New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-04
SHORTER THEATRICAL SEASONS
MR.. pALMnR's NEW COMEDY.


In addition to looking after HIS homo theatre and
two travelling companies, A. NJ Palmer Is taking an
actlvo inerest with Mr. DAILY In tho Walack benefit,
"a a member of the committee Of the Tony Hart
benefit, IS always occupied with the affairs OF the
Actors Fund and IS president of the now Managers
Protective Association 1t would be hard to find
buster man in this city, yet he can generally make
timo to chat with newspaper mon about important
theatrical events On the day OF tho fire at his old
theatre his Office fairly besieged by reporters.
Tho value OF his record of his management was then
conclusivey shown, there was not inquiry made
which could not DO aered by q reference to Its
pages Tho material accumulated Is already snfn
cient to I'LL twelve large volumes. 1t includes every
cast a biography OF every person in any way con-
nected with tho pieces played, and in almost all IN
stances has an accompanying portrait. In looking
over the records of tho earlier seasons the reporter
was impressed by tho fact that they very much
longer than now, and asked for explanation.
at is undoubtedly tho case" said Mr. Palmer
that our Seasons arc much shorter l used to open
about tho middle Of September and play till tho end
of tho first week In juno Now wo don't begin till
the end of October and leave hero by the first Of May
Several have conduced to this result Ono is
tho increased number OF thelircs and especially OF
those on tho East aud West sides whose scale OF
prices arc lower than at tho Broadway houses; an
other Is tho ncreas- I'd attractions Of Coney Island
and tho greater facilities that have been offered to
former residents of this city to find suburban homes
I'm many directions but the most powerful OF
all IS unoucstiOnaby that managers have found that
more money be made by playing their companies
In Boston, Chicago San Francisco and other cities than
by keeping them here long. This plan, besides
belng moro profitable, makes management easy,
as We are called upon to provide so many plays
in tho course of the first Introduce
this system by taking my company to Boston in May
about nine years ago, and since then i have been
there at tho same time every year in which / have
controlled a company Then san Francisco Is good
for five or six weeks In the summer: Los Angeles
week; Chicago may be played as long has at
between 1t and san Francisco. In most OF these
cities a first class New-York company play to
SO 900 or 5000 a week, and despite all expense Of
trans portatiOn manager thus makes more than no
would do here, unless he had sonc phcnOmenally
cessful play. Still it entails a good deal OF work
through the summer, and Mr. DAILY and |, whom talk
ing about II a few days ago. both thought that the
time whom We should not continue to make
these travelling seasons rule
al have bought the rights" continued Mr.. Palmer
TO Mcllhac's immensely successful comedy, Deco
REQ and having IL translated II is wonderfully
witty In dialogue, and ingenious and amusing In sit
nation, but will have to be skilfuy adapted for
hubble All tho French critics hail IL as the acme Of
light comedy construction Sorcoy, the leader Of
them, says that Paris has for years been waiting for
this piece. IL knew that Mehac the to
by the way, have Just received letter from Man
agcr Conried in which he tenders the services OF him
self and all his company to go on as supcrs In the
perio name OF Hamlet at tho Wallack benefit. Is
not that particularly graceful and generous tribute
from artists who do not play In our languageW