
awakened in Topekans in one of the
acts which Mr.. Wells has booked for
his opening show It is comedy
will be presented by Wilhelma Fran
cis-John Dunn and company. Miss
Francis is a daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
J. T. Price of this c,,y and Is con-
sidered to be one of the cleverest
actresses in vaudeville work. She has
many friends in the city and they are
bound to be pleased at this oppor-
| tunity to see her on the stage. Among
| the other acts on the bill. are a
comedy skit entitled 1.-THE Car Ahead
| Is Behind" which will be given by LIE
Marie ard King who have the reputa-
| ton of being real comedians; The Old
| Gields, in musical comedy sketch
called mistaken Identity" and Her.
bert Lennon in approximations of ia
nous actors. Miss Lillian Parfitt, who
made such a success in singing illus
| trated songs at the Novelty last sea-
! son, will sing these songs again this
wear, and the Novelty theater orches-
| ira, which attained considerable fame
| by it's good playing last year, will be
| on hand again.
The Novelty, after thorough
cleaning and Frightening up which
| has been given to it this week, is as
spick and span as the day when it
was first opened and when it attracted
the attention and favorable comment
of all who visited it, with it's many
| beauties, conveniences and comforts.
That Mr.. Wells will enjoy a pros
porous season there can be little
| doubt. He will deserve to for he has
a theater second to none and he will
continue to do just what he has
] gained a fine reputation for-giving