The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1896-12-11
GOOD SHOW TOWN
Melville Marx ofthe Fraw.
leys' Says of Honolulu.
Expected They Would Lose Money
But Business Has
Been Good.

When we were asked 10 come down
here. said Melville Marks of the Fraw-
ley management. we canvassed the
matter on the basis OF losing $1,000.
Ny firm talked the matter over with
Mr.. Frawley. and it was with this IN
Outstanding that we came down.
Thanks TO the newspapers in Ho-
nolulu there was ample notice of the
performances TO be given by our COM
pany. and the first day of the sale of
season tickets amounted TO about So
something unprecedented. l am
told. for Honolulu-and gratifying TO
me. When I first came here I thought
If could get q guarantee of one-half
the s. 900. which our expenses would
amount 10. that we would be willing to
assume the other half We expect
ed 70 lose money. you understand. but
We wanted 10 come out whole. if pos
sible.
You know the result of the engage
ment We have had crowded houses
at every performance. and twice played
TO standing room only. and we stopped
selling seats in the gallery when The
Ensign was produced. at o'clock
Our receipts that night were the larg-
est ever played TO since the company
was organized over year ago.
What effect do I think rhe engage
ment will have? Why, believe there
will be no trouble now 10 extend our
season five weeks in the year and pro-
duce plays in Honolulu. l believe, al
so. that companies coming West, or
those stopping in San Francisco en-
route TO Australia. will be willing TO
come down on the local steamer and
wait over for the through boat. and
give performances in the interval Our
success with the Frawley Company has
been so satisfactory that I have no
doubt other managers will be perSuad-
ed TO bring down companies. The re-
suit of our ems cement cOnyinces me
/ that Honolulu is good show town.
I The only proofs we viii offer other
companies will be our receipts for roy
alries we viii pay 10 the owners Of the
/ plays We have produced, and these
viii amount TO about $500. There's no
going behind those returns. for we will
not pay q percentage on more than our
( receipts No. We are not obliged by
law 10 pay these royalties, but our
firm is an honorable one. and we do
not care 10 make money on the brains
Of other people. and not pay them for
il, simply because the copyright law
/ does not include the territory in which
We play.
1T is my intention TO bring Corinne
and her company of 80 people here next
May. They can play here while waiting
for the through steamer, and they will
produce all the light operas. l think.
too. I can get John Drew and Maude
Adams 10 come down before they sep
arate- Everybody knows what these
companies are and the people here can
rely upon seeing good performances.
am quite sure our success here will
have q great influence on other COM
panies-the FTaEleys. OF course, have
e reputation which extends from New
York 10 San Francisco, and on our re-
turn 20 the Coast managers will be
anxious 70 know what We have done.
OF course. they know what DAILY did
when he was here, but DAILY is not
Frawley. and our receipts for royal
ties paid viii be al that is necessary
10 convince them OF the possibilities
OF Honolulu as show town The
member. OF our company have enjoyed
their trip immensely, and are 10th 10
leave. They have seen all the sights,
and everything Is 10 them new and
novel. We viii come again next year,
and play about the same length en-
gagement that We played this time