The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-18
Gen. Clark to Put Up Build ing Leased by Jake Wells
 for Long Term
FINISHINGS WILL BE
 FINEST IN THE SOUTH
Will Be Six Stories High, of White Terra Cotta-High Class Bach elor Apartments to Be
 Feature
By CLYDE W. ENNIS

By CLYDE W. ENNIS
 l modern six story combination thea Ire and bachelor apartment building representing an investment Of SS50. GOO. exclusive of the furnishings, will be erected on the northeast corner of
 Third avenue and Eighteenth street. work to begin April l, by Gen. Louis V. Clark. He authorized yesterday an announcement to this effect and gave out details in connection with the con struction of the theatre that has been
 rumored of and talked about In gen
 era1 circles for some few days.
 | The theatre as it will stand when
 the curtain Is rung up for the first | gala performance will be used as vaudeville theatre by Jake Wells, the
 widely known theatrical operator whose | Bijou theatre in this city has been a pronounced success for some years. MT. Wells and his associates. it is taken, will have charge of the remainder of the building and lease for long term of years has been signed and de- livered The Wells Bijou interests will
 not be effected by the new theatre. The new theatre will adjoin on Third
 avenue the Majestic theatre, owned by
 Basil NJ. Allen, and will face 100 feet
 on that avenue. running back to an alley 40 feet on Eighteenth street. When it Is completed the building will give Third avenue between Eighteenth street and Nineteenth street an un- broken chain of high class buildings and business houses. The grand en- trance to the theatre will be directly
 opposite the new Loveman, Joseph X
 Loeb annex. which will be built soon. it is stated, and which will cost
 s4Oo. 900.
 General Clark, Maj. Robert l.. Greg
 ory and associates. who have been working out the details of the struc- ture, arrived at their conclusions yes
 terday. All details have been arranged
 and 1t was stated that ground would
 be broken April 1 and the tenants of
 the property at this time had been
 advised to vacate the premises within
 few weeks
 Grand Entrance of Plate Glass
 The building will provide spaces for
 four commercial places on Third ave
 nue, while 50 foot grand entrance, to be of solid plate glass, tile and
 classic scroll decorations, will occupy
 the exact center of the building. The theatre entrance will be on the ground elevation and will lead into an audi torium with seating capacity of 1860. The theatre will have both sides lined with gorgeous loggias and boxes, while the interior decorations will be of the
 finest character obtainable consistent with dignity and modest interior treat
 ment. The theatre will have two gall
 leries similar to all local theatres. with
 an alley entrance for the top gallery
 known as the peanut roost." The
 measurements call for three stories of
 the proposed six to be occupied by the theatre. However. the bachelor apart
 ments en suite will occupy five floors
 in the front of the house. 9s
 The theatre will not conflict in any way
 with the present theatrical ventures in
 Birmingham according to the authorized
 announcement. MT. Wells will use the
 new theatre for high class vaudeville,
 which has recently endeared itself to the
 local theatregoing public. He will add Birmingham to chain of theatres in other cities composed of the following
 cities where play houses for the circuit are now maintained: Washington Rich
 mond, Norfolk, Memphis. Jacksonville,
 New Orleans and Atlanta.
 White Glazed Terra Gotta It is announced that the construction
 will be under the supervision of local
 architect but that theatrical expert will
 be engaged to draw the absolute fireproof
 plans which will be followed. The build ing will be of concrete. steel and white glazed terra cotta, similar to that which
 is being used on the American Trust sky scraper. The white terra cotta will give the theatre an unrivaed exterior appear
 ance, being snow white and subject to thorough cleansing whenever rain falls There will be three separate fireproof con- crete and steel stairways providing en- frances, while the elevator service will be through fireproof shafts The building will be SO designed that it may be com pletely emptied in the shortest space of time, thus protecting the patrons of the theatre and upper floors fully.
 After the exterior appearance and the freproof requirements are met the builders of the new theatre will design an insios finish not heretofore attempted in Bir- mingham or the south. Tn fact General Clark and his associates say that the theatre will be unquestionably the finest In the south.
 The interior will be of Circassan walnut finish, with such frescoeing and ceilins decorations as are suited. The lobby. ac- cording to the designers. will be thing