The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-02-15
new OPERA HOUSE
WILL BE ERECTED
Men Construction Will Be
Pushed.

Eugene NJ. Clarke, special represen
tative of the Saenger Amusement Co.
told a gathering of business men at
the chamber of commerce yesterday
afternoon that the proposed new opera
house for Pensacola to be built by his
company would be constructed very
shortly and that the delay had been
due to the high price of material and
labor. Mr.. Clarke asserted that his
company was not asking any favors
or concessions. He was introduced by
Judge Hoffman, president of the
chamber who explained the purpose
of the meeting.
Mr.. CLARKE said:
First of all would like 10 disabuse
your mind of anything you might
have heard to the effect my company
was endeavoring to "gobble" up the
moving picture business of Pensacola.
want to state here / am not a large
stakeholder and am making this state
ment as an employee of the Saenger
Amusement Co. in the capacity Of
special representative.
"The next statement / want to make
so that your minds may be clear on
this point is the fact we don't pro-
pose to ask for any money-contri-
buttons or any outlay Whatsoever
from the business men of Pensacola;
we do not wish any special privileges
of any kind, no concessions or other
inducements.
I'VE make this statement just at
this time for the reason we have been
given TO understand that the impress
sion has existed that we have sought
other privileges than merely the OPP
portunity of transacting our business
upon the same basis as other business
men,"
Mr.. Clarke said that the Saenger
Amusement Co. is and expects to con-
tinue to be a part and parcel of the
business and community life of Pen
sacola, identified with every movement
for the good and development of the
city
lie continued: The directors of my
company have authorized me to say
that it is their intention to proceed
as speedily as possible with the con-
struction of the opera house, project
ed some time ago and held up until
this time by the difficulty of securing
and labor.
Were it not for the fact that we
are already established in Pensacola,
we would not have been interested in
the construction of a legitimate thea
tire because experience has taught us
it is not a paying proposition. We
realize, however. that shows will at
tract people from outside and will
prove a vital factor in the upbuilding
of community and we are bound to
profit, just the same as other COM
mercial houses profit by anything that
tends to upbuild the community.
When we embark in this PROPOSE
ton, 1t is with the full knowledge that
it will not be a profitable venture such
as may be shown upon a balance sheet
of profit and losses but we do believe
that in affording Pensacola diversified
amusement and filling a crying need
of this kind, we shall indirectly profit
by the growth and development of the
town as an amusement center or
course, this is not a matter of imme-
date returns but eventually it will
surely come"
Mr.. Clarke exhibited plans for the
building and read a brief description
of the specifications-seat capacity
of which is to be some 1000. The
plans contemplate the erection of a
building of which Pensacola may be
justly proud.