Telegram-herald., 1891-11-15
MANAGER cARwooD ANSWERED.
A Woman Tells Why tho Theatres Are
Not Filled


Woman Tells Why tho Theatres Are
Not Filled.
Editor TELEoRAM- HERALD:
After nearly every performance given
At Powers the public receives q merci-
less scoring by the press for non-appre-
citation of the managers efforts to se-
cure attractions worthy of patronage,
and in late issue Manager Garwood
offers reward for light on the subject
of non-attendance.
May it not be just possible that the
public also have cause for com plaint?
Times without number We pay good
dollars 10 hear, as We fondly hope, a
tirst-class entertainment, instead OF
which We are bored by a lot OF third
rate players, and are coolly informed
In next mornings paper that the com-
pany we paid to see e,lsyed in some OF
the larger cities the night before!
Pleasant. isn't it? "The City Direct
oGy" Is case in point.
If by chance 4 "star" really does put
IN an appearance the support is usually
of a kind to make the angels weep, to
say nothing of an ordinary earthly
audience!
Everybody has kindly feeling for
jolly, bright Nellie McHenry, but the
amusement loving people of Grand
Rapids have been caught too many
times t. nibble even at that aliuring
bait, and Nellie mourufully contrasted
the empty array OF seats with thepack-
ed house she USED ID play to here. And
who can describe that two hours tor
ture? The constant repetition of three
or four people taking IN concert-the
wild-eved young man, whom the audi
ence devoutly WISHED might be turned
to the wall, instead of the picture he
walled about. once the four raw-boned,
ungainly lady artists (?) were only
psrts of most dreary performance.
No play OF any pretension can be prop
erly "put on" at Powers owing to the
smallness of the stage. and people are
tired of being treated TO BITS and frag-
ments of plays.
So long as the present schedule OF
prices Is persisted in, poor houses and
hight receipts will he the outcome.
Fifty and seventy-five cents for the
lower floor and fifty cents for the Sec
ond for ail ordinary attractions, with
81 and $3.50 for extra fine performan-
ces would insure good attendance where
now night after night empty seats are
the rule. Eeamoud's is iorclble Illus
tratlon of tins fact. Seven nights each
week to packed houses, contrasted
with about three nights a week to
quarter filed houses is n very good
argument in favor of popular prices.
Then when an attraction IS billed
that At the usual prices would fiji the
nouse, up goes the price OF seats, and
the usual aate of affairs prevails
There is no reason for AN increase oi
price for "Tle Rivals" and 1t will be
surprising if the papers do not report s
poor house ~ usual, although the play
IS one that al Grand Rapids would like
To see.
Many prefer remaining at home un
less they can occupy the most dcsira-
ble seats, and with family of three ol
| four. two dollars apiece makes quite
an extensive evenings entertainment
coupled with the consciousness that i
will be an utter iniposslbility for tn,
play 10 be Produced as they have seer
| II in Chicago or New York at the sans
| price.
No use trring, Manager Garwood
! The people will never, never pay tn,
! present prices.
/ DO not Expect my suggestion to h'
| followed, neaher do | expect the of
fered reward. but do MAINTAIN that tn,
| true inwardless OF the matter IL hereIr
| statsd Nina G. H. Z