The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-11-21


IL occurs to us that n,ver in the his,or,
OF Providence hrvr oar theaters furnished
so exceptional ils. OF worthy attrac
tions as we have had so far this season
The theater-going public OF Providenc,
is not a cranky public, but il is exce,d
insly discriminating. IL is about as sensi
tive 10 having its intelligence
and good faith played upon ss tn,
pptlic OF any city we happen to know
OF. IL seems to have an instinct for a
good thing In thsatricals, and a power OF
diiferentiaiing between what is good.
bed and just ordinary that is not possibls
OF influencing by tho enthusiastic sd-
vance agent on the misplaced judg hent
OF other and more imposing communities.
IL mas as a way Of smelling out bad
show and keeping away from it. AMI it
never hesi.ates to pa;ronlze cordially
anything of merit and sincerity.
We are Of the opinion that the theaters
this season have been more than ordi-
narily we'll patronized on the average.
The bills that have teen presented Ger.
tainly have been OF a kind to deserve
patronage. The Providence Opera House
list hos furnished an almost unbroken ser-
les OF high class productions and il may be
said that for a provincial theater that sets
up the standard Of our Providence Upsra
House IL Is far from easy task to MI
the successive weeks with plays OF any
KIND OF evenness in merit. But so far the
season at the Providence has been nota-
bly, gratifying in the character CT it's pro-
ductions. The tbeater- goers have been
furnished with the best with scarcely n
variation from lofty standard ana the
look ahead promises an equally satisfying
maintenance OF the record.
AT Mr. Keith's pretty white and gold
house, the season has also been notable.
Indeed this theater has from its Begin
ming been able to secure and provide for
Its patrons an annually higher order OF
pieces, though In it's field, too. II Is not
always at all easy to run the season
Without unevenness In the character of
'hows sragod. But an unusually high
luality has stamped about every weeks
ill at Keitn's so far this season and we
ave no doubt that the bookings" ahead
re equally commenda BILE.
The Westminster Tneater caters 70 n
exclusive class and the redolent
osters that acorn It's bill boards week
Tier week Indicate that the little house
iaintsins its customary zest to the full
OF its patrons.
The Colum ola is new venture, out IL
maintains the standard that has 10 far
cen successful with 1t the theater-goers
Providence will have reason to be
Ioud OF it. III we remem ber Alright
me OF our fellow citizens were inclined
go of at half Geek when it was an. G
'unced that Providence was to have
Il
wv variety theater''. II we are not Il
lstaken they protested. The protest was IL
II only entered before the remonstrants n
lew anything about the matter, but at 81
o time 1t seemed unwarranted, as the
anager OF the Columbia was a man of Z
ceilent repute, who for many seasons
conducted an amusement place
'ere our wives end children, cousins, in
nts and sisters have been won't to resort
their outings and no person that was ..
pectable ever found himself out of te
ice there. The reputation Of the mana n
has been borne out In the Colum bia
eater. With the exception of Mr.. MI
iths' earlier venture there has never .
IN theatre in this town devoted
vaudeville that many women would I Su
Q TO visit or be seer in. There are
iety shows and variety shows. The NJ.
umbia Is all right. 1t has so far pre- II,
ted TO its patrons features that ara an
able alike for their cleanliness and
tt srtistie qeaiity.- II he Geiunbia IL =
noke house." That is, the audience are Co
'ileged to smoke while In their seats me
cbing the show, at the evening enter. eis
the
ment at least. In the afternoon, We cei
eve no smoking is INDUCED In. The No
is not in accord with the sentiments 49, ,u'
many people who patrouize theaters, me
there is evidently nothing OF evil in nay
As matter OF fact the smoking go
ilege plainly does not lower
character OF the audience be. n
the standard OF the other thesters nor
more than 1t influences unfsvorably oial
a.