The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-29
WANT US TO COME.
Theater Managers of the Kansas
City Houses
TALK ABOUT TOPEKES SITUATION.

quite AstOnished When They Find
How Things Are Run Here-SOme
Interesting Remarks.
Kansas City theater managers would
like to have a theater train run from
Topeka. 1t would be money in their
pockets to have Topeka patronize their
performances, and they say they can
give US equivalent for our money.
Manager McAlester, of the Auditor
ium, said yesterday: 81 think it would
be just the thing. 1t is a good scheme
and should be carried out. will do all
l can to aid it. We will have some
strong attractions soon including two
grand opera companies and some good
actors. l will place block of seats on
sale at Topeka if desired so that the peo-
nle can get their seats before leaving"
Manager Hudson of the Coates is one
of the oldest theater managers in the
west. He and Mr. Judah of the Grand
talked to a reporter in Mr. Judah's pri-
vate Office at the Grand.
II have been watching this pretty
closely said Mr.. Hudson. "You can de-
pend upon US to take care of your people
if they will come here. We have some
good attractions coming. One of the
best is E. II. Sothern for three nights in
The Prisoner of Zenda' the last of the
month
81 tried to get Henry Irving and Ellen
Terry when l was in New York last
May, but their tour was completely
booked. I offered them 80 per cent if
they would come, but they would not"
"Then you think that good attractions
build up the theatre business" remarked
the reporter.
big attractions which charge adj
vanced prices kill the business of the
house. The people stay away before to
wait for them, and then after they are
gone, the people are broke and can't go
again for a couple of weeks. When l
bad the Mapleson Opera company 1
heard an honest remark which l have
repeated to myself a hundred times
They wanted $1,000 guarantee for Patti
to sing, or Patti would sit in box
cent. Patti sat in a box when they were
in Kansas City. After the performance
a woman said to me: oh, Mr.. Hudson,
why didn't you have Patti sing. We
would have paid Sc g seat if she had. l
told my husband that we would stay
away from eight or ten plays if we could
only hear Patti sing That was honest,
and have often thought of it. But we
have to get these big attractions some
times to give the house big reputa-
ton"
"How about good attractions at regu-
lar prices?"
"Oh, now you are at it. That is splen-
did, the best thing which can be done
for the business of a house. Get the
very best you can for regular prices even
if you have to pay a big per cent. Mr.
Crawford of Topeka does not conduct
his business this way.)
"The trouble with business in Topeka
must be because you have two houses
there which divide the business, one
playing repertoire all the time to cheap
prices. No? l understood that the ave-
nue. house was open all the time" As
the Topeka readers we'll know, the ave-
matter of fact the avenue house ought
to run the cheap attractions at rs or so
cents. They shouldn't be put into the
Grand at 81.
What do you think of Grimes Cellar
Door," asked the reporter.
"Of course Crawford reduced the price
on that. What? You don't mean to say
that he puts such stuff as that into the
Grand at dollar? twenty-five and fifty
cents is what such shows as that should
play for, and not a cent more at any
place." said Manager Hudson.
Mr.. Judah who is associated with MI
Hudson in the theater business was also
anxious to have the theater train run and
promised for his house hearty welcome.
They both joined in saying they would
do all in their power to help Topeka
people enjoy themselves.