Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-11-21

We have been tempted frequently of late !
to Advert to this subject, with reference to |
the people Of Nashville and their seeming
IN supporting first-class
theater, conducted upon proper principles,
where the legitimate drama, with the sub
lime creationslof great authors, can be fos-
tered by the Jaaintenance aEd patronage
of cultivated and talented tragedians who
s'hold the mirror up TO Nature Theaters
are institutions of all large, growing aud
metropolitan cities. AS, such the people OF
all classes are interested in their being kept
up. Il is nc. eulogy upon the people OF a
city to find them indieposed 10 keep up a
first-class theatsr. Men, and women too,
are so constituted that occasional recreation
where amusement can be combined with
instruction, is absolutely essential to the
vigorous elasticity of their mental capa-
bilihes. In ne place is this SO wei afforded
as in a good theater, where high tragedy,
laughing farceG, sprIghdy commediettas,
and good burtes4ues are rendered by legltl-
mate performers. Our people do not seem
to appreciate taese considerations as they
should. The Result is that our theaters
languish and iirst-class actors have virtually
been tabooed from the city for want OF that
support which is extended m other cues
| II would appear that cur theatre-goers nave
| become yitiated to some extent by the SEN
sational exhibitions that have, although OF
a doubtful character in point OF morals ana
| instruction, threatened to monopollze the
boards of the stage, 20 the exclusion OF the
| elevated and legitimate drama altogether.
In our city, Islaetantly as we make the adj
mission, this aas been particularly the case.
The memorial just prepared and presented
! to the membehs of the Legislature, with
the names of lot of theatrical managers
attached, makes allusion to the subject at
| this time pertinent and proper. The com
/ petition that regular and expensive theat'
| rical establishments have to MAINTAIN with
/ fimsy and irresponsible concerns Is one
/ prime cause} of the deterioration OF the
true Grammatical art; and this competition Is
forced upon them by the failure of the peo-
pie TO bestew that pecuniary patronage
which is given to less instructive and more
dubious establishments. We have seer
some as fine acting at our theatres here e
almost empty benches as we ever saw any
where, while on the same nights large
crowds focked to minstrel troupes, baile
dances, and exhibitions not at all aspiring
10 the dignitE Of refinement, and which die
not come upto @ standard justfying crit
cism in the columns Of family newspaper
| This does not argue well for us, and W,
hope to see an improvement in this regard
We repeat that we are all interested Il
seeing tirsi-elass theater kept up, as al
important institution and city adjunct
The only wsy that this can be done is b
giving meritorious managers and actors
that encouraging patronage that will Sc
cure and maintain the right kind OF
building, with all the proper appendices
, and the best talent OF the country as pei
formers The one viii accomplish In
other. We hope our people will conslde
this subject in the light of duty, and II
, terest themselves in the maintenance OF a
institution Of The character ndicateC
Strangers coming to the city naturally loo
? out for a place Of amusement. Such place
are found il other cities, because they al
S sustained Let our people reflect upon Ii
importance of this subject, and let 1t not
abroad to the world that the great city
C Nashville cannot support first-class thei