The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-10-14
CALIFORNIA PLAYWRIGHTS.
SAM T. SHAW SAYS THEIR Eff
FORTS ARE POPULAR.
There Are Plenty Of Chances for
Bright Women ON the
Stage.

1t may not be generally known that
there are number Of Californian au-
thors and playwrights whose work is
popular all over the coast. This fact
mas been brought to light recently by
the work of the Sam T. Shaw Com
pany, now at the Orpheum. In a con-
versatdon with a Reconciliation" man
yesterday, Mr.. Shaw said:
1T is fact that some of the most
popular work we have produced is by
Californians. Harry Cottrell Of Oak
land. for example, has written several
plays which are very popular. On Sat
urday night we shall present The
Man From Tombstone" and the play
which we produced on Wednesday was
by him also, entitled "a Message by
Wire" Californians might not pat
ronize a man of their own State if they
knew his nativity, but they yell and
make a great deal Of demonstration
over this work and the work of others
that 1 might name 1t is not in every
line Of literary work that the home au
thor succeeds as WE'LL
Mr. Cottrell, the Oakland playwright,
will witness the production of his play
here Saturday night, as he has never
Mr.. Shaw has made a careful study
Of stage matters for some years, be-
ing a playwright as well as manager.
Speaking of the opportunities for wom-
en-, he said: 1T is a fact that there
has been a great growth Of opportuni-
ties for women on the stage in the last
ten or fifteen years. Soubrettes al
ways command a fair price, but if you
IN he Ia ota,. Of
cants for positions, and see the small
opportunity for them to succeed you
would at once see that this business is
as badly over-crowded n any other. 1
should say, however, that a young
woman of marked ability, who is not
afraid Of hard work, will have a chance
to do we'll on the stage. I do not
know Of any other business where one
is advertised so much free of charge.
If young woman in any town goes
into the show business and has any
merit whatever she is sure to be widely
advertised; but if she goes into any
other business she has to pay for the
same notoriety, and it will not then be
put in so attractive a FORM
Mr.. Shaw finds Sacramento no ex-
ception to other cities regarding the
NAAAS which w iO Ndltl " pSCOIUS
actresses.
L have had many applications here"
he said, land letters come to me so
fast that I cannot answer them, unless
[ get a printed form. All kinds of
people get stage struck, and so few
have the ability or the patience to
achieve good work.
What about the stories that the
stage is immoral?"
Il think there may have been some
people who have made the business no.
torious, just as there have been some
newspaper men who have given the
business a black eye by Matchmaking
and scurrility; just as some lawyers
have given the business a bad name by
robbing their clients, but the stage can
produce some of the most fllustrious
names-like Modjeska, Barrett, Booth
and many others I can name, who have
been types of the best class Of people
of the age You must also remember
that people who are before the foot
lights are subject to a fierce gaze, and
all their shortcomings are taken up
like a very fury. I think the stage is
improving, and that each year sees
more men and women of brains and
moral principle in the business"
What branch Of the business is now
the most popular?" was asked
II might be accused of having a mo-
tive" said the speaker, sin saying
what I do; but I am honest when
say that things that arouse pathos, and
yet contain a few good pals of laugh
ter are the most popular. The old
Shakespearean plays are not as popu-
lo,
plays intended to instruct the people.
| The magazines and newspapers have
taken care Of that contingent, and
those who go to theaters now want to
| laugh and have a good time. They
go to see what they can do to drive
away the blues"