The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-11-19

and in the timely topics series of
| pictures a number of new and up-to-
date matters OF public interest Will be
/ illustrated.
The American Biograph is always ona
! of the most popular features OF the
1 Keith entertainment; and hundreds of
people consider the notion pictures
| be missed each week. Many new ones
| of exceptional effectiveness and inter-
! est are to be shown, while the requests
! of many to have certain favorite pic
lures retained for another week will be
| complied with as far as possible.
The theatre going people of this conf
munity are rapidly becoming familiar
with the wide difference between va
| rlety" and high-class vaudeville. a
difference that has been established
and emphasized chiefly. If not wholly.
through the efforts of Mr.. b. F.Keith
the originator of the continuous per-
formance." which he has made the
, most popular form of entertainment
yet devised for the pleasure of the pub
lie.
While the romantic drama. the So
ciety drama and melodrama have their
admirers, and while the interpreters OF
Shapespeare have their place in the
estimation of theatre-goers. the fact
remains that the majority of people go
to the theatre to be amused rather
than from any other considerations;
and farce comedies and musical come
dies, which once served this purpose.
seem to have lost very much of the
hold they once had
Until Mr.. Keith came forward with
his continuous performance" of high
class vaudeville however, those who
longed for something different from
the monotonous round OF attractions
presented season after season. but to
whom the average variety show did
not appeal because of it's usual coarse
ness and mediocre character and it's
surroundings found nothing TO which
To turn for relief. Hlgh-class vaude-
vile. however, solved the problem and
the better class Of theatre goers. those
whom only artistic merit and absolute
cleanness and refinement could satisfy.
were quick to recognize and appreciate
the fact that the long-felt want had
been met, and met in q manner as nov
el as ii was thoroughly pleasing and
satisfying.
Precisely this has been the unvary-
ing experience in each Of the four cit
les i'm which Mr.. Keith has established
his form of entertainment; and i'm
Providence. the latest scene of his ef-
forts i'm this direction, the result has
been quite as marked as i'm either of
the other three. IT lis not to be denied
that In this conservative community
where TO a very large majority the
continuous performance idea was
known only by name and i'm no sense
understood there were many at first
who. 10 use an expressive quotation.
waited to see how the cat was going
TO jump They were trine sceptical.
as Rhode Islanders always are regard
ing anything new, and were inclined
TO hold aloof until they learned from
others just what the new departure
was In other words. the new idea has
had to win it's way by demonstration
of its advantages and merits.
This IL has done so successfully. and
indeed so much more rapidly than
would have been expected. that here
as I'm New York and Boston and Phila-
dclphia. kcith's ldeatre has become
the resort of the most intelligent ar9
discriminating, the most cultured and
refined. the most fashionable and
exclusive, classes i'm the community
They see that Mr.. Keith has created
new theatrical field and has given 10
10 an environment I'm every respect far
superior 90 that Of the so-calied "le-
gitimate" drama. and that his form OF
entertainment appeals 10 the most re-
fined and worthy tastes and Is elevat-
ing and educating In it's Influences gt
the same time that ~ Is nothing VI
not popular" I'm the bruadest signin-
canoe OF the word. They recognize that
here is n form OF entertainment de-
signed solely 60 amuse and 60 entertain
and yet which rs placed on 80 high an
artistic plane and I'm a setting OF such
exquisite beauty and refined elegance
that all it's Influences are elevating. and
that u may be enjoyed with genuine
profit as well as pleasure.
The great success OF the continuous
performance" idea here Is therefore n
| matter over which the community has
/ occasion To congratulate Itself and Inn
| plies "a very high compliment 90 the i'm
| tslligent discrimination Of the people