The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-06-07
ON MR.. MARX LETTER.
Few Comments By Playgoer Who
Objects


letter in Saturdays Star, said to have
been written by Melville Marx, Of the
Frawley Company, has opened the
eyes OF the people of Honolulu to the
narrowness of the mans character.
But this letter Of Mr.. Marks is rather
misleading in two specific instances,
i. e., the standing Of the Frawley Com
pany in the United States from dra-
matte standpoint. and the philan-
throphy of Messrs. Gottloeb. Fried
lander and Marx. Philanthropy does
not figure largely in the analysis of a
theatrical managers composition.
But permit TO go back a few months.
The partial arrangements for the ap-
pearance of the Frawley Company at
the Opera House last year were made,
L have been informed, by Mr.. HoOgs;
later, the full need fell to Mr.. Giffard
of Irwin & Co, and Mr. Hogs, instead
of being manager, was relegated to a
secondary possibly several
degrees removed from secondary. Mr..
Marx, in order that he might feel the
pulse of the people, and be in touch
with the play-going public of Homo
lulu. came here several weeks in adj
vance of his company. His first move
on the board was for a guarantee, not
openly, mark you, but in a quiet way.
His sum, as / remember hearing him
mention it at the Hawaiian Hotel was
$4,000. He placed his expenses at ST.
900 on the season, but was willing to
assume the other S4 900 The guaran-
tee as a direct fund was not forthcom-
ing; then a sale of season tickets was
opened, resulting, the first day, in the
unprecedented sum of $4,000 being re-
ceived at the box office. Tickets were
not issued, but each purchaser signed
a contract The inference from this
was, that if the sale had not been large
the company might not have appeared.
So much for the firms philanthropy.
a few days prior to the time set for
the Frawley Company to begin their
engagement Nat Goodwin and his eX-
ceIlent company of artists appeared,
and the Honolulu public, waiting, as
they had been, for their arrival, ex-
pressed a desire TO witness his per-
Torrance. But Mr.. Marx, with his
usual generous motives, said: NO
and it was not until an indignation
L.
Marx saw a loss staring him in the
face that he yielded and permitted Mr..
Goodwin and his company to occupy
the boards before the arrival of the
Frawleys Some people were unchari-
table enough to say that Mr.. Marx re-
ceived a bonus of $50 for his permits
sion. and as it has never been contra
dicted. the general public is willing to
believe the truth of the rumor. A lit
tie more for Mr. Marks philanthropy.
The Opera House was new, and to
most Honolulu people the Frawley
Company was new; for that reason,
the patronage received was large, so
large in fact. that on the Saturday
night when "The Ensign was produced,
Mr.. Frawley, in bowling his acknOwl-
to the audience, said 1T was
the best, from financial standpoint,
that the company had ever played to.
Mr.. F'rawley and his managers came
here for what money there would be
in it; it was not to be expected that
he would have any other motive. His
visit in September neXt-Should he
come-will be for the same reason. I
cannot see any obligation on the part
of the Honolulu public to wait for
Frawley if there is an opportunity to
see any other first-class company, and
if the managers of Eastern theaters
hold out inducements to Frawley, why
the Honolulu public should stand in
the way of his making money by TAX
ing advantage of the offers.
The receipts for the season of the
Frawley Company were, approximate
ly. $4,000 for Is performances, and the
prices charged were from so to rs per
cent above those charged by the same
company in San Francisco. This be-
ing the case. ] question whether the
could do better anywhere else
for the same number of performances
than it did in Honolulu.
Mr. Marx charges harsh treatment
because the amusement company ne
gotiated with the AlcaZar Company,
after failing to make satisfactory ar
with him for the Fraw-
leys I really fail to discern that he
has made out his case. His letter was
plainly intended for publication, and
with the motive of bringing discredit
upon the local amusement company
a point in which I earnestly hope he !
will not succeed.
Mr.. Marx says the critics con-
slider his company the best organ |
ization in America. That is a
point I will not argue with him. In
my opinion. there are Others" and as
a theater-goer of almost 40 years
standing. permit me to say that theat-
rical combinations. like those man
aged by Augustin DAILY. the Frohmans,
a. NJ. Palmer. Mansfield or August Pr
tou. organized TO play the large cities
of America and who appear in Lon
don. thus facing the critics of the old
world and the new. have greater claims
for superiority than those who play in !
limited circuits. Do not understand /
me. Mr.. Editor. as wishing to depre-
cate the capabilities of the Frawley |
Company. With my family. | attended !
every performance but one at which |
the company appeared in Honolulu. !
and was satisfied with my investment. |
but still I believe I am justified in say /
ing. I believe there are others when !
y 81 his