The times., 1898-11-20

(
the best-known theatrical and newspaper
people in the country have been for weeks
busily employed In preparing the stories.
"reminiscences and biographies that are
to be a feature Of the number, while the
papers staff has procured any number of
interviews and other interesting matter.
The edition will be finely printed on good
paper. Illustrated by over 200 half-tone
pictures and bound In Illuminated covers.
In brief, the issue should be one of the
finest ever put on the press, and will prob
ably create sensation in literary and
dramatic circles. Congratulation is due
Harrison Grey Fiske on the possession of
the enterprise and ability that makes
such memoir possible.
On the day after tomorrow the Grand
Opera House will be sold at public auc-
| tion and those Interested will learn the
fate of a famous old thearer In which
people like Henry Irving. Sarah Bern
hardt. Richard Mansfield and members
| of the wel-remembered Abbey, Schofield
& Grau Opera Company have appeared.
The chances are that the structure will
| ultimately be turned into n business block
whether now or in the future. Several
people have arrived in town lately, how
ever, with the ayowed purpose of en-
deavoring to secure the place of amuse-
disposition. Many still say that Herman
& Rife will probably direct the house for
other parties, while despite the denials
of the gentleman himself. 1t is asserted
that John w. Albaugh will return 10 the
managerial field in his old quarters. E.
Tilton Mattox is In town prepared TO
make an offer for a Western syndicate OF
mine owners and some have connected
the visit of Emil Stoessel with a plan to
ftIf md tntn - ft.,ft
Gus vaudeville.
Certainly the only feasible method of
running the house would seem to concern
either variety or a stock company. In
any case the hacker of the organization
must possess both nerve and money. for
much would have to be expended before
anything could begin coming in. There
Is assuredly a place here for high-class
specialties of the sort that please wo-
men and children. This is especially true
during the Sessions of Congress. Excel
lent bills by well-known people would be
necessary, while everyone about the the
ater, from star to program boy. should
be trained in refinement and politeness.
BY no other means could such an effort
succeed locally. Recent recruits from le
gitimate ranks are best known and will.
therefore. draw the largest audiences. ].
II. Stoddart. Marie Jansen, Robert Hill
lard. Felix Norris Lillian Burkhart and
others of that rating might be brought
here with profit. Work of their sort
quantity humorous and daintily pathetic
sketches-would undoubtedly attract
most. "A little nonsense now and then is
all right from capable artists. but there
should be a long distance between the
now and then. and the manager who de-
sires to satisfy a better class Of patrons
would do we'll to leave the white-painted
comedian. the song-and-dance team. the
serio comic and the badly-educated talk
ing artist 10 kernan's and the Bijou.
Under such a stimulus vaudeville might
pay we'll
A stock company would have to be sub
ject TO many of the same conditions
Good actors who were familiar with their
parts and had been insured against SLOW
emily productions would soon find favor
especially at popular prices. They would
have to have been organized some time.
for no body of performers extant can be-
come perfect in its lines and
stage direction within a week unless it
has had earlier experience with the same
roles Good modern plays with varied in
terest might be presented, while many
of our ''has-beens'' could easily be
brought here to head the organization in
the vehicles they had made famous. Thus
Maurice Barrymore might with profit do
leads for time in Captain Swift and
Rose Ccghian in Forget Prop
erly equipped, well drilled and carefully
| selected. such company should be emf
nently successful.
Nothing else would be likely to go" at
the Grand. Popular priced melodrama has
already proven a futile experiment there
and it is simply impossible Tor four high
priced houses TO pay in a city Ike WASH
inston. The auditorium is much too
| large for burlesque and altogether the
two forms of entertainment mentioned
are about everything that Is left open.
Above all the new theater should have
nothing left to remind one of the old.
While there is. of course, nothing In
"hoodoo" superstition, the reputation of
having failed Injuries place OF amuse-
ment greatly. The Grand should be COM
fortably reseated the boxes torn down
and replaced with loges, the stage re-
built and reset, the lobby done over and
filed with palms. the building repainted
and the name changed. Some $50 elec-
trio lights more than are now in use
might also aid in making the place
cherry, as would new carpets and cur
tains. Waiting rooms and smoking rooms
should add much and with progressive
management might make the property
pay However. advice is worthless until
some definite disposition has been decid-
ed upon and one may only hope that the
theater will fall into good hands.