The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-01
HOW 1T AFFECTS US.
Theatrical Trust Furnishes
Good Glass Of Plays
But Holds Theater Managers
at Its Mercy.
Something About the Bookings at the
Crawford and Grand in Topeka.

''Under the Red Robe" one of Charles
Frohman's most successful productions,
which had a phenomenal run in New
York city last season, is this week play
ing at the Coates House in Kansas City.
Last week the attraction was presented
at the Tabor Grand in Denver and next
week will visit St. Joe and Omaha, but
while it was booked for Topeka at the
first of the season and is now playing all
around this city, Topeka theatergoers will
not see it, at least for the present.
The theatrical trust of which Al
Heyman of New York city is the head
and Klaw & Erlanger the booking repre-
sentatives, which is at present receiving
such notoriety at the hands of the Dra-
matte Mirror, is responsible for this. Sew
eral weeks ago Manager Crawford receiv-
ed a letter from Klaw & Erlanger in which
it was stated that because of unexpected
circumstances arising it would be impos-
sible for Under the Red Robe,' Hoyt's
"A Black Sheep and Richard Golden in
THE Isle of Champagne three of the
best attractions secured for the first of
the season, to appear in Topeka on the
dates booked, and that in consequence
the contracts would be Cancelled. In re-
ply Manager Crawford protested against
the cancellation of the dates, but the firm
answered that the routes of the three at
fractions would have to be changed, and
that the original booking could not stand
The second letter, however, contained a
promise that the three attractions would
be sent into Topeka later in the season.
Manager Crawford has a three years
booking contract with KIaw &, Erlanger.
While the firm had no legal right to en-
force the cancellation of the dates, yet if
he caused any trouble the firm would in
the future prevent him from securing any
of the attractions over which the trust
has control. So Mr.. Crawford is forced
to sidetrack all protests.
Klaw & ErIanger work both ways, by
contracting with managers of houses to
represent them in the seasons booking a
a certain figure per season and by being
able to give time at all the principal thea
ters in the country secure control of the
majority of the best attractions. In this
way they hold a whip, it were, over
both theater managers and managers of
companies 1t seems, however, as in the
case of Under the Red Robe,'' "A Black
Sheep and THE Isle of Champagne
that if the original route can be changed
with profit to them, the firm has no hesi-
fancy in doing it and cancelling original
dates.
The workings of the trust was demon
strated in this city in another way at the
time the New York Casino attraction In
Gay New York was presented here. The
trust has contract with the manage
ment of the New York Casino by the
terms of which it secures control of all
Casino attractions after they leave that
house for tours over the country, but in
stead of sending out the original company
an inferior company is engaged for the
road This was so in the case of In Gay
New York. and from eastern press COM
ments it appears to have been the method
carried out with 'The Whirl of the
Town" a later Casino production.
While managers of 'theaters are under
no obligations to accept the terms of con-
tracts for attractions offered them by
Klaw & Erlanger, they generally do it in
order to hold the good will of the firm.
Sometimes, however, in cases where the
firm has no desire to place attractions.
the attractions are offered the managers
as a matter of policy, but at such terms
that the managers could not accept and
nav expenses. This has happened on sew
| eral occasions with Manager Crawford IN
this city.
Manager Crawford is now negotiating
with the management of Hoyts "A Con-
tented Woman with a view of securing
that attraction for matinee and evening
performance at the Crawford theater in
this city on New Years day This is one
of Hoyts most successful farces. and if