The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-02-06
Ira w. Jackson, New Lon don Theatrical Magnate, Takes Over Property. A. E. Culver and Other
 Attaches to Remain Proprietor E o. Smith Is In Poor Health and He Plans for Two Years Trip to Europe - New Manager Has String of Houses in East-Smith Made Money Here.

Smiths theatre changed hands this afternoon when Edward c. Smith, who has been the proprietor for the past l F years, disposed of all his interests l to Ira w. Jackson of New London, 1 who already controls four theatres in New England, playing legitimate at fractions The transfer was made by MT. Smith sub-leasing to Manager
 Jackson the theatre which is owned by | the P. T. Barnum estate. The lease has three years and seven months to
 run with the privilege of renewal. l Ira. W. Jackson, the new proprietor of the theatre, is not unknown to the ! local public, as several attractions which have appeared here have been l under his management. The most re- cent of these was the Clara Turner Stock Co.
 The theatres in MT. Jackson's string are the Lyceum at New London. the Cummings at Fitchlourg, Mass, the Broadway at Norwich and the Woon-
 socket Opera House at Woonsocket, R. I. Smiths theatre is the fifth but not the last theatre MT. Jackson is go- ing to take under his wing.
 A man who is close to him says that 1 MT. Jackson will have five more thea tres within another year or so. Man. ager Jackson has been operating chain of theatres for several years in
 small cities but of late he has got rid of his smaller houses and devoted his attentions to playhouses in cities of the first class. At New London where he has conducted the Lyceun for ten years his bookings have always been the best attractions on the road and included many productions of the better class which were not secured by any other manager in Connecticut. As Smiths theatre is the largest playhouse in New England outside of Boston it will be the most important point in the Jackson chain, and the manager will make his home and head quarters here in the future. He will take charge of the theatre next Mon day.
 F The change means a. promotion for A. E. Culver who has been the buSi- ness manager of the theatre for sev- eral years and who has practically
 been in charge for the past year. Un- der MT. Jackson he becomes resident manager and MT. Smith stated today that one of the considerations in the deal was that MT. Culver should be re- tained as manager.
 MT. Smith told his successor that he owed much of his success to the en- pIoyeS of the theatre and that it was his wish that everyone from MT. Gull yer down be retained. MT. Jackson assured MT. Smith that his recommen- dation was good enough for him and he irauF 11o desire to dispense with the services of employees who were so high ly commended.
 MT. Jackson will continue the policy of running high class attractions al- ternating with popular priced attrac- tions.
 Manager Smith said to the Farmer this afternoon: "I am to leave Bridge port for good after I have cleared up my interests here. I shall probably be here until the first of May as in tend to dispose of my real estate in the West End. I intend to go to Europe for a couple of years and take rest. When I return I shall prob ably go into the theatrical business again. I would never quit Bridgeport if it was not for my health. This change has been underway for over year. I had the papers signed to dis pose of the theatre but went away on a vacation and felt so much better that I gave up the idea at that time. This will be the first rest that have taken in IS years I came to Bridgeport in February, 1897, and I opened the thea tre the following August. First ran vaudeville and later on we had com bination attractions. I cannot be too grateful to my many friends here who gave me their support. I was told the theatre was run down and that I would be lucky if I could get lady to come into the house. But I said I would try and improve the condi- tions.
 'The night I opened the lodge of Elks attended in a body and brought down a. big floral horseshoe with wishes of good luck. It is a great source of qualification to know that the theatre has been improved by the patronage of the people since my stay here and the best thing about it is that I quit not owing anyone a. dollar My success has not alone been due to my work: the attaches of the house helped to put me where I am. l can vouch that MT. Jackson will maintain the standard of the house already es- tablished.''
 Before coming to this city MT. Smith conducted the Harlem Music Hall at 125th street, New York, eight years. He says that he started in the thea trical business as a boy of Il years when he was an usher at the Howard Atheneum in Boston. Asked if he was not at one time an actor he replied, Please don't mention that, because I do not believe I was a bowling success as a performer"
 When MT. Smith came to Bridgeport a dozen years ago he could not boast of owning more than few hundred dollars, but today it is estimated that he is @ wealthy man, and those who claim to know say that he has clean l ed up between $50, 900 and 6O000. EIGHTY APPEALS