The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-13
ORPHEUM THEATRE
WILL OPEN DEC. II
Martin Beck Spends Day Here
Making Arrangements
DELIGHTED NTH THE CITY
Announces That Highest Class vaude-
vile In the World VIII Appear
at orpheum In Blrmlna-
ham Regularly.

Martin Beck, who heads the Orpheum
circuit of vaudeville theatres, said to
be the greatest vaudeville circuit In the
world. spent yesterday in Birmingham
in conference with Manager Semon of the
Bijou theatre relative to the opening of
the orpheum in Birmingham December
"a. The old Hippodrome, after being re-
modelled and improved, will be converted
into the Orpheum and will be the newest
link Ia the chain of vaudeville houses that
stretches from coast to coast.
Mr.. Beck. who is one of the lights of the
theatrical world, spent the morning in
specting the Orpheum and the repair
work In progress there, and he also went
over a portion of the city with Manager
Semon to get an idea of the size of Bir-
mingham and It's theatre-going popula-
ton. He expressed surprise and delight.
In speaking of the orpheum he said:
II am glad we are opening theatre in
birmingham. l had no idea that this was
such a city, and that there were such
prospects here. 1 have seen enough to-
day to feel confident that the Orpheum
will be success.
I'VE will bring the highest class. high
est paid vaudeville In the world to Bir-
mingham. The Orpheum here is one of
the best vaudeville theatres 1 have ever
seen, owing to the fine acoustics and the
large ground floor seating capacity. Every
seat has an excellent view Of the stage.
The scenery loft Is being erected SO the
stage can care for the largest production
that travels the road today. and the
house will be first-class In every way.
THE orchestra will be the largest in
the south. We will have IL pieces under
ployes will be the best that can be Sc
cured. Mr.. Max Fabish, my general man
aged In Memphis, will come to Birming-
ham to look after the organization of the
corps of employees and the regular man
ager will be named later
"rheatre-goers acquainted with the Or
pheum houses and Orpheum vaudeville
will appreciate the statement that this
will be one of our best houses in every
detail. Vaudeville has been tried here be-
fore, and was a failure. We hope, how
ever, to educate the people to caring for
the best class of vaudeville, and therefore
our interest will be conferred ON Birming-
ham.
1T want to repeat that am most favor
ably impressed with Birmingham, and I
think 1t will be the big city of the south
within the next few years. OF course,
we have heard a great deal about the
great iron center of the SOUTH but I was
frankly taken off my feet when I saw
what Birmingham really Is. and that on
rainy. disagreeable day like today.
I'VE are fixing up the Orpheum for the
convenience of the public and / think the
people will find 1t one of the cosiest and
incest theatres in the south when we
finish"
Mr.. Beck left yesterday afternoon for
New York to arrange for the opening
bills In Birmingham. The Orpheum here
will be operated in conjunction with the
following Orpheum theatres:
San Francisco. Los Angeles, Oakland.
New Orleans, Kansas City, Memphis,
Omaha, Denver, Minneapolis, st. Paul.
Salt Lake City, Sioux City. Spokane. Sc
attic, Portland, Evansville, Duluth. Win
nipeg, Ogden. Lincoln, Des Moines, Ma
jestic, Chicago; Chicago opera house.
Olympic theatre, Chicago Haymarket the
atre, Chicago; Columbia theatre, St.
Louis; Columbia theatre, Cincinnati;
Grand opera house. Indianapolis: Mary
Anderson theatre. Louisville.