The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-01
THEATRE TRUST
HITS FIRST BLOW
Serves Notice That It Will Boy
colt Academy Of Music
Next Season.
FIGHT is ON JAKE WELLS
Syndicate Mad Because Wells
Tries to Give Public
What 1t Demands.
FIGHT IS ON JAKE WELLS

Tho theatrical syndicate advertised
Yesterday that 1t has not booked and
will not book any of its attractions at
the Academy of Music noxt season.
Aside from the fact that 1t has, there's
fore. broken its contract with the Leath
Circuit, the announcement is practical
notice of boycott against Richmond.
Thi. boycott is a result of an effort
on tho part of Jake Wells, general
manager of the Leath Circuit to open
the doors of the Academy to the best
line of attractions, something which
the people who support that theatre
have demanded.
Mr.. Wells went to New York Mon
day night. w. Greanor Neal, who holds
the deciding vote in the Leath Cir
cult, or two votes against one for Mr..
Wells, to be exact, left for New York
last night, having been called there,
it is said by the sudden SHIFT IN an
exciting stage battle. Mr.. Neal has
declined to express an opinion hereto
fore as to what he would do, although
Mr. Wells is outspoken for the open
door.
Trust Fighting Wells.
The trust printed three-column
advertisement in two New York news
papers yesterday, in which 1T served
notice on the public that theatre
| managers who had flirted with the
independents would not be supplied
With attractions next fall. Prominent
in tho list Of those to be boycotted is
Jake Wells. There follows long list
OF plays and players supposed to be
| with the trust. some of which are not
and some of which have long since
| been withdrawn because they met with
| no popular favor.
| But the real purpose of the boycott
go far as Wells Is concerned Is to
have him fired out of the Leath Cir
cult That can only be done by his
| friend and business associate, Greanor
Neal. In that event, which, of course,
| Is unlikely, Wells Will Immediately take
! possession of the new theatre now
| being erected at Third and Broad
Streets and operate it until bigger
house can be built in Richmond. The
boycott threat from Klaw & Erlangei
and the cancellation of its Academy
bookings will hasten the Organization
| of a stock company which will put VI
| a first-class playhouse, and thereby
| give the Academy many hard winters
Wouldn't Book Good Ones.
While William A. Brady was in Rich
| mond week ago he endeavored t.
| secure dates at the Academy for Mar
| lowe and Sothern. His request wa!
| denied for the reason that the Leatl
/ Circuit was under contract with thu
trust. Now the trust has announced
that it Will give the Academy nothing
because it is partly under the direc
4 ton of Mr.. Wells, and because Nj
Wells is trying to give the publ
something in addition to the inferio
offerings which the trust sent out las
+, season. 1t appears. therefore, that I'll
trust has broken its part of the con
tract, which would leave the Leaf
people free to do as they please. TIL
trust, however, must have playin
territory. 1t needs the South, and Rich
!, mond being tho gateway. it woul
brady skip by. Whether 1t succeeds !
9 throwing Wells out Will be determine
this week.
r Unless Mr.. Neal can settle the ROY
in New York, there will be grea
deal which will have to be explained I
J, patrons of the Academy. Without eS
. ception they want higher class show
They don't care from which shop the
are sent so long as they are decor
/. and worth the money. II the tru:
;, means what 1t says, Mr.. Neal mu:
, either get rid of Wells-which woul
. mean that he would operate thereafte
win only the trust PtoaoSttoii9oi
!. must open his theatre TO trust an
= Independent alike. Meanwhile, the
are getting that new theatre int
> shape, and theatre patrons are watcl
: ing it with an eagernes and intere
: not displayed In ordinary times.
Ienrico Marriage License.
a A marriage license was issued yesterd
by the clerk OF the Henrico Circuit Cou
: Ia George E. Williams and Miss Maggie
IS Thorpe. The marriage will take place I