The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-05
Jake Wells Lease Termin- ated by an Agreement
 Reached Yesterday
HOUSE OPENS WITH
 MATINEE ON MONDAY
Raymond to Be Manager-keith and Interstate Acts Will Be Offered. Majestic to Be Operated as High
 Class Moving Picture House

Karl Hoblitzelle for the Interstate Amusement company has leased the Lyric theatre for 10 years. Thus endeth the vaudeville war in Birmingham. An- nouncement that Jake Wells had relin- quished the Lyric was made late yester- day afternoon by MT. Hoblitzelle, follow ins conferences with Gen. L. V. Clarke, the owner, and R. G. Thach, Jr.. attor- ney for both parties. The men connected with the theatrical situation here that has caused considerable irritation on the part of theatregoers have been in constant ses- sion for the past three days, but the final agreement was not reached until yes- terday.
 The Lyric will be operated, beginning Monday next, with Keith and Interstate acts, the former from the same circuit that served the Lyric under MT. Wells. There will be one afternon performance and two evening performances. The prices will be 10, 20 and 30 cents. Edward Ray mond will be manager of the Lyric.
 MT. Raymond was standing in the Tut wiler lobby yesterday afternon when Rob- ert Gregory walked up to him and handed
 
 evidencing the transfer of management of the Lyric to MT. Hoblitzelle. MT. Ray mond will take charge of the Lyric this morning, and arrange for the opening Monday at the regular matinee.
 It was announced last night that the Majestic theatre has been leased by T.. s. Abernathy, operator of the Odeon One and Two, and would be operated as a high-class moving picture theatre, begin- ming next Monday. The same class of pictures as have been exhibited at the other theatres will be shown.
 It was stated yesterday that MT. Wells had leased the Lyric building for 10 years and had used two years of the lease. Mir. Hoblitzell leases the theatre for a period of 10 years from today.
 The ending of the vaudeville war will be the source of unusual qualification here. For several years there has been more or less pickering back and forth un- til the people of this city had become wearied at deprivations forced by the warning theatrical managers. Upon the arrival here a few weeks ago of MT. Hob- litzelle with the intention of opening the Majestic, it was known that the old war had reopened. The Lyric mysteriously closed without explanation and has re- mained closed, but will be opened as stated next Monday. The Majestic has been operating only three weeks.
 General Clarke. owner of the Lyric and Majestic, met with MT. Hoblltzelie after MT. Wells agreed to terminate his lease and with Robert G. Thach, act ing as a referee, the theatrical man ager and the owner started negotia- tions. They made a memorandum of what they desired, employed MT. Tnach int n rn " a contract onH Qft- CT this was done the details were threshed out.
 q have leased the Lyric for 10 years" MT. Hoblitzelle announced last night MT. Raymond will be manager. The Lyric will be opened Monday with three performances daily. The Majestic will be closed for vaudeville bur will be operated as high class moving pie ture house. The lease of MT. Wells for eight remaining years was terminated by agreement between him and Gen. eral Clarke. The Keith acts as well as the Interstate Amusement company acts will be used at the Lyric. I will operate a popular price house. Reser- vations will be taken for the matinee and night performances as heretofore and we hope to please the discrimin- ating Birmingham public"
 Mir. Hoblitzelle left for Chicago last night
 SemOn Silent
 M. L. Semon, who has been manager here for the Wells interests for many years was asked last night for state ment as to the relinquishment of the Lyric by MT. Wells. He said he did not have any information to give out as he had not been advised by MT. Wells as to any arrangements. It was suggested that as MT. Wells has tho Bijou and the Orpheum that he would probably open one or the other or per- haps both of them.
 "I have no information or advice from Mir Wells about the Lyric transaction, said MT. Semon nor have I any in- formation as to what MT. Wells may or may not do in connection with the Orpheum or the Bijou"
 Mr. Semon was advised by The Age Herald of the announcement of Mir. Hoblitzelle but still had nothing to say.
 The Lyric was built by Gen. Louis V. Clarke for MT. Wells after designs by the Richmond architect of MT. Wells who makes speciality of theatres.