Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-05-18
we Have No National Drama.

A. NJ. Palmer, the American manager,
has given his views to the New York
Herald upon the subject of the baroness
of the stage in American plays. He
SAYS
We have no such thing as a national
drama. We have produced in the last
twenty years very few American plays
which are really good. Apart from Mr..
Bronson Howard, Mr.. William Gillette,
Mr.. William Young, Mr.. Brander Mat
thews, Mr.. Augustin DAILY, Mr.. Steele
Mackaye, Mr.. David Lloyd, Mr..
A. Z. Lancaster and few others
whose names l need not men,
ton, but of whom something
may be hoped, we have no playwrights.
I am we'll aware that outside of these
men there are many people engaged in
writing for the stage. In my long man.
agement | have had many of their
works-some 1000 in sll-submitted to
me for perusal. Out of this huge pile of
manuscripts how many do you suppose
have found to bel will not say great,
but even available plays? Not one.
do not include in this number, Of
course, the native works l have produced
at my own theaters. These were for the
most part written by recognized play
wriyhts, and they brought their owr
recommendations but of these, even, il
must be said that they required revision
and in many cases entire Ieshaping be-
| fore they were fit for production.
During the past two years l have un'
| dertaken to give series of matinees a.
the Madison. Square Theater, at which
the works OF new and untried authors
| might have a hearing without expense Il
them. This effort has proved a failure
| for the reason that l cannot find plays
which am willing to have the members
of my company appear in, even for purel.
tentative performances.
Several plays by men who have VOL
enviable regulations in other branches
/ of literary work were carefully re-
hearsed, only to be withdrawn, beeaus
the experience of the rehearsals proved
them to be unactable, while of the six o.
seven which passed the ordeal of re
j hearsal, and were given a public trial
only one was good enough to be put int
! my evening bill. What is true il
my own experience is true, SO far as
know it, in the experience of all IN.
fellow managers. Mr.. DAILY, himself tn,
author of one the best American drama
vi lIOI t<OHi hdn WI J col
depended on the German market. M,
late friend Wallack, who, in his timt
despite the cry raised against hin
of being an English manager")
J spent more money III expert
menting with American plays thar
all his contemporaries put together, had f
rely chic fly on the English market. An,
Mr.. Frohman, the clever youn,
manager OF the Lyceum, who keeps tw
! American dramatists in his employ. ha
J thus far been able to find only on
American play for his stage, and
obliged to fill his second season will
English and French plays.
In the light of these facts it does no
seem that the clamor 30 loudly raise,
against the American manager because
he buys in the London, Paris or Berlir
market plays with which to amuse his
patrons, should cease until, at any rate
the American authors can create some
J thing for him to buy at home? At thi
moment am crying out for an Ameri
can play. My patrons want it and l an
willing to pay we'll for it, but l do no
know where to buy it. Will some o.
these men who are forever talking abou
the American drama and forever sneer
ing at managers because they do not pro
duce American plays, now step to tb,
front and tell me where can find one
l shall hold myself his debtor for tn,
balance of my life if he will.