Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-02
.B|J0U's CAREER TO END
AS BURLEsQUE HOUSE
One More Week to BE Provided,
After Which Stays Will
Suffer on Mondays.
NoRToLK THEATRE FOLLOWS
Jake and Otto Wells Unable to OBJ
tain Character OF Shows Contracted
For, and Prefer to Bar That Form
OF Entertainment.

Burlesque I'm Richmond is on It's last
legs Ono more week. ending Decem-
Der ~, and the proud emincnce of form
Ing spoke of the Columbia IAmuse-
ment Company's auxiliary" Circuit
VIII no longer be Richmond's.
y Mcssrs. Jake and Otto Wells, who
guide the destiny of the Bijou Theatre
and shape It's cnds-howover Its au-
dicnces may rough-hcw them--an-
nounccd last night that. so far as bur-
iesque In Norfolk and in Richmond
was concerned, they were done" The
career. Of tho Bijou Theatre as the home
or burlcsque-and "home" Is good In
connection with burlesquc---will come
10 an end OH December II. and, the
academy OF Music in Norfolk will also
ne shorn of that particular form OF
glory on December &c.
u has been generally understood UP
2nd down the theatrical lane for some
time that the Mcssrs. Wells were dis
satisfied with tho brand OF burlcsque
plying their two Virginia houses.
When they determined to give bur
lcsquc.a try-out. 1t was with the ex-
s pressed agreement that the perform
character that could not offend the
clientele that they served In both cities.
WELLS HAS PLACED PERSONAL
STAMP ON HIS PRODUCTIONS
ago recall distinctly that When Jake
Wells first went into the show busi-
ness here In Richmond, he rang down
nc curtain number Of times on acts
gestivc. Indeed. II was Mr.. Wells and
the care with which he conducted the
house then under his control that first
attend without hesitation popular
priced performances. Otto Wells is not
so well known in Richmond. but ne
has pursued tho same course In Nor
folk, where they both have their
They have both endcavorcd to man
as "itincrant showmen." but as men
who live. and have an interest In the
community In which they do business.
that the constant supervision which
they. or their representatives have
been required to exercise over these
guent criticisms of the various per-
formances on account of their in
deccncy. have impellcd them to climi-
bills Of fare rea in both cities ine ora'"a''e
Of Music in Norfolk have made little
not compensated for the Weekly ki Worry ii.s
ancc every Monday of a new. and, pos
sibly. rough chow In their houses.
OTHER CHANGES
After this announcement. specula-
ton az to tho, future of the theatres
on Broad Street Will undoubtedly fol-
seems most likely that the Grayce
Scott Company Will be transferred
from tho Colonial Theatre back to the
Bi5ou. in which IL was so success ful
last season; that the Lyric Theatre Will
picture house of IA highEclass.T ~ g
Meanwhile. wocful Is the lot of the
himself to. the Bijou on Monday night.
fearing. or hoping that there might be
something doing" No longer. Will the
Chief of Police and tho captain of the
oaths OF Office to watch the opening
performance OF every burles1uc show
as regularly az Monday night comes,
and no longer Will innocent Mr.. Briggs,
he be hailed to Police Court and hned
for tho antics OF women whom he
never saw before.
Gone Will be the fearful dialect that
men who formed the inevitable tri,
angle OF slapstick comedians; departed
will be the prima donna with the voice
of siren--a steam siren; no more will
rags, and-woe, woe ,-vanishcd from
the grooming stage Will be the sixteen
maidens Of the "bcauty chorus" and all
,Ssr pneEes awa and in sn tse so
their fsh-scale suits OF armor and
their red wigs: into their makeup
ions, and hidden away In little chamois
bags will blink unseen the near-glitter
of their phony jewels;
And the name OF the Bi)ou snail be
Ichabod. for its glory has nearly de-
narted