The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-25
THEATRE
LEASED BY WELLS
Negotiations Completed for Con
troll Of Hofheimer Property
in West Broad Street.
DOMINION AMUSEMENT co.
Jake Wells Is General Manager,
and Vaudeville Probable
Policy Of House.

Negotiations which have been under
way for some time were completed
yesterday by which the Dominion
Amusement Corporation. Of Richmond
assumes control OF the Lyric Theatre.
in West Broad Street owned bv NJ. L.
Hofheiiner. now In course Of construc-
ton, and said 10 represent an invest
ment OF $4,000. The new theatre
viii, II is expected be completed by
October l, and then VIII be occupied
by Its new owners, very probably as a
nigh class vaudeville house. though
the new owners refused to state posi-
lively for what class Of amusement II
had been secured.
The Dominion Amusement Company.
which has not yet been incorporat ted.
but for which charter will be asked
III few days. is composed of Jake
Wells, president; M. l.. Eiofheimer
vicS-president Walter Vincent. secre-
tary, and Otto Wells. treasurer 1t
will be noted that W. Greanor Neale.
popularity known as the man behind
the money in the various Wells en-
terprises is named neither as one of
inc officers of ehe new concern nor as
one of the incorporators
Looks ike More Vaudeville.
10 those idmiltTr With TTcJ theatri-
cal affairs, it Will at once become ap-
parent that the new organization is
but further amalgamation of the
Wilmer, Vincent and Wells enterprises
These three parties control the Colo.
NAL Theatre, and Mr.. Wells on numer-
Gus occasions has expressed the opin-
ION that Richmond was now ripe for
the higher grade of vaudeville attrac-
lions.
With this idea in mind an agree
ment was entered into between the in
terests represented by Mr.. Wells and
H. S. Wallerstein for building a thea
tire. supposedly 10 be used as a vau-
deville house. at the southeast corner
OF Grace and Eighth Streets. Opposi-
ton to the theatre was encountered
from those interested in church prop
erty in the immediate vicinity
Recently. because of this opposition,
announcement was made that the
Eighth Street site had been aban-
doned. and that instead OF a theatre
nj this point a hotel would he built
and that the theatre would be reared
upon the present site OF the Park Ho-
tel. recently acquired by Mr.. Waller
stein. So far as the Wells interests
are concerned, nothing is known of
the proposed change OF plans. con-
tract exists between Mr. Wells and
Mr. Wallcrstein for theatre to be
built at Grace and Eighth Streets. and
this contract is still in force. neither
party having been so far released
What the future may develop is not
known. and can only be conjectured,
though 1t is highly probably that an
amicable agreement will be reached
whereby no theatre will be construct
ed upon either of the sites proposed.
On several occasions. lawyers rep
resenting Mr.. Hofhefmcr, and other
lawyers representing Mr.. Wells, have
been in conference. but bitches always
arose which prevented them from get
ting together until Yesterday. The
terms upon which final agreement was
made have not been made public, but
Mr. Hofheimer is stakeholder and
an oficer in the new corporation.
Wells General Manager.
Jake Wells will he the general man
aser. and the policy of the theatre,
therefore. VII be directed by him. He is
not now in the city and statement
could not be obtained. neither would
Mr. Hofheimer talk when questioned.
But the papers have been signed
scaled and delivered. When the new
theatre began to rear its head above
the sidewalk, prediction was made
that it would be used "a the home for
a permanent musical stock company
doned, for the inference gathered from
the association OF Walter Vincent,
president and general manager of the
Wilmer and Vincent chain OF vaude-
vile theatres in the several large
cities OF the. East, with the new en-
terprise is that the newly acquired
property will be another link in the
chain
Al any rate the deal of yesterday
sets at rest many vague and intan-
gihle rumors and settles once and for
all the identity OF the lessees OF the
new theatrical property. Building
operations will continue under the d.
rection of Mr.. Hofheimer the con-
tract stipulat!ng that the theatre be
turned over to the new company COM
plete in every detail IT will he.
handsome structure OF combination
Greek and Gothic architecture. fire.
proof and equipped with all those
contrivances which go to make up the
pleasure and comfort of an audience.