".....An investment there that was to remain in the family until 1961.

Belfast was the great Irish growth story of the 19th century. Driven by linen, shipbuilding and engineering, it had been half the size of Dublin in 1861 when George Wallace built a small hall on the site which he called 'The Imperial Colosseum'. By 1879, the population of Belfast had soared to 200,000, and the management of this enterprise was taken over by Lindon Travers, who made the most strenuous efforts to raise the status of the hall. These efforts resulted in the name of the hall being changed, first to 'Travers Musical Lounge' then to 'The New Colosseum, the Select Musical Lounge'. But it was apparent that it was not the name that was at fault, but rather the size of the building. Travers gave up the unequal struggle, and in 1879 the building was remodelled and opened as 'The Buffalo'. It enjoyed mixed success before a radical new plan, entailing a new ownership structure led by Adam, and the complete rebuilding of the theatre was embarked on.
...."