The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12


much as says that 1t is not afraid of MIR.
trohmRn or Mr.. Hayman or ANYBODY
Ihelr size, or the small editors who make
the Trusts fight and assist in crushing
the actor and squeezing the playgoer. The
World SAYS that il does not arraign the
trust in the bi-iingsgate to which it is ac-
customed- "Facts-hot facts that make
the blood boil WITH iadignation-hav
h9en the wearons OF accusation, says the
~. :.
Here are some OF the Worlds hot facts;
In sharp contrast TO what the trust prom
lsed 10 do IN matters pretended 10 be of gen.
eTaI bench 20 the iheater stand the facts ss to
ANhat the trust has done 10 demoraize all in
terestS but lis own.
through The advantage of its booking
agency the trust has been enabled largely to
Keep 10 itself the details OF the business OF its
own companies. while being in a position TO
learn all the details to receipts, etc, OF
other COM IanleS and 10 use such details IN
cities where their companies for one or an
other reason have played to small re-
celp's as a club to scale down the per
centsges OF such ompanies and misrep-
represent their business in quarters where
such miSrepresen would tell to the
beneht OF their own organizations. Moreover,
the trust, through tins booking system has
been able 10 shift companies OF others into
poor territories and keep their own enter
prises IN good territory, and they have done
this wherever possible. An analysis OF the
booking for holiday and other dates for which
under the conditions OF natural competition
there was always q fair business STRIFE will
snow tnatln very large percentage Of cases
thtss plums have Iallen into the lap OF the
trust.
Waen the trust was first formed, Al Havman
". g o-p in
the Pacific Coast, where he had built up a
Ir7ctics, monopoly OF the amusement busi-
Ness. san Francisco before mis- advent had
-o.g !Oyed Erst-clRss reputation as
tallt-r center. The historical Barrett
Ec-u-ough stock company at the Cali
:crI.a 1heatur had left precedents which all
following managers up to Hayman's time nad
been forced by public taste 10 respect; and the
tla- tha- san Francisco remained q city OF
great dramatic possibilities was shown by the
business there about five years ago of Henry
living, VINO. during an engagement OF two
weeks, played TO 500 600 sum probably un-
paraleIed in theatrical history Tor that length
a lime.
4 Hayman operated, under leases, both of the
- hst-class tAeaters in san Francisco-the Bald
n Nj and the California. He began 10 cheaper
- attractions sent TO the coast TO play
~ thee theaters. and to run in sec
ond-grade companies that in other thea
people OF san Francis o lost faith in the
tAeaters he conducted, refused to pat
r0nize them, and Hayman and his associ-
Etes consequently lost moHey. Refusing TO
take the blame OF poor man agement, they be-
gan TO abuse San Francisco unapprecia-
tive city. Two weeks ago Hayman withdrew
all his interests on the coast (this act followed
the trusts Tetaliatory declaration that it
would send no more attractions to San Fran
cisco) and returned 10 his operations in the
East but not before suit had been instituted
against him by the Macdonough estate, owner
Of the California Theater, to recover $105 900
damages for depreciation Of the theater prop
erty, the claim being made that Haymau's
mismauagement and violation of the terms Of
his lease Aad destroyed the prestige and pat
ronage of the most famous place of amuse-
ment the coast.
-.
Minnie Maddern Fiske, who has been
Kept away from San Francisco by the
Trust, makes a few warm remarks of her
own which are going the rounds of the
Eastern press. She says:
The dramatic art of Europe owes its ad-
vancement 10 the taste, the experience and
the skill OF the men who direct the foreign
theaters. In London the best achievements
have been made by actor managers. In Paris
the leading theaters are directed by men of
broad culture and practical knowledge OF
every department of The theater. They COM
bine with these qualifications that OF business
acumen. Ii they did not have good judgment
coupled with sympathy for art and artists
they would not have maintained steadily
the leadership for the stage of France
The American stage IS practically governed
and controlled by theatrical trust composed
of small group of shrewde men banded to-
gether and finding, through q lack of co-opera-
tton or organization among artists and man
ayers. an unprotected field. They supplement
the mIlhonaires celebrated THE public be
damned by including everything appertain-
ing to art in the sweeping condemnation By
their own frank admission they a:e speculat-
oTs pure and sImpe, men who are viii ing 70
speculate III any form of exhibition that viii
pay, irrespective OF its worthiness or its cnar-
acter. The trust is after the dollars, and il
does not care how or by what means it gets
them. The forms OF entertainment in when
It specuIates are varied and as motley as
the contents OF Chatham street pawnshop
1t i possible that one day the trust may Sc
cure control OF all the theaters in America.