Before Wells became a theatre mogul, he was a catcher and first baseman and the popular manager of the Richmond Colts.
In Norfolk, Wells operated The Granby, Academy, Colonial, Norva, Strand, New Wells and the American Theatre.
Jake's namesake, the New Wells Theatre, opened on August 27, 1913. The poured-in-place, steel-reinforced concrete structure was technologically advanced for the period.
The New Wells' ornate decoration made the theatre the flagship of Wells Amusement Enterprises, and continues today as a well preserved example of Beaux-Arts Classicism and National Historic Landmark.
The theatre originally had 1,650 seats with 12 boxes and three balconies.
Fred and Adele Astaire, Will Rogers, Billie Burke, John Drew, John Philip Sousa and Dorothy Gish have all appeared on the Wells stage.
The brothers sold their Norfolk and Richmond theatrical holdings to their partners Wilmer and Vincent in 1926.
Days before his death, Jake was staying in his room at the Park Hill Inn. On the afternoon of March 16, 1927, concerned for his health, the inn manager talked Wells out of his room and persuaded him to go for a drive through the country. He asked that she pull over to pick some flowers. When the manager did so, Wells was reported to have said, "It can't be long now," produced a pistol, and fired a shot below his ear.
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