Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-17

A group of theatrical men stood in the lobby
OF an uptown theater the other night. As usual,
they were talking ''shop." The conversation
drifted hither and thither over the whole vast
field OF theatricals, from the latest New York
success to the most recent failure in San Fran
cisco. Finally theatrical affairs in Washing
ton came in for a share Of attention.
''People always tell me when come here, /"
said the manager Of travelling attraction,
"that I've struck the town at bad time; that
II I'd come little later or little earlier my
business would be better. II come before
Congress convenes or after it adjourns they say
the good season is while Congress is in session.
Then when come during the session Of Con-
gress they explain the small business by saying
that there is so much going on in society that
people find no time to go to the theater. That's
what I've been told in Washington for fifteen
years. Now, what want to find out ia Just
when the theatrical business il really good
here"
WELL" said local theatrical man Of long
experience, 'TH admit that Washington is a
peculiar theatrical town in some respects. It
Is slow to take to new stars and new attractions.
Audiences here are az critical as in any city in
the country. They won't take the verdict Of
New York or Boston, as a rule, on a play, an
opera, or a star Of any kind. They want to see
for themselves and it often happens that at
fractions which New York went wild over don't
go at all here. Then there are certain lines
OF theatricaiN which never do well in
Washington. and Of late years our managers
closing their houses"
But you know very well" the first speaker
interrupted, that Washington has always had
the reputation of being jay theatrical town"
Washington used to have bad reputation
among managers, I'll admit" the local man
answered, but for the last five seasons there
has been steady improvement, and for its
size there isn't to-day a better theatrical town
in the country than Washington, especially for
the best class of attractions. 1t used to be
that first rate attractions would come
here only during the sessions of Congress.
Now they will take dates almost any time ex-
cept during the extreme hot weather, and gen.
orally do a paying business. Our theatrical
season here now is longer than in most cities
of the country. and business il good in the fall
and spring as well as in the winter. October
has got 10 be one of the best months in the
year."
This improvement in theatrical business
isn't confined to Washington, ID it," STAR
man, who was present, inquired.
NO, it isn't confined to Washington" the To-
cal man answered, but it isn't general. Agood
many cities that used to rank tirst-class are 60
ing back on the drama. Baltimore used to be a
much better theatrical town than Washington
but managers talk about it now just as they used
to talk about Washington few years ago. It's
hard to tell what causes the changes. OF course.
Washington has grown rapidly in the last ten
years and the growth has been of a good class
of people. Then the managers here now give
the people the very best attractions that
can be had and that's what is wanted here"
Will the coming change in administration
affect business this season." the reporter asked.
I'm afraid it will little. 1t did four years
ago. You see people hang on to all their spare
cash against the rainy day that is liable to
strike good many Of them in the spring. But
i don't think it will hurt business very
seriously"