The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-23
IT WOULD PAY.
The Manager Of Emmet on the
Theater Train
Says Topeka Ought to Have 1t
by All Means.
THE CIRCUIT 'QUEER"
That Is Controlled BY Manager
That Is Controlled by Manager
Crawford, He Says.
Topeka One of the Best Towns
in the West.

J. s. Sullivan. manager for J. K. En-
met, has some good views about the show
business and is. besides, very interest
ing talker. He went on last night and
played a small part in a dress suit in
place of one of the company who was
sick.
II saw by the JOURNAL that a theater
train to Kansas City is project" said he
yesterday afternoon. That would be
good thing I should think. If you didn't
have to leave Topeka too early to get
down there in time for the plays. But
then on Saturday afternoon it wonld,
doubtless, be all right But you people
here should get the same plays they do
in Kansas City. l can't see why you
don't"
How is Topeka considered among the
prOfession?" was asked.
"Well, you know the whole Crawford
circuit is considered rather queer. But
Topeka is thought to be the best town by
far on the circuit; that is it always has
been. I don't know how it is this year.
There is no reason why it shouldn't be
the best place in Kansas. 1t has the
population, it is the pital and is COM
posed of the class of people who like to
attend plays. 1t has the reputation of
being ond of the very best towns in the
west
lit shouldn't take the people long to
bring Crawford to time, if he is giving
them poor plays. A man in the amuse-
ment business cannot antagonize the
public or the press, for the press is the
public.
You know how it is on circuit A
company usually has to play all the
towns, good and bad, if it plays anything,
and the controller of circuit always ex-
acts larger per cent than others. Soma
companies fight shy of this sort of thing
altogether. and we play only Lawrence,
Topeka, Leavenworth and ST. Joseph on
the Kansas run. One man controls all
the houses in Texas where we have Just
been, but he is square and treats the
people and companies right.
"Ihe only way ] can account for
you're getting such poor plays this sea-
son is that none of the good ones have
come out here. You say they have been
in Atchison? Indeed That's consider
ed vile place among actors, infinitely
worse than Topeka. There is some ex-
cuse for the manager CT circuit when
he doesn't have the plays anywhere on
his circuit, but to bring them to your
very doors aud then take them away"
language failed Mr.. Sullivan
"lsn't it surprising how long some
people keep going?" he continued.
"Those who are little queer keep up
longer than those who are on the level,
because they won't quit when they're
down but will kick with their legs in the
air when they are fat on their backs"
A very small house greeted ]. K. EN-
NETT at the Grand last night in Fritz in
Mad House." Less than one hundred
persons, counting attaches of the house,
huddled together in the center of the 500
parquette seats. The house was IS cold
US hall way and ladies kept their
cloaks on while gentlemen retained
their overcoats. At the beginning of the
second act some young men attracted at
tention by standing up and shiveringly
throwing their top coats about their
shoulders.