The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-09
CO4RsENESS IN VARIETY SHOWS.
Features or the Entertainments Given in In
conspicuous New York Theatres.

Features or the entertainments Given in In
conspicuous New York Theatres.
Zone hears a great deal about the compare
tive cleanliness Of the performances given now
In your American variety theatres" said a for.
eigner domicilcd here, land it is undoubtedly
true that one rarely finds in tho large music
halls any performance that is beyond the limits
In effect, whether from the words or the sight.
One event this winter gave an impetus to n Ger
tain form Of voiled improperly that was
brought to an end with the vogue of the enter
tainmcnt which gave rise TO these shows.
Tho continuous performance theatres are
clean because the managers cater to
spectators that would not patronizc or
enjoy tho other kind of entertainment
80 the general stage performance in the New
York music hall is practically free from all of.
fence-a condition of affairs that is proved by
the change in the public attitude toward these
places. Now they are visited by persons who
would never have thought of going near them
ten years ago, and some OF them have almost be.
come family resorts.
while this is true OF the leading music halls,
there is unfortunately n class OF which no such
opinion can he expressed. There are the smaller
variety theatres. which existed long before tho
present great theatres. that have come to be
called by the English name of music halls.
These arc generally visited by the travelling
companies which combine burlcs1ue and Il va
riety show, or, MS it is technically called by them,
an olio. In the smaller cities of the country.
those large enough to support only ono variety
theatre, these companies give tho only kind of
vaudeville show that these towns ever see.
But here they never get any nearer to
cheaper neighborhoOds, SO what they do is
practically, unknown 20 the MINORITY Of theatre
gOors. 1t Is n lucky thing, too. The Paris stage
In IFS most extreme form knows no moro daring
language thnn the comedians In these com
panics use. Most of the jokes are not open 10
of the lowest character. This perverted humor
mGkes its appeal to, audiences of the simplest
least attempt at concealment. Half the jokes
told at tho performances could not be print
ed iH % pGrfo nEwspSpcriih s %nd 5hFoaEA Son,,1 1hG
stream OF coGrscnoss undisguiscd. The most
astonishing thing about these computes is that
thing, enjoy only this style. The dansc du
rentre still survives bloonlingly in the enter,
towns OF the same character I'll over ihc country
still tolerate prescribed entertainments in n way
that was stopped here four years ago.
sit Ia In seeing suci performances as this that
one is compelled TO deny Tho universal purity of
American stage cn~tortainmonts. L. Franco.
piguancy from the %subtlety, satire, or delicate
manner of expression. Speeches Of this sort
pccted to patroniZe n variety theatre OF the see.
ond class, but are made chiefly for the benefit OF
rHtler DlhHt anu bNtl-tN IcTltlttN people. ltll
the mud of American variety IL thrown into the
faces OF u very simple rough class of people,
who pay the small prices asked Mt these theatres.
Barring the rather smaller proportion Of women
present. the audiences are Of the same typo rs
those attracted by one of the crude mclolrnmAs
at the second class theatres. They have learned
to look upon one Of these variety shows as the
occasion for the cOarsCst sort Of fun. They go
TO the theatres TO find this. md they invariably
get II. Tho New York theatres that supply this
sor. Of thing rarely come under the notice of The
newspapers and the public, and fOr TINT rcnsOn
little is known OF the character of tho shows.
Nevertheless. the same indcCcncy that these or.
CARNATIONS carry oyer The country Is distributed
here In New York"