Arizona republican., 1911-04-05
VAUDEVILLE AT ELKS'
 THEATRE THIS SUMMER
LOS ANGELES PARTIES GIVEN LEASE ON CITY'S LARGEST
 PLAY HOUSE.
Regular Bookings Still to Be Made
 With Road Companies.

The trustees of the Elks lodge of
 Phoenix signed a lease last Saturday evening with MT. and Mrs. Samuel H.
 Smith of Los Angeles giving them the
 managership and use of the theater
 for one year beginning from the date of the lease. April 1st. The second year of George Kirkland as manager expired at the end of March. and although NIT. | kirkland's management of the thea
 ter and the plays he has booked for | the theater have been in every way satisfactory to the trustees of the lodge. 1t is expected that the new manage
 nent will be even more profitable for the club. Instead of closing the house during the summer months d high class vaudeville and moving picture show will be presented. and the income of the lodge from the use of the theater will not be stopped at the end of the sea- son for legitimate drama, as it has done 1 heretofore
 The lessees of the Elks' theater are theatrical people who have had wide experience in conducting such enter tainment as will be given under the ! the vaudeville stage for several years. | and it is expected that their knowledge of the numbers which serve to make A vaudeville house both popular and prof itable will give the city better variety theater than it has had up to this time, and will at the same time increase the income of the Elks' club.
 It is not the intention of the trustees to dispense with the dramas which have been coming to the theater during the management of Mir. Kirkland. and the house will not be devoted exclusively to variety. The vaudeville entertain ment will be suspended on the nights or the appearance of other companies booked for appearance in Phoenix, and more stars will be presented tl an un- der any previous management The road shows will be booked in the name of the Elks lodge, as formerly. and the vaudeville will be under the sole man. agement of and direction of the Smiths
 The lease requires that the lessees shall comply with the rules and regu- lations of the national board of fire underwriters in installing their moving picture apparatus. and in equipping the house for variety. and it is understood also. that in case the companies now carrying insurance on the theater de- eide to cancel their insurance owing to the installation of moving picture machines that the contract will be null It is extremely unlikely that any of the insurance companies will take this attitude as the rate charged for the policies now in force is sufficiently high 10 justify reasonable risk. although there will be little, if any, risk in con tlnuing the insurance of the building at the present rates as non-cumbusti- Die films will be used on the picture machine and every possible means will De used to make fire an impossibility.
 The date of the opening of the thea ter under the management of Mir. and Mrs. Smith has not been given ont but it will probably occur some time during the month of April. The trus- tees have three plays booked ahead 10 appear before the end of the theatri- cal season. among them being Eleanor Robson, who will appear on the lSth Of this month. the other com panies following. If the vaudeville at the Elks' theater begins before the 18th 1t will be suspended for Miss I;obson's appearance. It is understood that the new management will engage well known and popular vaudeville artists to appear at the Elks' and that if is their intention to give the city a grade of variety similar to that produced at the better class of theaters in the larger theatrical centers. The terms of inc lease have not been given out by the trustees of the lodge. but it is stated that popular prices will be charged for the entertainments provided by the Smiths
 Former Manager Kirkland left Phoe- nix last night for short visit with friends in the southern part of the ter ritory. and before leaving expressed himself as well pleased with the action Of the trustees. It is his opinion that the theater will be operated with con siderable profit under the new ar engagement. and that Phoenix will have a better grade of vaudeville presented than has ever before been given in the territory.