The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-25
MISS LEATH WON'T
TALK Of SITUATION
Mr.. Brady, In New York, Awaits
Her Answer Concerning
Academy Of Music.
MIR. WELLS IN MANHATTAN
Theatrical Affairs Here Create
Fnror-Public Wants
Open House.
MIR. WELLS IN MANHATTAN

MIR. Jake Wells, general manager
Of the Wells Amusement Company,
the Bijou Company and the Leath
Theatrical Company, left Tuesday
night for New FORK. presumably to
confer with Mr.. William a. Brady,
head of the independent theatrical
producers. with reference to an open
house" here, thereby killing the grip
of the trust in Richmond.
As tar az can Ire learned Miss Nonfe
LeAth. who owns stock controlling the
Leath circuit, has given no answer
10 tho offers of Mr.. Brady to sell her
holdings or turn over the lease of
the Academy OF Music, or open the
house to Shubert plays without
barring Klaw and Erlanger.
"Nouiing to Say"
Il have not II word to say. and l
came oyer here from Richmond to he
quiet" declared Miss Leath. when she
| was seen In Petersburg Wednesday
morning by a representative Iof The
| Richmond Virginian.
Miss Leath recently inherited the
estate Of her father, Mr., Thomas O..
Leath, who was president of the
Leath Theatrical Circuit. Mr.. Greanor
Neal. treasurer OF this corporation. is
the executor of the property OF Mr.
Leath. Mr.. Neal is known to be OPP
posed to the open house. and wishes
to continue the productions OF Kiaw
and Erlanger at the Academy. and
shut out the Shubert attractions,
which are the plays Of the indepen-
dents-
| Owned Preferred Stock.
| OF the $40, 900 capital of the Leath
Company, $4,000 was IN preferred
stock. which was assigned TO Mr.
Leath. The remaining $4,000 was
| taken over, In equal parts by Messrs
Morton Rosenbaum, Allen @. Collins
Charles Mckee, w. Greanor Neal and
Jake Wells, Thus does Mr.. Neal con-
troll not only his own interests but
that of the Late prestdant.--.-----
Mr.. Wells is known TO favor throw
ing open the gates 10 independent
! plays. while Mr.. Neal is quoted as ii
direct opposition to this policy.
/ Contract With Syndicate.
/ Before the Leath Company was or
ganized Mr.. Leath had a contract with
/ klaw and Granger to play only syndi'
cate attractions at the Academy oi
Music here, and the Academy in Nor.
folk, which Is also controlled by thS
company.
This contract Is now the obstacle
which Mr.. Brady and the Independent.
seek TO overcome 10y securing contro
of Miss Leath's stock.
If an amicable agreement cannot b,
reached, Mr.. Brady has announced. hi
VIII establish IA new playhouse II
Richmond III opposition to the syndi
cate.
Wants Best Plays.
IN talking with The press Mr.. WEN
has made 1t clear that he Is not op
posed to syndicate productions, but hi
idea Is to supply the play-loving pub
lie of Richmond and Norfolk with ths
best attractions OF the independent,
and the trust"
Mr. Brady Is said to have in view
several sites In Richmond upon which
\ to erect theatre, should no agree,
mont be reached with the lessees OF
the Academy.
The situation has created Juror In
local theatrical circles. Those In.
terested in the company are divided on
the question, The public, according
to many expressions heard, is in sym
pathy with the independents,