The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1912-01-13
THE WALKER THEATRE
CLOSED.

Indianapolis. Ind. for many weeks
the public OF this city have looked
forward to be the finest and best The
atrc under Negro management the
house had been extensively advertised
to open on Jan lst backed by I'M
limited capital and brainy manage
ment it opened on time. which was
the only obligation that was filled to
the public or to the Profession as its
demise took place after four days OF
operation. The performers who were
on the bill were sadly disappointed
not alone of being out of work. but al
not receiving their salaries that their
contracts called for in some instances
some of the performers received
part of their salaries. others did not
receive anything on the bill, were such
well known acts, as the Happy Com
edy Four. Pewee fowler Company.
Williams & Stevens. Mrs. Lucretta
Knox. Leona Marshall. Kid Love. The
week to follow had also been booked
with a strong bill, including Gilmore.
Kinky & Gilmore. McCarver and
Diggs. Wallace & Cooper. Geo. HaT
ris. May & May. Fannie Wise. The
house was booked through the Frank
o. Doyle Agency No blame can be
attached to Mr. Doyle as he is in no
way responsible. The blame is direct
ly upon Mr.. Earl Walker. who was
the manager. but he allowed the white
owners to make him the fall guy. and
his signature was on all the contracts
had he been a good business man he
would have insisted upon the owners.
signing all contracts. then he wvufd
have been protecting himself and the
performers. could of attached the the
atre properties and would have been
in a position to collect their full sal
aries. but with only his signature on
the contracts they are worthless and
it has put him in bad with agents as
well as performers. This Is in no
way a reflection on Mr. Walkers
honesty. but a warning to all Negro
managers. who are figure head mana
gers for white owners Let him do
the signing as it is him who gets the
money. as reports from the perform
ers state that enough money was tax
en- in on the opening night to pay on
all the bills. reports are coming IN
that there was a dusky Maiden IN
the Chase. also that the house was
constructed wrong and that it will be
rebuilt and reopened under different
management. At any rate 1t Will have
to 60 on record as another failure.
Mr.. A. n. Johnson, of Nashville,
Tenn, was in the city for several
days securing scenery and other par
aphernalia for the full equipment OF
his Majestic Theatre. which will open
next month. Mr.. Johnson is through
progressive business man. as was
shown when he placed an order for a
full set of newly painted scenery with
the Gutthman Scene Co. to the
amount of a $4,000, he is paying
quite a tribute to the College Insti-
tutions of his city. as he is having
the three Colleges namely Fisk, Me
harry and Walden painted on the
Asbestos Curtain. He intends to give
the Colored people of Nashville
first class Theatre and as he says if
the Colored want such an enterprise.
they will show it by their support.
The house will be conducted under
first class management playing polite
vaudeville and the most interesting
and instructive of Photo Plays. Two
shows a night No Sunday shows.