The times., 1897-03-15
THEATRICAL FOLEAROUSED
Anti-Tights Bill Before the New
York Senate the Cause.
American Dramatists' Clubs Din.
ner Promises to Be Big Affair.
Against the Stage Pirates.

New York, March 14.-There is weeping
and wailing among the chorus girls anc
coryphees, pugilists, and soubrettes, tn,
managers of roof gardens, and couey Is
land, and all resorts Of like kind generally
and their lamentations can be heard from
| the Battery to Harlem. And it is all on
account of the Mullin anti-tights bill
| now before the senate.
/ This bill provides that:
"A person who willfully exhibits his
! or her limbs or form iii tights is
| guilty OF misdemeanor and punishable by
| imprisonment for each offense for not less
than thirty days nor more than one year -
The next time you take the children
| TO see the circus you may behold aero
| bats in baggy trousers and equestriennes
| in bloomers. That is, you will if this
| bil is enacted as law. The theatrical
| managers and the circus men are up in
! arms about 1t. What is 4 circus without
tights and spangIes? OF what interest
is a spectacle without q chorus In yellow
wigs and pink tights? This hlll is one Of
the most sweeping bits Of legislation which
has ever been presented at Albany. III
1t passes it Will introduce such innovations
in public amusements that the gentlemen
with timothy in their hair VIII hardly
recognize New York " hen they come down
10 investigate this town the next time.
The roof gardens this summer will look
like Harlem receptions, and the bUrlesque
reviews Will be dressmakng exhibits
The man who plays Hamlet viii have to
keep his sea scarf wrapped around him.
I, I.
she Will not attempt to don the ..hose
and douhlet." Neither man nor woman
shall wear tights from the passage of this
act
If it were carried into effect it
would prevent the athlete and the actor
from giving performances - would re-
quire that many operas shoGl'l be modified
in their presentation. IL would even inter
fere with the production of tableaux, such
as those recently given by prominent mem,
bers of society.
A meeting Of theatrical managers has
been held, and next week Abe II. Mum
mel and Edward Lauterbach will go to
Albany to explain to the senate that the
bill viii do great injustice to the pro-
fession If 1t is passed ig its present form.
The dinner to be given at Delmonico's
onthe Goth instant by the American dram
atists and managers to the United States
Senators and congressman particularly in
strumentsl in the passage of the anti-stage-
pirate amendment to the copyright law,
promises TO he q notable gathering Mr..
Bronson Howard, president of the Ameri-
can Dramatists' Club, reports shower of
hearty responses to the original invitation
and daily sheaf OF applications for seats
from persons who are neither playwrights
nor producers Of plays.
ITO all these, WHITTIER actors of distinc-
tion, Judges, novelists, writer's for the
press or wel-known well wshers and sup
aorters Of the drama We have replied"
said Mr.. Howard, with extended arms,
merely naming the pecuniary proviso proper
60 the OCCASION
''Haye you asked the angels was haZ-
arded.
I'VE have not asked any gentleman in
his character of angel Mr. Howard
gravely replied. 1--WE do not join in the
frivolty of nicknames for any supporters
OF the business side Of the drama, what
ever their motives.''
II may say" he added, that the com
pany facing our guests from Washington
and elsewhere will be truly representative
Of the allied. arts and commercial factors
that find mental or bodily aliment in the
theater.
by the by. Mr. Oscar Hammerstein
has applied for two seats--one rs an author
and one as a manager"
And which will he oecnpy?'
"Oh, he can fill both,'' sail the author
IF THE Henrietta" with n twinkle of his |
blue eyes. He dwells on Olympia, my |
Jove!"