The New York herald., 1877-09-16
Hiring Out Good Names.

The New York theatres have lent them
selves to m unworthy purpose of late
that of hiring their good names to cover
worthless exhibitions. 1t has become a
custom with our leading managers to sub
let their theatres during the summer season.
This may be prudent economy, but no profit
arising from such peddling can compensate
first class theatre for the degradation in
ficted upon it by exhibitions such as we
have Witnessed occasionally during the last
three months. We desire to speak in kind
the public if we did not speak plainly in
their behalf and express their opinion
clearly on this subject. Some provincial
performer emerging from Western obscurity,
or some amateur lady aspirant desires to
play in New York for few nights, as long
as the purse Of the "backer" will hold
out against the inevitable losses Sue
cess is so little expected that it may be
said it is not the object of the
enterprise The object is simply ADVERTISE
ment, the design being to gain an opportu-
nifty to display in the advertising columns
CANT announcement as the following =
clipper Ten Theatre. Overwhelming Sue
cess Overlooking houses Miss Jemima
Soltikof received nightly with tumultuous
enthusiasm in her great creation, 'Godiva.
Parties who failed to obtain admission will
find room in the orchestra, the musicians
having been removed to afford more room
for the public. The free listi suspended"
The lady, whose ability, like that of Sam
sons, lies in her hair, appears in the sem
sation scene clothed in that attire. This is
the attraction afforded to about forty or fifty
country people that overflow bench and a
half in the parquet, and regard the dis
play with breathless wonder. After two or
three weeks this entertainment ''goes on the
road"-that is, it circulates throughout the
United States with the Endorsement of first
class New York theatre to commend it to
our provincial neighbors. Is this fair? Is
it honest toward the provincial towns? Is
it grateful return to our public to lend the
good name Of the theatre for such pur-
poses2 Surely it is not unjust to regard the
manager who hires out his house for this
sort Of thing as quiet partner in the bust
ness Would he offer such an entertain
ment to his patrons during what he calls
his regular season. If he would not let his
private dwelling during the summer
months, while he is rusticating at the sea-
side, to tenant Of questionable character,
why should he defile the home of art the
favorite resort of our best families, with
such associations? 1t may be said
we have recorded an extreme case,
but impurity is not the only dramatic
epidemic of this summer season. There is
the would-be ''star, supported by scratch
company, that uses the same advertisement
with similar object, to impose on cred
ulous Western community, by misrepresent-
ing his or her few performances to empty
benches as Nh ovation by the New York pub
lie. Whether the theatre is lent for the
prostitution or the imposture the system is
equally unsound, and the manager who
abets it debases the noble art of which he is
the guardian and the guide The system is
unjust, also, toward those artists of merit
who might find it convenient to appear dur
ing the off season; but that period has
been SO degraded they will decline to
be associated with such surroundings.
The manager hereby loses profitable tenants
and the public lose good entertainment.
This was not so twenty years ago, when
Niblo's Garden used to be crowded in July
and August to witness the admirable per-
formances of the Ravel family or to welcome
the summer migration of Burton to that
brilliant theatre.
Let US draw attention to the manner in
which these matters are managed in France.
During the summer months the Theatre
Francais allows the principal actors of the
regular company to take congo. In their
absence it receives select aspirants from
the provinces, artists whose professional
reputation seems to entitle them to O metro
politan position. To these it accords
certain number of performances, afford
ing them an opportunity of submitting
their qualities to the test of Partisan
public II our memory serves us well Mr..
Fechter made his maiden effort in this man
mer in Paris, III 1916, ut the Theatre
Francais, in a tragedy, where he was as
signed the leading part. This is noble use
of gymnasium Of intellect, and contrasts
sadly with the uses we regret to find our
selves called upon to reprehend. We have
refrained from making these observations at
al earlier period out of regard to any exist
ing engagements managers might have
made, but trust they will give them earnest
consideration in the future, and come to the
trite conclusion that ''an empty house is
better than bad tenant"
Pulpit Topics To-day.
W. ooIl unaciol offant;ou En- L., H.