The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-06
Changing of Birmingham's Newest Theatre to Nick el0deon" House Deeply
 Resented by Citizens
AS EVIDENCE OF IT
 THEY WILL REFUSE
 TO PATRONIZE HOUSE
Hoblitzelle Manager Here Says News papers Can't Tell Them Anything About Running a Theatre-Man-
 agement Will Recognize It's
 Mistake Soon, It Is Said

Mistake Soon, It Is Said
 The announced policy of Karl Hob litzelle to begin three shows daily at the Lyric theatre has aroused the ex- treme displeasure of Birmingham thea tregoers The temper of the citizens of Birmingham. which has been sorely tried during the vaudeville was' be- tween Jake Wells and MT. Hoblitzello was at still greater heat yesterday when the "nickelodeon' policy was an- nounced for the Lyric.
 The announcement made by MT. Hob- litzeIle yesterday morning was tO the effect that at night two performances are to he given with one afternoon show. That means herding persons for the later performance into the lobby and holding them there like sheep un- til the attendants of the first pcrform- ancc leave the theatre. There will fol- low great confusion in getting seats even though reserved.
 At the Majestic with its limited space and It's confessed inferiority to keith ---~--- made no protest against the three show management there. Hut for Mr. HobIitxelIe to turn the handsome new Lyric into n cheap house, destro ytnG in effect the only high class vnude- yflIe theatre In Birmingham Is said to he the last straw needed to break the cnmei's back. It was the invarinble rule that seats at the Lyric under the Wells management were at n premium, especially on some nights. From all ex- ternai indications the place was well patronixcd.
 Will Not Patr0nize House
 Expressions secured yesterday in Bir- mingham from well known citizens were to the effect that they would not patronize any such arrangement and they asserted that the people of Bir- mingham should scarcely stand for such treatment.' All during the pickering of Mir. Wells and MT. Hoblitxeile, while they were trying to see which would be the cxar to hand out meager nttrac- lions here, the people bore the brunt with remarkable fOrtitude. So long as they were getting at least something attractive they said little. The Lyric was built especially for first class vau- deville attractions. Through the 'fusses' 1t is said that efforts were made to turn the place into "nickef' show which failed. The next thing has been determined upon, which has aroused the ire of Birmingham pec- pie.
 Some of the best known men in Bir- mini gham, although for various req sons refusing to be quoted, are indig- nant and assert that they will not only withhold their patronage but will as- sist In whatever movement Is started to secure for Birmingham that degree of vaudeville service to which they believe local people are entitled even from the rival theatrical managers. It is believed incidentally that Jake Wells will open the Bijou theatre with per haps vaudeville. These reports arc more or less unverified.
 Policy Absolutely Unbearable
 Sol Caheen. who is Invariably first nighter' at the Lyric. was thoroughly aroused yesterday over the announced policy of the Lyric
 q do not believe MT. Wells Is
 to blame for this about-to-be out
 rage,' said Mir Caheen. $'IIe Is the
 victim, I believe, of circumstances. I will say that the proposed cheap
 policy at the Lyric Is absolutely
 unbearabIe. Birming gham is no tank
 town to he given the leftover vau-
 devflle stuff. I do not believe the
 attractions will be first class for
 the reason l do not believe that a
 real vaudeville artist, the kind we
 should have here, will work three
 times Der day at any theatre.
 "Another thing. l do not believe
 MT Hoblitzelle can obtain the
 Keith acts. This plan to turn the
 newest theatre we have into what
 is in effect 'nicllelodeon' is about
 the rawest proposition that we have
 suffered. The Lyric cost l am told,
 S400,00O, and should be the home
 of high class attractions. It will
 not be such if three performances
 are given.
 "It will be uncomfortable for put
 rons to attend either of the night
 performances. One will he far too
 early and the other will be like
 striving to get into n crowded
 street car. I for one will not pat
 rOnize any such affnir and I hope
 the indignation that I hear on ev-
 cry side will be strong enough to
 show these persons that Birmlng-
 ham Is not to be handled fin my
 such outrageous manner"
 Two Good Shows Impossible
 Hubert A. Drennen, who rarely misses the Monday night performance, said yesterday that he could not patronize the attractions under the new policy.
 "I do not think it h fair to the
 people of Birmingham to ruthIessly destroy our only dependable attrac- tiOn. The Lyric had almost become an institution here, and I rarely ever attended . show that was not we'll patronized. This new policy of two performances per night will certainly cause me to stay away. 1t Ia uncomfortable to go to the sec ond performance. Even If this were not the general opinion I do not believe that good vaudeville per- formers will work three times daily. No artist will do that, and I do. not think the class of players that have been at the Lyric in the past will do so. In effect believe Mir. HOblit- xelle has made . very great mistake, and I believe he will find 1t out sOOn."
 Is a Great Mistake
 J. c. Cummlngsx T think tho policy of two performances per night at the Lyric h the xreatest mistake they ever made or ever could make. I for one think 1t is decidedly unjust to Birmingham theatregoers. I believe properly handled the Lyric would pny hand- sOmely us a high class theatre. Bir- mingham has always borne the brunt of theatrical wars, and hope the citizens will stand together and stop this one from belng put over."
 Gen. Louis V. Clark, owner Of the I.yrtes T do not care te Dc quoted.