The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-09-25

It is a fundamental axiom with most the
atrical managers. many newspapers. all
press agents and a certain number OF play
goers that a theatrical production which
has made money In New York and has
thereby obtained the seal Of metropolitan
success, should. as a natural consequence,
be received with open arms and unques-
tioning rapture by audiences In every city
Of the country.
And yet. time after time. II has been DEM
onstrated that the dramatic fare which
Is greedily devoured by the floating cosmo-
politan population of the Empire City will
not satisfy the more refined appetites Of
other centers where people are not ompi-
verous in regard to theatrical amusements.
Quite spicy controversy has been car
ried on lately relative to 1.-THE Conquerors.
piece which was sent by Mr.. Frohman
from New York to Chicago with a great
flourish Of trumpets. But the leading
Chicago papers have not received 1t with
the Difference due to piece of pedigree. An
extract from Lyman Glover's remarks
upon the play and upon the taste of New
York public In approving 1t Is good read
ing, and Is herewith appended. Mr.. Glover
says:
1t may be presumed that New Workers.
or at least those Gothamites who dote on
the tenderloin and its characteristics, are
supremacy happy just now that three shows
SURPRISING the utmost bounds of decency
are running wide open in that city. Paris
was until recently supposed to have
monopoly of these nauseous and mephitio
exhibitions, but certain New York mana
gers. upon whom the obligations of morali-
ty and propriety seem to weigh lightly,
were determined not to be outdone in such
a congenial field and now the dishonors of
the contest seem to reside with them.
or the three entertainments marking this
triumph of degeneracy, the first though
perhaps not the worst, Is provided by a
foul play from France called THE Turtle"
In tone and character 1t Is not unlike that
infamy of Marriage Blossoms" which was
finally suppressed by the New York police,
Just as this latest appeal to prurient Apo
tites should be. characterized by COM
potent authority as coarse. vulgar, stu
pid and disgusting" this play II such an
excerpt from the brothel can be called a
play, is designed solely to exhibit a woman
III the act of dsrobing and going to bed.
There is no other object In the production
except to pander in this manner to de-
PRAYED and licentious taste. and the men
responsible for such an exhibition cannot
rank any higher In the estimation Of their
fellows than the beasts who profit by the
traffic in wantons.
1t is idle to split hairs in describing such
an offense as this. Men who stoop to cater
ing bawdy exhibitions in order to profit by
the brazen vulgarity Of hardened If not
utterly disreputable women must not ex-
pect to be esteemed above those other pam
derers who infest the slums and do not dis
guise their nauseating occupation under
pretense of theatrical management.
Persons who accept the hire of infamy
and place themselves upon the level of
street-walxers by filling their pockets
through traffic In brazen women exhtb-
iting themselves indecently for pay must
take the consequences of their conduct In
the utter contempt of respectable people.
Such a prostitution of the stage Is now
observed at the Manhattan theater, New
York. at the Casino In that city. whose
managers have been wavering on the con-
fines of responsibility for some time, and
at Sam T.. Jacks, from whose buzzard's
roost decency long since took flight. could
be possible In no other American city,
continues Mr.. Glover. For several years
the moral tone Of several theatrical pro-
auctions In New York has been constant
ly sinking lower. thus putting arguments
upon the lips of those who oppose the thea
ter. Burlesque and other companies from
that city have carried throughout the coun-
try a disgusting tone of lewdness. Indeed,
they have been discredited by this tenden-
cy, and there Is a most commendable dis
position outside of New York to protest
and discountenance such exhibitions. II,
therefore, there is any intention Of send
Ing this new cargo of smut out upon its
travels the managers responsible for such
an outrage must be prepared to take the
consequences. The clientele of all the
leading theaters in the country Is refined
and respectable, and aside from the yell
low journals no newspapers can be found
ready to encourage these indecent per-
formances. Chicago has already placed
the seal of disapproval upon several risque
productions that were overloaded with
praise and patronage in Gotham, and this
creditable attitude will be maintained at
all costs. Tho wanton proclivities of a
gang of FOUNDERS cannot be made to pass
muster for public sentiment In this city.
People who are patrons Of the theater in
Chicago do not wish any mess of theatre
cal sewage unloaded upon them. fact
which all the managers would do well to
consider.
The Frawley company. which closed its
engagement at the Los Angeles last night,
has had run of hard luck since 1t arrived.
II was intended first to play at the Bur-
bank, and am informed that contract
was actually made to that effect. At any
rate the plan was changed and the super
stitious will say that Friday was a bad
day to choose for an opening. The desire
was to utilize the two remaining days of
the week, and the imported beading lady
not being ready, couple Of adapted
French farces OF rather trashy kind were
nut on, with the result that the public got
an idea that the company was an inferior
one.
When Miss Bates came to the front in
1.-THE Last Word" there was some revival
OF interest, but the mischief had been
DONE In producing IAN Enemy to tine
King on Thursday night 1t was expected
that the company would thoroughly re-
deem itself. The piece is dashing, roman
tic, f1ne-costumed, high-fown and with a
hero in the style Of Fechter or Alexander
Salvini. all fire, energy and purpose, sud-
den and quick in quarrel and always fight
ing when hS is not making love. Miss
Bates was the heroine In some lovely
gowns and hats, and Mr.. Bell was the hero.
Unfortunately the hero was Intoxicated
and made such am exhibition Of himself
upon the stage as demoralized the other
players ard dlsgraced the company.
A