The sun., 1896-09-06
Audiences At C0N1INUoU Us SHOWS
A Change brought About nv tho New-ran-
EIed style Of Perrormances.

Change brought About nv the New-fau.
EIed style Of Perfarmances.
When the theatrical season gets fully under
way there will be open for the relaxation OF
New YorEers and OF strangers in town fourteen
variety or specially theatres. seven OF the new
tangled continuous performance class and seven
OF the oid-fashtoned variety show order. This
Is larger number than there has been at any
previous time In New York, and the increase is
To be in part explained not only by the fact that
the city is growing larger. Int also by the fact
that continuous performances have enlarged
the number OF thcatregoers by the addition OF
persons not previously patrons OF the theatre.
Some theatrical managers are fond OF recall
ing the days when museum patrons were a dis
tinct and highly respectable class. Some men,
but moro women would go to see n theatrical
performance at Barnums Museum. discerning
no I'M proprety in so doing, whereas they would
regard the same performance Mt n regular play
house as entirely Objectionable. After the re-
tircmcnt of l.. T. Barrum from the operate and
theatrical field into the circus Held exclusively.
George Wood opened, on the present site OF
along with view of stuffed figures, portraits.
and chronological and other Curlosities. rcgu-
lar performances were given with great profit
for many years. The museum patrons. as they
came TO be ca led objected to the regular the
atres but their scrupies could be easily
annex OF curiosities. The new recruits 10
the army OF thoatrcgoers ut tie con
tinuous performance shows are the rtgu-
lar successors Of the museum patrons, and
they Md in theatres giving continuous shows n
form OF entertainment which appeals to them
very strongly. Many of these patrons are coun-
try people suburban country people who
come into town on shopping trips and
find the arrangement OF tho continuous
show bills very much TO their liking,
for as the signs at the doors ot some OF them de-
clare. you can come when You please, stay u,
The regular New York theatres open now at 4
or later-somo OF them as late a. 80 and some
suburban pntronS lind It impraclicablc 10 got
back to their homes after II !hte performance
whereas by visiting q theatre at 3 or in the
afternoon, or even later. they can get away in
time TO catch u train bringing them homo not
later than o In the evening.
With the increase in tho number OF theatre
patrons consequent upon the continuous per-
formRnce plan OF programme, there hns been
decided change In the character OF the enter
tainmcnt offered In these theatres. Managers
used TO fguro In most variety houses that three
hfths OF the audience consisted OF men. and two
ffths OF women. That was the usual propor-
changed, the proportion Of women patrons be-
Ing so large a u reach, II not exceed, 50 per
cent, W Women patrons incline more strongly 10
sentimental than comic performances and M u
result there Is less rough fun. fewer feats OF
agility and endurance. less knock about bust
nsSs. aud much more ballad singing than for
merly. Every obsOrvRnt patron of n continuous
performance has remarked this and II may bo
said In q general way that the standard OF
entertainment has been raised. There 10 much
more music, and good music. any way.