The herald., 1897-10-17

For the last year or TWO 1t has been evil
dent that the managers of the principal
theatrical attractions which have been
sent out from New York to play in other
cities were growing more and more dis
satisfied with the results of their busi-
ness on the Pacific coast. Not only has
there been a falling off in the number
and quality of the attractions sent out
to San Francisco, but it has been noted
that wherever it was possible the at
traction has been returned east a S quick
ly as possible and that bookings
for Los Angeles have been can
ceied to reduce expenses. This
falling off has at last culmirnted in an
open declaration on the part of Messrs.
Charles Frohman and AL Hayman, who
are the chief members of a syndicate
said to control nine tenths Of the first
class attractions, to the effect that they
istend to ignore the Pacific coast entirely
in making up the routes for their COM
panies The reason given for this action
Is the exceedingly simple one that the
business does not pay. Mr.. Frohman. is
reported as saying:
up to three years ago we made money
in San Francisco. The past two years
the attractions we have sent there have
cost us 100000. That sum represents our
losses. Henry Irving played to the
largest business in Sarl Francisco's the
atrical history-s60, 900 for the run. Our
share of the profits amounted to $3.50.
We sent w. H. Crane to the coast short
time ago. He did not want to go, and
we were forced to offer him an extra in
ducement, besides, of course, paying all
travelling expenses. The result was
enough to make the angels weep; the
receipts hardly PAID the hotel bills Of the
company. This case Is ONE out of many.
AS San Francisco prefers cheap plays.
we have decided to let it have them, 80
far as we are concerned. If can chip
to San Francisco the manuscript of my
10-year-old plays at an expense of half
dollar for expressage and get fat roy
altes from local stock companies, why
should spend $4,000 for railroad fares in
sending John Drew or the Empire Stock
company out there to present the same
thngs?"
Here, says the reporter, Frohman
pointed to huge pile of bound volumes
'',Thosa are the plays" he said, that
have been shelved here. I have just mad
them bound, and they will be sold to the
highest bidder in San Francisco They
are all after them-the Columbia, Orphe
>box I, \
old plays they want, but, of course none
Of the new ones. Hereafter, instead of
sending my companies to the Pacific
coast, will open the season in London
with them"
Al. Hayman corroborated Frohman.
If anything, he was more emphatic.
This will affect" he said, "every at
traction in which Charles Frohman,
Daniel Frohman, myself or our connec-
tions are interested. The chances are
we will withdraw from the Pacific coast
field altogether. There is not the slight
est i'll feeling in this matter. 1t is ques-
ton Of stopping improbable leakages."
In addition to the foregoing these New
York managers express some resent
ment to the way in which their attrac-
tions have been treated by the press Of
San Francisco 1t is a well-known fact
that there has been an open and bitter
warfare between Mr. Hayman and the
San Francisco Examiner, which has been
kept up on the part of that journal by a
series of articles lampooning every at
hot fbap Dol Jxx,;,
or at any house controlled by Mr.. Hay
man. These articles, being written to
order by special writer hired for the
purpose, were not in any sense criticisms,
but simply clever and INSCRIPTIONS sat
Tres such as might be penned about any
play upon the stage, looked at from the
ridiculous point of view While these
attacks caused anger and bitterness,
their origin and motive was so well
known that, beyond certain malicious
pleasure which they may have inspired
1t is not to be supposed that they had
much effect upon the box office
returns. The reason for the fall
ing off in the returns for the
past three years is to be found in
the growth of the stock companies dur
ing that time. San Francisco theater
goers have been getting very substan-
tial theatrical fare at very much lower
figure than 1t would cost to patrosMze. the
eastern attractions and it may be fairly
assumed that the hard times that have
existed since the panic have made them
O. little more economical.
But, after all, the managers have not
been perfectly candid in stating their
reasons for withdrawal The chief sub
5ect OF complaint, which has been venti-
lated by every manager that has passed
through this city, Is the enormous cost
to travelling companies for the trans
portatlon of themselves, their baggage
and their scenery; and it Is a fact that
the railroad corporations have swal-
lowed up the largest part of the profits
OF the theatrical business that has beer
sent to this coast. The public demands
the scenery and effects which have as
sisted in making piece popular in New
YORK. but few people, outside of those
Immediately interested, have any idea
of the enormous sums that have to he
paid out for transporting this material.