The San Francisco call., 1895-10-13
D|STURBERS OF THE PLAY
They Receive a Raking Over
From Prominent First
Nighters.
SPECTATORS SHOULD BE EARLY.
Suggestions Made for Reformine
the Habits OF the Persistent
Late-Comer.

If the views and wishes of theatrical
first-nighters and regular patrons of the
playhouses have any weight, the late
corners to performances, who too often
take a proud delight in their ability to
arouse the envy or indignation of the more
considerate and earlier arrivals, are des-
tined to find their chief pleasure in attend
ing public entertainments unattainabIe
There was a wonderfully unanimous
expression from the several well-known
gentlemen interviewed as to their opinion
of the late-comer at theatrical perform
ances. They all agreed that the practice
of entering the auditorium late was
nuisance; that it was unnecessary and
showed lack of consideration for the
rights of others, and that it should be
made impossible.
William Greer Harrison, who has given
this and kindred evils, as he termed them,
much thought, said:
In the case of a large number of people the
practice is undoubtedly one that results from
nearly all in San Francisco in their own
homes and elsewhere are kind and considerate
OF others. But somehow they seem to think
rhat when they go to CONCERT or theater @ it is
habits which govern and distinguish them in
their social intercourse.
Entering buSdIer dICer JQe JlIne SET f0r the
opening of the play is a violation of all good
taste, and 1 think that the moment the matter
presents itself to our theater-goers IN this
nght-that 1t is lack of courtesy to each
other-the rule will be TO attend promptly, or
wait till the act is over before being seated.
In this connection would like to say that
believe our theaters open too early. Our din
ners are gradually getting to be later and later.
People can't sit down to dine at z or 7:15P. NJ
and be at the theater at 8 or even 9:15 P. M
The orchestra should begin at about 8 rs P NJ
and the curtain rise at 8 80 at the ea r1iast
This would largely tend to abate the late en-
trance nuisance.
Should be so unfortunate as to be late I
stand at the back of the auditorium until the
act is over before taking my seat. l have too
much respect for the play, the players and the
people in the audience to interrupt the per
formance by an inopportune entry.
Outside of this City it is not customary to
disturb people at any stage of the performance
of the play.
But there are other things that theatrical
audiences do that are even more reprehensible
| than coming late. One of these is the incon-
siderate gathering up of hats, coats and canes
just before the conclusion of a play. There
should be no movement TO leave the audito-
rum until the curtain drops. 1t is wrong be-
cause it displays lack of consideration for
Others
A. Roos was short and emphatic in his
opinion, saying:
It is certainly not right that people should
come into a theater and take their seats after
| the curtain rises. 1t is shame that those who
| sit at the end of a row of seats should be made
| to rise and have their pleasure intertered with
| by the arrival OF some late-cOmers who have
seats in the center of the row. The remedy
lies in the hands OF the theater managers who
could establish and enforce rule that would
| put stop to the practice. l believe, however
that ladies who delay their escorts are mostly
to blame for late arrivals, and they might dc
much to improve matters.
DR.. W. J. Younger thought that regula.