Evening journal., 1911-12-15
AGAIN CHANGE
AT THE AVENUE
L. II. LevisOn Of New York
Takes Charge With Tower
Stock Company
MR.. MILLER WAS READY
TO TAKE OVER LEASE

Another change has been made In
The management Of the Avenue The
alre. which will not be conducted by
Charles Miller. the we'll known for
iaer leading man at the theatre as
was announced. but will be conducted
by Lucius II. Levison, Of New York
city. an experienced theatrical man.
The local syndicate comprising the
Wilmington Theatre Company closed
the theatre on Saturday night, and
Mr.. Miller was negotiating with them
to take over the lease. but announce
ment was made last evening that the
local men had turned the theatre
over to Mr.. Levison, who will install
the Catherine Tower Stock Company
there. beginning Christmas matinee.
Mr.. Levison has had wide exper-
ience in the theatrical business as a
manager and may associate himself
with others whose names are not at
this time announced. The old di-
rectors Of the Wilmington Theatre
Company have resigned and new ones
will be elected on Monday. when or
ganization Of the new company will
be effected. Mr.. Levison probably
will be president and manager.
Miss Tower, Of the new stock COM
pany. is regarded as a leading woman
OF high ability. and it is thought
that she and other members Of the
new company will soon make them
selves popular with the Avenue pa
irons. Probably a few of the Avenue
Stock Company players will remain
with her.
DR.. William Il. Harris, Of the syn
dicate of local business men who
leased the theatre a few weeks ago,
made the official announcement that
the theatre had gone into new hands.
He said:
Il am glad to announce to the
Wilmington public that we have Sc
cured a capable company. the Tower
Stock Company, whose reputation is
well known. which will assure VIII
mington theatre-goers a continuance
of high class attractions. The policy
of the house will not be changed with
respect to attractions Mr.. Levison
will have full charge of the house,
which will open on Christmas Day
with a matinee. the play to be an
nounced later"
Mr.. Mlller's Statement
Charles Miller. who has been men
toned by newspapers in connection
with the new change, last night made
>~this statement:
~ have had several proposition
made to-me concerning the Avenue
Theatre within the past two weeks o
more, including a proposition to man
age and produce. and one to assume
the leading position, neither of which
reached point Of agreement
zone week ago this evening ] was
called by one of the parties in charge
of the Wilmington Theatre Company
which is now in control Of the Avenue
Theatre and asked If I would put IL
my own company. After an interview
of about an hour in my office in the
Ford Building, I agreed to undertake
it, but stated that II would involve
short time to open on Christmal
Day, but If il was desired | woulC
undertake t. but I could not be read'
TO close the matter before "Wednesday
or Thursday Of this week.
~ began i'm good faith and did mucl
work concerning which some news hal
gotten into the papers and which wa
IN the main correct news so far as
was concerned.
About ] o'clock today I called IN
party with whom / had the intervie,
above referred to and stated I wa
ready TO meet him. AT that time
had the necessary cash In my attor
ney's hands and was ready to sig
mp and take over the theatre. II
= replied he was busy then but woul
meet me at p. m. He did not rs
port but sent me word about Z o'cloc
this evening that a deal had bee
closed in New York City yesterda
( "wednesday. This was as much {
q surprise TO me as il may prove {
! you OF any other party who may hav
read any of the references to my 81
forts in this matter, which have a
ready appeared in the newspapers.
Il understood and believed that
was the desire Of the people of thl
city to have a good permanent stoc
+ company. for their entertainment, an
though I was busy on other matter
when the proposition came TO me,
was glad TO undertake the work. Thu
g I have not been able to succeed
some disappointment, of course.
have no further comments. except I
say that l greatly appreciate the gel
erous support which responded to m
brief efforts on the undertaking. an
It has only stimulated the affectlo
which feel for the good people
this city and I trust they may eniC
from the new management the ente
tainment they deserve"
Gifts for everybody at Goldberg