The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-10
JAKE WELLS GIVES OUT PLANS FOR HIS ]. NEW THEATRE HERE New Vaudeville Playhouse in Birmingham Will Be
 Called "The Lyric"
WILL BE READY FOR
 OCCUPANCY BY OCT. 1
Theatrical Man Believes That Bir- mingham Will Be Fully Appre- ciative of High Class Vaude-
 vile He Will Offer

"The Lyric" is the name of the new the atre which will be erected corner Third avenue and Eighteenth street for Jake Wells by Gen. Louis V. Clarke and his associates. After a lengthy conference yesterday between General Clarke, Mr. Wells. C. K. Howell, an achitect from Richmond, and other gentlemen interested in the venture, MT Wells gave out the first information that has emanated from his side of the negotiations in reference 10 the new building.
 He said that the theatre would be called the Lyric, that work would start certainly within a fiery few weeks or just as soon as the architects could finish mp the de- signs, and that 1t would be one of the safest and most Up to date theatres that has yet been erected in the south. MT. Wells win place in that theatre the very first type of vaudeville, taste for which nle says is growing rapidly in the south and he feels sure that Birmingham amuse- ment lovers will approve the line of at fractions that he proposes for this city.
 He will leave today for Memphis to close up a proposition there for a theatre which will be operated on the same circuit as the Lyric of Birmingham.
 Mir. Wells Makes Statement
 In discussing his plans MT. Wells gave out this statement last night:
 q have only to say that absolutely every detail has been agreed upon in con nection with the new theatre which will be erected corner Third avenue and Eighteenth street. It will be called the Lyric and will be ready for occupancy no later than october 1. have with me so- day MT. Howell who has been my per- sonal architect for several years. I do not mean any reflection upon local archi- tects in bringing him here but you see he has been with me so long that he knows exactly what 1 want and can do it up along the lines that we have studied together for years. His speciality is this sort of work
 T believe that no theatre in this sec ton will be better built or better equipped than the Lyric. It will seat 1883 persons and will be as nearly fire proof as is pos sible to get It will be four stories high the theatre having a ground entrance or 24 feet widtff as a grand arcade affair.
 
 superb in it's arrangements.
 Every detail of the furnishings and construction will be the tastiest pos sible and will be in keeping with tho atmosphere that we expect to create at the Lyric As for the upper stories. it is possible that they will be so ar ranged as to suit whomsover wishes to engage them after the building plans have been arranged and the work is under way.
 T propose to put into Birmingham a line of vaudeville which has never before been approached in this state The line will play at the Lyric in Rich mond, the Colonial in Norfolk, the For syth in Atlanta, the Lyric in BirminS- ham and my new theatre in Memphis.
 Doing Big Business
 Tn those cities we are doing a tre- mendous business and 1 think the proper management here will do like wise The Bijou will continue to be operated as now with such improve ments as we can make l am of the opinion that we will ,ear down the Bijou next year and build new thea Ire there. MT. EXum has been good land lord and seems anxious to help me de- velop that property. l think We will be able to get together on better naent scheme next year surely. As for the Orpheum that wih be continued. We have a lease for nine years on that property and Il will not be closed down. It will run-that's all there is to it.
 T am deeply interested in this new Lyric theatre here anc am sure that 1t will command the respect. admira- tion and patronage of the best people of Birmingham Vaudeville is growing in the south. It is not makeshi1t amusment which some persons are won't to represent it. on the contrary. vaude- sille is an entertaining, artistic and instructive line of work that appeals to the people of thought provided the attractions are anything like 1 propose to put into the Lyric. With the con nections we have in the south there cannot be any question but what we will give Birmingham the best that is to be had"
 Mir. Wells was last night very much pleased over the successful termina ton of his work here. He has not lefore authorized any statement about his plans but with great satisfaction authorized a statement subsequent to his conference yesterday. He will be engaged here part of today before leav- ing for Memphis.