The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-15
"rHE OLD HOMEsrEAD."
Extraordinary viriifty OF the Play That
Has Made Fortunes.

Extraordinary viriifty OF the Play That
Has Made Fortunes.
X. s. Douglas. representing 1.-THE Old
Homestead" which is to be at the Seattle
theater the first three nights of next week
with matinee on Wednesday, is in the
city. Speaking of the extraordinary vital
ity of THE Old Homestead" and the wide
spread and abiding interest of the public
IN its performance at the present time,
when the craving for frivolous entertain
ment on the stage has grown to ridiculous
excess, Mr.. Douglas said last night:
II demonstrates beyond question that q great
success eau be gained with homeiy material
simply treated, and without recourse to the
vaigarity or forced effects that TOO often enter
into the popular play. 1.-The Old Homestead"
has record that il most remarkable, and which
entities 1t to conspicuous mention in any
history OF the American stage. In some re-
spects it 10 a play without parallel. 1t has
made Denman Thompson, who wrote 1t with
the assistance of George Ryer, a millionaire.
1t brought reputation aud fortune TO one OF
New fork's leading managers. and 1t has
probably been witnessed by more people in this
country than any American play ever written,
with the exception of "Unclc Toms Cabin"
Joshua Whitcomb," the first edition of the
play, was written in 1876. In eight years Mr..
Thompson and Mr. J. NJ Hill, Mr.. Thompson's
partner in the enterprise. had shared profits
amounting to $500 900. Nearly six years ago
"The Old Homestead" presenting Joshua Whit
comb in much tho same surroundings al those
OF the earlier play, was written, and the figures
that indicate its prosperity arc aimostincredibiy
large For eighteen months the play WAS acted
on the road with tolerable success. and then, in
1885, its remarkable metropolitan run began. At
the Academy OF Music, for three successive sea-
sons o. thirty weeks each. its average receipts
were $4,000 week, and Denman Thompson's
profits are estimated for tina: period a. $l29 900
for the first season, over $4,000 for the second
ana over fl000oo for the third. Then the play
again took the Z road. During an engage.
ment OF twelve weeks in Boston the
receipts reached the enormous sum OF
$l55, 000- breaking the worlds record. The last
week II the engagement (niue performances
being given) yielded $4,000 figures unprece-
dented in theatrical history when it is taken
into consideration that regular prices Us cents
TO s1.5o) we've charged and this was made posi-
bic because the Boston theater seats $3.50 per-
sons. Alter the Boston engagement the people
OF P.ovidence-One o. the worst theatrical towns
In the country-peid $4,000 In one week to see
1.-The Cd homestead" Brooklyn followed suit,
ana WilliaGsburg's record was broken with .
like showing. Immediately aftcrwa-d an en-
gagement of seven weeks In Philadelphia at
tracted over $50 COO to the Notwithstanding
that had not and has not been cqualed in this
history OF that city, Eight weeks In Chicago
brought $4,000 into the cOmpany's Golfers
A short time ago Deuman Thompson filed in
Boston his fifth week Of al engagement of
eight weeks, whose receipts from Monday to
Saturday are said to average $4,000.
Meanwhile the road company has entered
upon its fourth season and its 1,0O0th perform
ance of the piece was accomplished at Louis.
willie a few weeks ago. II has travelled from
Maine to California. and it is cl0imed that the
annual profits realized each season are from
$4,000 to 100000 such, in brief. is the mar.
veious history of q drama whose homely inter-
est seems universal, aud which has been
euogistically and not inapty characterized 40
"a play, a song. q sermon aud benediction."