The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-11
LOVING CUP FOR
N. [. H0FHEIMER
Business Men Present Silver
Mug to Real Estate
Booster"
"C0L. BILL" MAKES ADDRESS
Ceremony Takes Place at En-
pire Theatre, the Latest Hof-
heimer Building.
"C0L. BILL" MAKES ADDRESS

Business men who realize and put a
| proper valuo on the buying and build
ing operations OF Moses Lafayette Hof-
| loving cup at tho Empire Theatre last
| night, with enough pomp and ceremony
to lift the event out of the ordinary
class. The Empirc--thc handsomcst
playhouse in town--was built by Mr..
iIofhcimer. He built the Lubin year
or two ago, and now he is building n
motion picture theatre just cast of the
Empire, which has been leased to Jake
Wells and his associates. who have the
management OF the Empire. The now
house will take care of the Empire
overflow, which was banked for two
blocks in the snow last night, while
William L. Dabncy. business manager
of the Chamber of Commerce. in Il neat
speech. was presenting the cup.
When the business people inspected
Mr.. liofhcimers new house OF amuse-
ment before 1t was opened, they de-
cidcd that he was entitled to some sub
stantial recognition. So the cup idea
was suggested. It met with a most
hearty response. All of his friends
wanted to contribute. because they
said that he would be building
throughout the year. and there was no
telling when they would read in the
newspapers that he had decided to
erect still another theatre on Broad
Street
Notices were sent out few days ago
that the ceremony would take place
on the Empire stage last night, Just
tiler me close of the first night per-
iormance. So the seats fllcd up carly,
and squad of police was on duty out
side' Keeping the crowd in line These
crowds. by the way. arc there every
night. but II was n little larger in
anticipation of the speech ma king
Which would be an added feature OF
the BILL and one no. renore,lv fonnd
vaudeville institutions.
RlH4li huu bowed auu waved his
huhd as he closed MS act, and inc
iSsits flushed on Il party OF we'll
gfooincd business men VINO sat in one
OIL inc boxes. No formal announce
mcnI had been made to that part OF
The audience which was not ADVISED
OF tho surprise. and during the brief
walt good many people walked out,
thinking the show was over. But tho
procession halted quickly when MIR.
bhohcy' Mr.. Hofheirner, J. c. Corlcy
ana Eugene a. Dietrich came upon the
stage. Somebody who sat near the
door suggested that there would be
some fine singing by the quartet, but
MI. Corlcy, VINO was master of cerc-
monies, introduced Mr.. Dubnev, and
then Mr.. Dabncy introduced the sub.
1cct lie referred to what Mr.. IIof-
heimcr had done he explained how
he had improved property values by
his building operations. and then re-
marked, quite casually, that many
public-spirited citizens had decided 10
present him with q loving cup as n
mark OF their appreciation.
At the right signal. upon the stage
there Slidcd James j. Pollard. holding
the cup. There was some applause
"ncn ne curtsicd in passing it over.
1t was passed in turn TO Mr.. Hof.
heimer. who accepted It with few
words OF thanks and appreciation,
while the audience broke forth into
vigorous applause.
The cup carries an inscription,
which refers. among other things, to
the fact that il was presented in
recognition of Dir. Hcfheimer's pro-
sressirencss and his splendid achieve
mcn,s.
When he first conceived the idea of
building the Empire, Mr. IIofheimer
did not figure expense In giving orders
TO architects that It should be q credit
TO the city and the man who paid the
freight. 1t has been open for only
two weeks and n half, and the bust
ness has been capacity business every
day 1t is not motion picture place,
but n vaudeville house, and Mr.. Wells
has sent down irst-class performers,
who have given 1t place In popular
favor which it is destined to hold.