The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-20
WHAT Ais THE PLAYS
The Entire kansas Circuit Up in
Arms.
THET WAIT TO KNOW Why?
This state IN the Control OF = Man
Who Is Determined Not 20 Provide
suitable Drlmasie EatersaIEmenss.

suitable Dramatic EntertaiEmenEs
Last evenings Wichita Beacon says:
~All over the circuit controlled by The
alter Manager Crawford the same story is
told Il IS that the worst shows on the
road are booked for his houses. There
must be an explanation for this curious
condition.
Let It be observed first that whenever
q play of merit or an attraction Of the
better sort Is presented. Wichita turns
out a large house. Witness the full
auditorium when the Chicago quartstte
appeared, and when the Hawaiian band
gave is coucerr. This Is proof that
Wichita is 4 good show town, when the
shows ara good.
Then why doesn't Mr.. Crawford take
advantage OF our willingness to I'LL his
house and give Us an equivalent for our
money. The reason in brief il that
good shows cost him money, while poor
shows Will come on mis- own terms
i full house yielding q Thousand dollars
or more IS not worth as much to him
if he Is obliged 10 pay $500 for It's ap-
pearanca as $500 house Is which costs
him but $500
@If with these rotten concerns he can
gall the public into filing his seats he
can make good money, and instead of
encouraging dramatic art, he Is simply
panderiag to depraved taste.
The Green Goods Man that appears
at the Crawford tonight is all that the
name would seem to imply and the pub
lie should beware. 4 1ar better enter
tainment and at much lower prices will
be given at the Lyceum. In regard 10
T5inuad, the Sailor billed for the Craw-
ford November 70, il may be SAID that so
far az the play is concerned II Ia one
OF the finest on the road and if pro
duced here by a frst-class comp any
equipped with proper scenery will be
we'll worth seeing. The Beacon Will
have full information regarding the mer-
its Of this com pany aud the public will
be fully informed several days in ad-
vance, We repeat however, beware of
ths Green Goods Man tonight"
1,he criticism in the Beacon on Mr..
Crawford's methods is in the main cor
Crawford can make 500 on the $500
hcSse and $500 on the $500 house, az a
mater of fact be has been losing money
On che shows he has brought to Topeka
this winter instead of making II, and as
he has brought scarcely any good ones
here he IS suffering 4 net loss on
the season 50 far, Now why
should he keep up such 4
method persisientlye Nobody can ex-
plain THIS Ar. Crawford complained
bitterly because Primrose & West only
allowed him % per cent. But wasn't %
per cent with j big house better than 50
per cent On Grimes Cellar Door with
nobody IN the house at ali: What is the
use OF bringing plays to Topeka that no
b0ey Will 90 10 see? It doesn't pay the
copi panx, it doesn't pay the opera house,
1t 1oesn't pay ths theater goers. It
doa.sn'l pay uybody at all
: Tonight the Hawaiian band may DO a
good business; good words have been
spoken of il but J. &. Emmets PLAY
Fritz in a Madhouse" is old and worn
out Last year when it was here it's
business was small, il will doubtless be
smaller still Topeka does MI object to
poor shows being brought here, if good
ones are brought toe. But an almost
steady diet of poor ones IS more than she
can endure.