Jake Wells
Jake Wells(born August 9, 1863 in Memphis, Tennessee; died March 16, 1927 in Hendersonville, North Carolina) was a theater impresario and a former major league baseball player.
Wells owned, operated or managed public amusement properties throughout the Southeast, including vaudeville and legitimate theaters in Birmingham, Nashville, Knoxville, Memphis, Norfolk, Richmond and other Southern cities.
In 1904 Wells was general manager of East Lake Park, and an investor in the East Lake Park & Amusement Co., in which role he planned a $20,000 improvement project with new attractions and a new roof over the Casino Theatre, built out over the water. He continued to be involved in operating the theater even as was succeeded as park manager by R. T. Brewer so that he could focus on Lake View Park.
Wells' most prominent project was the Lyric Theatre, which he built in partnership with Louis Clark in 1913. Wells purchased the Birmingham Auditorium in 1898 and renamed the venue the Bijou Theatre. He also owned the Orpheum Theatre, another vaudeville theatre on Third Avenue North across the street from the Bijou.
Wells was a catcher for the Detroit Wolverines (1888) and the St. Louis Browns (1890). Overall, he spent 46 games in the majors, hitting .210 in 162 at-bats. He had 22 runs, 14 RBI and OPS of .511. In the field, he committed 24 errors in 44 games, for a .932 fielding percentage
He is buried in St Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Norfolk, Virginia.
References
- Julius Cahn's Official Theatrical Guide, Vol. 12, 1908
External links
- Jacob Wells at Findagrave.com