New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-08
HATS OFF IN THE THEATRE.
HOW THE PLAN WORKS AT THE LYcEUM.

LADIES WILLING TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE
PRIVILEGE EXTENDED BY MR.. FRoHMAN.
Daniel Frohn an. in announcing that Mt the Lyceum
Theatre last night those ladies wishing to remove their
bonnets could find suitable convenience therefore,
caused considerable discussion in theatrical circles.
Whether be will prove the beneactor to his race hegh
easily become II his geute hint is acted upon In future
by bis feminine patrons, remains to be seen. He has
autographed to Mrs Grover Cleveland detailing the
step be has taken and asking her il she sees tit to give
his pan her approval This he did because he saw
that according to a Washington correspondent, Mrs.
Cleveland had sgni6ed her intention OF supporting
any such movement with all her influence.
Much curiosity was evidently tet by those VINO
attended the performance OF One of Our Glrls by
Miss Dauvray and her Company last night. As they
entered the lobby ladies placatd which called
their attention to the set aside by the managers
as a cloak-room. Here a neatly habited young woman
was in attendance and received the hats and wraps,
giving therefore numbered check and hanging them
on hooks TO correspond TO the numoer. There was
DO DELAY and but little crowding Upstairs IN the
auditorium the first glance those entering was De-
slowed on the feminine heads in the fairly crowded
! seats. Close examination proved that noticeable
percentage OF these heads destitute OF oonneS
or hats few OF those who removed th-lT street
replaced them by wrap OF lace or sone.nne ~ tIv
nature of morning cap hut the majority were simply
covered with more or less deliberately BRAIDED har
Before the curtain the supply OF checKs IN the
cloak gave out and improvlsed ones were USED
! Naturally between the acts the chat III the LOBBY
turned GU the vexed question and the general con-
ciusion arrived that the idea was an excellent
me and mered even If il should not meet with sue
/ cess One thing was certain to the small
extent to which prevailed last night the removal OF
the bonnets added 10 the appearance oil the mouse.
| Other managers who were yesterday seemed
| disposed 10 think that Mr.. Frohmans plan, though
highly commendablr. would not WORK satisfactorily.
| Said A. NJ Palmer: No one would hike better than
mvselt TO this English custom introduced Nothing
rleases manager better than to see his house well
dressed, bar the circumstances mere dner gIea.i'
from th $50 in London In the first place. our auni
enees are not divided into classes as they are IN
Europe There the stalls where aoue bonnets are Tor
hidden filed only by people OF means ana leisure.
Those who would object 10 appearing IN evening
find seats part Of tue house where 1t is not re-
CURED and would think Of sitting ID the heh-
priced stalls il the matter OF dres, dd not enter
INTO the question. Here. the contrary. there -
! practically DO division every one sits IN tae
| orche.rra | think from what know of the sex that
many ladies would strongly object TO being required
| 10 remove their bonnets ome OF them come rch
out of or at any rate long distance ~ street
car or otherwise. hey tx their hair 80 as to LOOK
well With bonnet on. but as 10 please their
sensitive minds when rhe bonnet Is removed. lhey
would rather stay away 'nn 'T.e emit were we
10 introduce any rule Of the sort Mr. tronman seems
TO want 20 lead up to-"
| Another close stu9ent OF New-Yolk audiences,
| Theodore Moss said don't think the schen viii
work simply because ladies won't take their bonnets
off please their best friends still less the manager
I u
| know. | remember nearly twenty-five years 40 ME-
jerome gave series of concerts IL his little theatre
/ III what is now the University Climb. was interested
| in the matter lie printed the tickets Request
that everyone should appear In evening dress. wen:
several adies came in theatre hats and politely but
| firmly refused them admission shudder now as |
think OF the that innocentlv raised. We'll, the
fair se1 are the same they were twenty years
ago and if they dOnt want to take their bo1nets Oh
they won't and that ends the matter"
! To the Editor Of The Tribune
SIR: The innovation looking toward the removal OF
ladies' hats which tegan at the Lyceum Theatre this
evening is not desire say. arbitrary measure
! as some papers state but wholly optional with the
ladies themselves. 1t patent TO all theatre-goers
notably to the ladies, that ID manv, may say most
cases the removal OF their hats il exceedingly neon
venient- On the other hand there are others VINO
svmDstbize with this movement winch has already
enlisted in its ,spousa the ch,et lady in the land
Mrs. President Ceveand-and who are ready 10 avall
| themselves OF such convenienees are adopted Tor
their accommodation. These the Lycenm Theatre has
sought to supply. DA\lEi FRoHMA
| Ae1r- York Dec. Z, 1856.