New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-27
AGAINST THE CONCERTS"
SUNDAY EXHIBITIONS ON VARIETY
STAGES TO BE ABANDONED.

LOUIS C. BEHMAN BEHIND SENATOR MNULTY's
BILIl-HIGH CLASS MUSIC NOT TO BE IN
TERFERED w1TH-yoLUNTARY Ac-
TON BY MANAGERS.
When theatrical managers voluntarily auVo-
cate the abandonment Of Sunday evening dra-
matte and variety performances. 1t augurs wen
for the future elevation of the local stage es-
pecially in a city like Brooklyn where the moral
and religious sentiment Of the people is more
pronounced than In New-York and many other
cities of lesser Importance. Yet this is what
two leading variety managers Of this city are
about to do, and the move is made IN cohhec-
ton with the Introduction into the senate py
Senator Peter II. McNulty Of a bill prohibiting
all Sunday evening entertainments OF the char-
acter spoken OF. II may seem strange to people
not well versed in theatrical affairs that Louis
c. Behman, Of the variety firm Of Hyde & BEN
man. who are the owners of four theatres IN
Brooklyn. is the nstigator Of the bill introduced
by Senator McNulty. Mr. Behman has long
viewed with displeasure the opening OF variety
theatres on Sunday evenings. but lately opened
three Of his theatres. partly as business meas
ure. but more particularly TO demonstrate that
the community at large does not want either
dramatic or variety performances, or even al
legged Sunday sacred concerts" in variety
houses Yesterday to carry out his original
ideas, and to show that he is not waiting for the
passage Of the bill 10 close up he agreed WIN
Manager Kennedy. Of the Bijou Theatre TO VOL
unfairly discontinue Sunday night performances
after March /. In explaining his position Mr.
Behman yesterday said.
Any one understanding the theatrical bust
ness can plainly see that l am advocating
measure which from a financial point OF view,
is directly against firm. Twenty-Five years
experience has shown me that extra sunday
evening performances are OF an advantage 10
the house but want to go further than this.
and do what can to elevate my department OF
the stage. | think that six days is quite enough
and / appreciate the fact that. II there Is NJ
law on the subject. all The theatres in town Will
open for Sunday night concerts and that brings
the business right back again TO weekday
basis Il is not intended tina, this bill should
prohibit Sunday evening concerts Of high
class such as have been given. for instance, by
Colonel Sim in his theatre. where he has pre-
sented organizations like those Of Sousa anc
lines and also at Manhattan Beach. l believe
the bill should be- amended 80 that the Mayor
OF the city Will be empowered to grant permits
sion for performances of that character. This
provision. probably. would have been made in
the beginning only II was drawn up hurriedly,
and therefore IS faulty in that respect AS 1t
stands now It would affect also. forgot to say.
organizations like the Saengerbund and Arion
societies. Should the Senate see fix not to pass
this bill 1t Will be simply because it is ahead OF
time But # will surely be passed by later
Senate However. Mr.. Kennedy and myself are
not waitng FOR that, genuinely desir-
of doing part 10 please the better eie-
ment OF the community as we'll as ourselves.
.-f.sa f.xr hes for
the clergy and other religious people. some
times justly but very frequently unjustly. and
now We propose 70 show them what We can do
by voluntary action OF our four theatres the
star and Gaiety have been open Sunday even
ings for the last two weeks only. and the Grand
opera House open last Sunday for the first
time. our principal house in Adams-st. has
never been opened on sunday. and what we
have done has ben with view 10 showing that
Sunday night performances are not wanted"
Colonel Sim II an advocate OF the prohibition
OF Sunday variety performances. He practically
agrees with Mr.. Behman on the provisions OF the
McNulty bill, except that he insists that II Should
no, include the prohibition Of high-class and
strictly concert performances. In speaking OF
the bill yesterday, he said:
Mr. Behman is OF course. behind this bill
would object in one sense Of the word as much
a = he in the matter % open theatres on Sunday.
In regard. however 20 Sunday concerts. | never
give more than five or six during the season.
that IS. strictly high-class music. never have
had any or my artists appear III any costume "a
cept that OF street or evening dress think that
good music Will not do harm 10 any person. But
the variety theatres nave gone 4 step too far in
regard % Sunday performances. and although
their actors do no: appear In stage costumes yet
they do singing dances. sketches, magic and
frequently ventrlloquism with figures. | think
that is going little TOO far. and see that Ar
Bchman. WAC - one Of the principal variety
managers In this country. must agree with me-
H. having had the bill presented He went SO
FAR a. 70 telephone 10 ne yesterday 10 say That
the bill was not intended 20 cover hrst-class
music, vocal or instrumental like that which mas
been presented at the Montauk and Columbia
theatres I'm this city II this bill s intended to
prohibit music on Sunday nights. IL Will certainly
be a great injury during the summer season.
especially 70 Mpnhattan and Brighton beaches
where they have the best music In the country
on sunday nights. II It is SIN 70 give music In
n theatre IL would also be the same In our private
houses on Sunday. where we hear the piano and
singing In almost every block on the Sabbath
day. I really do not think the bill will pass 20
prohibit nrst-cla-s music. but would like 10
see y bill passed TO prohibit variety shows On
SUNDAYS called rather niscallei. Sunday
concerts Should that bill pass. as II Is. II would
affect the Metropolitan Opera House and the
Broadway theatres in NewYork, where per-
formances are given on sunday evenings Of such
a high character that no one could consistently
take exception TO them.