The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-11-29
THE GAIETY.
INFUSED q License by the Mayor and
AIderme ell.

AiueFm ens
Alderman Rounds Asks for 1t for Himself
He Wants the Licenses of Other Thea
tres Revoked-Other Business Trans
acted.
In the board of Mayor and Aldermen
Saturday afternoon, occurred an interest
ing debate over the Gaiety theatre. This
| is the playhouse on Congress street. op-
,posite the Second Parish church, against
which members of that church protested
on Friday. The chief interest in the
case arose from the fact that Alderman
Edgar K. Rounds, was the proprietor OF
the theatre. The license had been asked
in the name OF Thomas A. Browning, and
the committee on licenses had decided
Saturday morning, to deny the request
in view of the facts presented by the
remonstrants Friday afternoon
knowing this Mr.. Rounds on Satur-
day put in his own request for license
Alderman Leighton, when his turn to
present the paper came, read the applica-
ton of E. e. Rounds to give theatrical
Mr.. Leighton explained that the COM
raittee on licenses had voted that fore
noon against granting license for the
same place to Thomas A. Browning
Alderman Rounds wanted to know if
it was against the place or the man that
the committee acted.
Mr.. leighton said that it was against
= both The man applying for the license
had a police record; and moreover the
committee decided that the place was
one having bad influence on the youth
the community.
Alderman Rounds then asked if Mr.
Browning had been notified to ap-
pear before the committee, or if the hear
ding had been advertised. 1t was, replied
that time had been fixed for d hearing.
AS to the protests made at the hearing,
Mr.. Rounds denied: that boys from the
theatre disturbed the church opposite,
as stated Ly the renonstrants at the hear
ing. AS to the young lady who appeared
on the stage clothed only in fig leaf,
sthat occurred before he had been the pro-
prietor of the place. MIR. Rounds then
asked his fellow members to grant the
license to him, saying: II will guaran-
tee that there won't be such an immoral
show as has been seen within the three
smonths in other theatres. The theatre
sis a Legitimate business, and while the
prices are not so high as at other thea
tres, it is good, reputable theatre.
Mr.. Leighton said that no feeling of
hostility to the Alderman from Three
would influence him. On the other hand
he would strain a point in his favor. The
fact that in other theatres were immoral
shows was not involved here. He had
heard such things of this theatre as
made him believe it should be closed.
Alderman Rounds said that the Alder
men from One and Four had attended
the theatre the evening before. They
would speak, not from hearsy, but from
what they knew.
Alderman Moore of -Four, then arose
and related what he had seen at the
Gaety. He saw the barroom scene and
the Salvation Army. He saw nothing
Objectionable. Then young lacy came
in and sung q song. Possibly her skirts
were little abbreviated but not sc. short
as we see in other theatres :. or in the or
binary opera troupe. AS to the young
women who can across the stage in their
night clothes, he said he saw that act
also He was satisfied that the young
women had onEthe proper clothes. beneath
the night dresses MIR. Moore said it
seemed to him, in view of Mr.. Rounds's
promise that he would run an unobject-
ionable show, that the new request for
license should be granted.
Alderman leighton asked Mr.. Rounds
whether he intended to elevate the
character of the theatre. MIR. Rounds
said that he engaged the players in Bos-
ton from such as played at reputable
houses there where women and children
attended.
:. Mr.. Leighton asked Mr.. Rounds wheth-
er or not he approved the things said at
the theatre. Mr. Rounds asked whether
he referred to things said on the stage
or reported on the street. Mr.. Leighton
said he referred to things said on the
stage. Mr.. Rounds said that there were
things said during one week of which
he did not approve. But these things
had been suppressed. 1t was difficult,
there as elsewhere, to keep all the tares
out of the wheat. The contracts with
the players were for four weeks longer
Also he had invested considerable money
there, and it would be hardship to
have to close it sunlmarily that very
night as would be necessary if the license
should not be granted.
The question then came on granting
the license to Mr.. Rounds.
Before the vote began Alderman Moore
said he wanted to explain his vote, say
ing: II believe it is just as easy to run
moral. clean show in the Gaiety as
in the Portland or The jefferson theatres
From his knowledge of the theatrical
business he believed this thoroughly.
Now if the Gaiety should be shut up
summarily, as now proposed, great