The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-03
.THEATER PEOPLE
WILL MAKE FIGHT
Believe Proposed Ordinance
Won't Stand Test in
the Courts
WALLERSTEIN SAYS
HE Is UNDAUNTED
Measure Drawn Up by Church
Folk Looks Like Special
Legislation, He
Claims

Mr. Henry s. Wailerstein, promoter
or the proposed vaudeville theatre
at the southeast corner OF Eighth and
Grace streets. directly across Grace
from st, Peters Catholic church.
anu block removed from St Paula
Episcopal church at Mint hand Grace
streets, declares that ne il Just al
determined as ever to erect the the
atre on the proposed site, despite the
Tact that the church people have de-
terrniaed to take the tight to the floor
or the city council, where an ordi.
nance Will be introduced with Il View
OF preventing the opening OF the play
house. If il is built
When seen "Wednesday morning Mt.
"atierstein WAS not doing much talk
ing FOR publication. He indicated.
however. that In his opinion and that
or hls friends he still had some ground
on which to stand
Inc ordinance in effect prohibits
the Issuance of d license to any the-
atfe within l50 feet Of church by
linear measure, the provision bein9
made that 1t shall not apply to the-
aires in operation at the time of ita
passage. Thus no theatre or moving
picture house in operation ct present
would be affected, ii is declared either
IN the renewal of its license or ttS
present operation.
WIN 1t Stand Test
The ordinance was drawn by r
member of the st. Paurs committees
named To oppose erection of the the-
are, and In tho opinion OF legal au-
| thorities it will stand the test of the
courts IS a constitutional measure. II
rs practically assured that the theatre
people will take the matter into court
In event the council finally adopts tho
ordinance.
The measure viii be introduced IN
| the common council Friday night by
! Councilman Morgan II Mills and Il
mas been decided that Councilman
John j. Lynch shall be the floor leader
Alderman Graham e. Hobson viii lead
the hight of the church people In the
| upper branch Of the council.
1t Is the claim OF Mr.. Lynch ana
others working for the measure that
been pledged in both branches. This
Is doubted. however, by those on the
! other side.
Adams In Dark.
Alderman ". H. Adams says that
! he knew nothing OF the ordinances
until he read it in the press and sew
eral other mem hers OF the council
| expressed themselves similarly when
seen Wednesday morning.
Mr., Adams stated that he would
not vote for the ordinance. believing
II to be unconstitutional. IN view Of
F.. the fact that city has already grant
ed formal permit for erection OF
the playhouse.
Another opponent OF the ordinances
| is President Peters, OF the common
! council ~Ae-af st-ie learned eft the
measure through Alderman Honsou
! When the latter called on him Tues
day seeking his support
| One. Of the theater people sa3d :.ThA
rear Of the Colonial theater of Broad
Lutheran church at Eighth and Mar
shall Streets than the new theateF
would be to st Peters church, ana thS
rear of the rear of the Academy II
nearer st. Paul's church Il is also q
! fact that the bar of the Richmond totel
| is nearer ST. PauVs than the new play
| house would be to ST. Paurs"
! Laying aside the claims OF the tvo
coDtesting sides, general opinion Is that
the church people win win in the long
| run, regardless OF the constitutional
| points and other technical issues that
may arise.
/ you can't withstand the force az
public sentiment" business Manager
! Dabney of the chamber of commences
told one Of the theater people two
weeks ago." and you had Just as wen
throw up the sponge before trying 70
/ 1rh