The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-01-09
LOCAL NEWS.

How to Make the Theatre Success
| The Richmond theatre, ever since the close o
| the war, has received, whenever open, a yer,
uneven, and, for the most part, very made
| quate support. 1t is true that since the periot
referred to there have been times when i
| enjoyed, for a brief period, aspasmodic success
but in the main the keeping of 1t open ba'
| proved losing business to all those who have
essayed the task. 1t certainly has been task,
and vexatious one, to many.
We can remember the time when the theatre
was crowded nightly with the beauty, elite and
fashion of the city. 1t is not SO now. In fact,
the times have changed and the people have
changed with them. To make the theatre a
paying Institution nowadays, you must inter-
est some of its habitues in its success.
In a word, it must become again as it was
in its pamy days--a stockholders concern.
Interest hundred persons directly, and sew
eral hundred indirectly, through friendship in
the success of the concern, and no actor would
then strut his brief hour on the stage to empty
benches.
Sundry efforts have been made to interest
the moneyed men of this city in the scheme os
either purchasing the present building or
erecting another one, all of which have failed.
The old Marshall, the theatre that succeeded
the one burned in 1911, was built by stock
holders, and was so owned till all the stock
passed by successive purchases into the hands
of the late Samuel S. Myers, from whom it
was derived by its present proprietor.
We doubt very much whether the monied
men Of Richmond will ever become sufficiently
interested in any thing beyond what appears
to be their own direct advantage TO take stock
10 an opera house, theatre or anything of the
sort. The rich men of Richmond have enter
prise, but they have not liberaity. A theatre
is not the sort of institution likely to evoke
this latter feeling with them. Richmond
shows this. 1t has railways and manufactures,
which are due to the enterprise of Richmond
capitalists. But there is no evidence of liber-
ality on the part of her rich men. Point out
a project from which rich peeuniary returns
are ga dead sure thing" and there is no trou
BILE in getting the stock. But start project
where any portion of the dividend is in the
shape of public benefit, and that enterprise
goes begging.
Our rich men are commendable in all their
,ociable and neighborly relations They are
good husbands, good fathers, good neighbors.
They provide well for those of their own house
hold, they fare sumptuously every day, and
hose committed to them dress in purple and
inc linen. They rally when a neighbours
house is on fire, and they are attentive in case
Of sickness, and sy mpathetic when deaths foot
beats at a Deigbbors door. But in public
way they are close. listed. Yea, verify they
ire stingy, especially about any project which,
40 matter how much it may rebound to the
credit OF the city, is not specially of profit to |
themselves. Religion and business were never |
imposed to have any great affinity, yet there |
ire many men in this growing city who make |
he first an excuse for their shortcomings in the |
second.