The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-15
The Theatrical Trust.

The Theatrical Trust.
There are thirty licensed theatres which
divide the patronage Of New York ~playgoers,
resident and visiting. Ten Of these houses, or
one-third, are under the management OF the
same three men, and sixteen are supplied
with their Attractions" as such enter
tainments are technically called, by one or
| other Of the " theatrical syndicates," as they
are termed somewhat g~randiloauently.
That is to say, the managers OF these the
aires act in concert and harmony with each
other, and the system they have established
has been extended further to include the
other chief cities OF the Union, so that, In
one form or another, It nay be said that
half n dozen men nave the virtual direction
Of n majority Of the theatres Of the United
States. From Kansas City, in Missouri,
a point from which the vigorous battle
against all trusts, big aud little, is
waged vigorously. comes word that
under direction of n gentleman whose
celebrity In the theatrical field, thus far,
has been achieved as q comedian. "a CRU
SADIE Is to DO organized against the syndicate
system next year +" and a vigorous effort
made to return to the former system OF
separate and independent management Of
the Crummles times.
II we take the theatres of the city OF New
York as n fair illustration of those Of the
other cities. the theatrical business was I'M
certain and p%recarious under the old system,
and the post OF the manage full OF trouble
and uncertainty. The supply OF entertaining
and attractive plays Is always less than the
demand; the popular acceptance or rejection
Of new plays Is always uncertain; the i'm
provements necessary for the proper presen-
tation Of a play, in costumes, scenery, stage
and mechanical effects, music, lights and the
drill Of supernumeruries. entail expenses so
large n a risk so great that the ordinary
manager could hardly undertake it without
the cooperation Of an outside speculator or
patron, known in the technical phraseology
Of theatrical affairs as 1.-THE hacker" The
hacker, more often IA man Of wealth than Of
taste, totally ignorant OF artistic conditions.
and indifferent to the progress or the dete-
rioration Of the stage, furnished the money
for the first presentation OF a new play
or the domestic revival Of a foreign play.
IL the venture turned out successfully,
he shared In the profits; II it was n failure,
he withdrew, and the manager sometimes
without capital or heavily in debt. wal re-
duced to the alternative OF securing either
another MECESAs or closing his theatre.
He usually did the latter, and 1t was no I'M
common feature Of theatrical experience
In New York for this sign to be displayed In
front Of n playhouse: Grand rcopening
on -" usually. as the legend read,
under entirely new management"
The defects NJ fhia syafan wara tie unoar-
tainty, the financial aid required from per-
sons outside Of the theatrical business, the
enormous risk consequent upon a failure,
and the poor service Of the public, which
was assured good entertainment at n few
only Of the theatres OF the city, the other
theatres being managed improvidently, and
opening and closing again rs patronage was
furnished or withheld, more often giving in
ferior than worthy entertainments.
Accordingly the theatrical managers Of
New York gradually have come to act in
concert with each other and with the mana
gers in other American cities. Instead OF
competing for the payment Of extravaganza
sums to foreign artists and foreign drama
lists, the prices are now regulated by the
patronage OF American theatregoers. BY
the organization OF circuits of various
theatrical companies in the large cities, the
season " OF a travelling star or company is
arranged easily and ~proftably, and by the
general pooling Of the interests of managers
the risks of failure are reduced so far that
outside aid no longer is required, and the
local managers, II not always all a%fiuent,
have ceased to be chemically im%pecunious.
The rent Of theatres is paid nearly always,
suits against delinquent managers being
rare. The compensation OF employees either
on the stage, in the business, or In the
mechanical department Of theatres is
forthcoming usually actions for recovery,
except In cases of alleged breach OF
contract, being few. The standard OF per-
formances has been raised, the accessories
OF the theatre have been improved, and the
deserving plays Of American dramatists
find a ready market, which was not the
case formerly. The most successful native
playwrights have their plays presented by
one or other OF 1.-THE syndicates," which the
reformers OF Kansas City would like to do
away with, and they are thus assured OF
judicious and capable management and sub
jected to less risk Of failure because OF the
DEFICIENCIES of an isolated manager.
The great theatre going public in New
York, spending annually several million
dollars for the amusement, IL the gamer by
the changed conditions to which we nave
referred, and AZ long rs this continues all
efforts to smash the theatrical trust"
probably will not amount to much.
Coma CnnI.I N,E..uoo