The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1893-09-20
AMONG THE PLAYER FOLK.
Explanation of Manager; Howls
Against San Francis.
Frederick Warde's Story ofn Ex-
perience at Butte.

Joseph Grismer, the worthy 'alfor-
MIA favorite," who finished his Ne York
engagement in THE New South"t the
Madison Square Theatre Saturdaylight,
was asked to explain how 1t happened
that Eastern attractions frequentlyared
so badly on the Pacific slope. 'fere
have been so many managerial owls
against San Francisco of late tint
few words from Mr.. Grlsmer anex-
;llent authority, would, 1t was tho,ht,
prove interesting. Grismer Is charing
fellow to meet. amiable, educated nd
unassuming. He threw himself intohe
question with willingness. Have on
ever realized the size of San Francisco
he asked. quietly. people talk olit
as the metropolis of the West, and my
companies believe that 1t is anoer
case of New York and Chicago. Ala
matter of fact, San Francisco is son-
what smaller than Buffalo. 1t hasa
population Of about 100000, including +
Chinese, who do not go to theatres. 8
for the floating population. In whb
most theatrical towns revel, 1t scarce.
exists in Frisco. Eastern people eXpe
too much from 1t. Without wishing
pose as champion of San Francisc
/ must say that nearly all the stal
and companies popular in the East al
appreciated just as much there. Thel
was howl about Lillian Russell
failure. She did not fail. She opene
tnere in The Mountebanks. which d
not succeed, but, IL you remembe
It has not succeeded anywher
You speak Of the failure Z
'Aristocracy. Was that not STAT
in Boston? Look at the business irvir
is doing now. 1t Is simply colossal. Boo
played to an average of S2jWp per wee
for four weeks. Patti sang Tor fol
weeks. averaging $4,000 per performance
A number of farce-comedies have pay,
two and three weeks in Frisco to $40
per week. The Bostonians were the
for three weeks at the rate OF ITO
$4,000 to $4,000 per week. san frahcis'
supports three cheap theatres with sto'
companies. For so small a town "a
Francisco does wonderfully, In my Cpl
Ion. You Fasteners have, of cours
the heavy expense of getting Ihei
When Eastern managers go to st, Lou
and do smaller business than in 81
Francisco they never complain. "
hear nothing about IT, 1t is the cost
transportation that makes huge bus
ness seem necessary. ! admit that
San Francisco melodrama is more pop
lar than any other form of entertai
ment, Mr.. Barnes of NeW lori
which was failure IN New YORK, Y"
an enormous success in San Franeisc
The San Franciscan judgment is not,
course, infallible Eastern and Weste
opinions will differ. but my experien
has been that Eastern attractions a
popular In the far West. We like DAILY
company although We did not apr
clate The ForestersD; We like Palmer
company. CayNan and Kelley. Harriga
Sol Smith Russell. John Drew, the II
putans and Denman Thompson. II
fact that there is a kick against Ca
fornia surprises me immensely"
Messrs. Abbey, Sohoeffcl &: Gran "
soon have three attractions running
Chicago at the same time. "Americi
Is still there. and will remain indie
nitely; Irving will open at the Columb
Oct. s, and Coqmelin aud Hading
HooIey's oct. 2. The first weeks repe
tojre OF the Coquelin-Hading compaI
win include "L'Aventuriere." Mile.