The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-10

.aa.ions OF popular theme of the day. and
requlsllloning the energies of minor emo
neiaes OF the saltatory art At the Eunire
aNauihi Is to be seen in the tirst and
tprlhcipal ballet only. The remainder of
~. entertainment Is of a high order of
, ,aIiuesiie. embracing turns supplied by
A,aie ana female comioues dancers iug-
giers, acrobats, strong men and OTHER at
siac.ions, always with view TO novelty
craze pHo'Ao
AT no time is the audience reduced TO the
attentive quiet which obtains during a
sneatricat performance, and the hum of
eonyersaton and laughter in the rear parts
"a the proscenium is perceptibiy hushed
oliIy When prime favorite appears before
the iootiights. Then the loungers leave
the Dars and the promenaders crowd to the
'front.' ran TO listen breathlessIy to their
iaoi, AT such times. if the Idol sustains
ms or her reputation the resulting enthusi-
asnl IS something To be remembered.
Ii you approach Leicester Square from
lhe west you will pass the pavilion. on Pic
caulAy circus, Immediately opposite the
criterion. The PAY" as il is Affection
ateiy called, is small but attractive and
very popular hall of the frst-class The
entertainment afforded there which is of
the variety" order pure and simple, Is full
OF orIskness, novelty and talent, and is on
the whole the best of its kind TO be met
WITH. 1t is on the stage of the "Pay" that
west Enders are accustomed to seeing the
Hill. ''O'''
=, A few yards away, in side street, is the
irocadero, some time notorious as the Ar
gyle rooms, and now favorably known as
a bright, comfortable and well-managed
nail, where a good show is offered at cheap
prices. The principal feature of the .'Troch
Is It's commodious lounge, equal in size to
and adjoining the auditorium, with which
1t communicates through series of arch
ways-an architectural popularity, the
mention of which may recall the old Ar
gyle rooms to the minds of some readers
Last year, for the first time, a large music
haIl was thrown open in the heart of the
busy Strand. The Tivoi, as it is called. is
handsome marble structure, occupying a
site on the river side of the Strand form
erly occupied in part by the old Tivoli res
taurant, which has entered upon a career
OF rejuvenescence in the new building
The hall itself IS spacious and comfort
able. possessing pretty lounge under the
balcony back of the stalls Since its in
auguration the Tivoli has passed through
a period of financial trouble which can be
attributed only to extravagant manage
ment, as all outside conditions should con-
tribute to render it favorite public resort.
Among the more popular halls in West,
West Central and Southwest London
should be mentioned the Oxford, in Oxford
street, near Tottenham Court road; the
Westminster, and the Metropolitan,
Edgewater road. Others, further afield,
are more suburban than metropolitan in
character.
The Surrey Side" is rich in music halls.
1t was there, indeed, that the institution
had its inception. A quarter of century
or more ago certain tavern on the West
mi in eft RriH GA hap mo II nd far nd
wide by reason of the superior class of
'.sing song" which mine host organized
for the nightly entertainment of his
guests, and the pothouse drove a roaring
trade in consequence.
The artistic and moral character of the
show and its surroundings were probably
on par with those of Bowery dive, but
they furnished an idea to Charles Morton.
ssfather of music halls, /" until lately pre-
siding genius of the Alhambra, and now
one of the best known men in London
The result of that idea, which, like many
essentially commercial inspirations, OBJ
talns and deserves grateful recognition on
philanthropic grounds, was the establish
ment of the old Canterbury. The old
Canterbury was burned to the ground
many years ago, and the Canterbury of
today stands upon the site of the once
famous musical tavern.
The Canterbury, in common with the
East End, presents features very different
to those which characterize the West End
resorts already alluded to. All are of vast
size, and are patronized exclusively by the
hard working classes. The profits derived
from them are very large, and they employ
the best and most expensive vaudeville
talent. To the class for whom they cater
they are theater and music hall combined,
hence, in addition TO the regulation va
riety" turns, they present short dramatic
sketches, with plenty of broad, emotional
effects.
not in the West End, that Jenny Hill inn
personates the Stowaway and her other
pathetic characters; il was here that
Charles Godfrey destroyed his sweet tenor
voice by shouting and ranting in the lingo
military songs which aroused so much en-
thusiasm among the lower middle classes
a few wears back 4 student of human
nature would find much food for observa-
ton and rejection by visiting the large
halls OF the East and South. From them
the Dickens of the future will derive much
of his inspiration.
An admirable feature of most of the
London music halls is the sliding roof. a
device which insures perfect ventilation
and consequent comfort in fine summer
weather.
PLAYING such an important part in Lon
don life the music halls yield livelihood
10 many thousands of people Among
those who are incidentally dependent upon
them are the agents, OF whom there are
large number, great and small. They
supply talent at long or short notice, and
in many cases make handsome incomes.
Recruits in the ordinary branches of en-
tertainment come from the provinces;
novelties are sought all the world over.
In the event of regular performer be-
ing unable 10 appear music hall manager
can secure substitute through an agent
at an hours notice The substitute is,
in the iargon OF 1.-THE 'alls," an extra
turn" and it is by hliing extra turns"
that ambitious provincials are enabled 10
first show their mettle before critical Lon
don audiences. An immediate success,
under the circumstances, means an imme-
diate engagement. for the alert manager is
ain front" noting the strangers turn and
its effect on the audience with q trained
eve.
The keen competition keeps managers
very much alive 10 the demands of their
patrons, and salaries consequently run
high. Ii is a by no meals unusual thing
for fayorites TO earn 500 night, and in
the case of stars Of the first magnitude
So 900 is not considered more than fair
weeks wage. This, as a rule entails the
performance of three turns at Ehree halls
for six nights.
LISA recognized custom for managers,
in engaging performer, to stipuiate that
he or she shall not perform at any hall
within a mile radius of his own. The con-
sequence is that when the star is not on
the stage he is driving rapidly IN CAB or
brougham To a distant part OF London,
where, perchance, the same three songs
must be repeated, with the same mick
ions gestures and vim as have Just been
hs.tsa III atFNtRnHA