The times., 1899-05-28

not issuing figures for the benefit of the
public, even the most casual observer can
know something regarding the relative
business done by each local playhouse
1t will be generally acknowledged that
the National led the seasons business by a
good, wide margin; in fact, it is said that
this has been the most profitable season
since the Rapleys went into the theatrical
business. An abundance of good bookings
and wise, safe. and conservative manage
ment is responsible. for this record. In
deed, it would be3little less than wonderful
had the National come out of the winter
with the balance3on the wrong side of the
ledger. With such stars and previous
prestige, any theatre might have done as
well. The only difficulty is that other
places of amusement failed to get the
cream of the bookings. The National had
at least six weeks with the receipts
amounting to over 100000, and as many
above $4,000 There were very few losing
weeks in the year, and these will not re-
quire the fingers OF one hand to enumer-
ate.
The cozy Columbia comes out with flying
colors, the banner week of the season be-
ing that Of Mansfield in "Cyrano." There
were several good bookings noted by Man
ayers Luckett and Dwyer. and the young
men take a justifable pride in the fact
that several return engagements of attrac-
tions previously seen at other houses sur
passed the business before done. This was
especially noticeable in The French
Maid "A Reign of Error, The Geisha,"
and other musical Efforts II the signs
point not amiss. this class of attractions
Will be the chief reliance of the Columbia
next season, and rightly so. No playhouse
in America is better suited for this variety
of entertainment.
Prosperity hardly arrived at the Lafay-
cite, on account OF the poor line of attrac-
tons THE Fortune Teller" Julia Mar
lowe, E. II. Sothern. 'Zaza, and couple
of others gave Manager Painter winning
weeks. but "A Brace Of Partridge5." tine
Royal Italian Grand Opera Company. The
Cuckoo" Mistakes VIII Happen" Walsh
and MacDowelI "The Last Chapter" Rev
Griffith Davenport" "A Dog in the
Manger," and similar failures re-
duced the receipts to the melting point A
long period of darkness While other thea
tres were open is also source OF some
financial reverses.
With a singular mixture OF good and
bad attractions, the Academy OF Music
came out of the rush for public approval
with the figures to the good. Vaudeville
at the BiJou, Kernans, and the Grand
drew d considerable portion of the popu-
priced deyotees, TO the Academys dis
advantage The coming season viii see a
better line of bookings. and the house de-
serves IL. More attractions are worth
popular than high prices and when this
is generally understood. prosperity will
continually sit at the Academy box office
The division of vaudeville among the three
houses mentioned cut down profits to a
minimum in all. Still, both the BiiOu and
the Lyceum did a reasonably good busi-
ness, while in the effort to establish high
class entertainment the Grand lost con-
siderable money. which, like bread cast on
the waters. will be returned many fold in
the future Two weeks OF the biggest
business in the city are what the manag
crs of the Grand claim for "Washington's
baby theatre"
With a brief glance into next season,
there will be noted some revarsals The
Columbia will not have to scratch for book
ings as 1t did this year. and the Lafayette
will likely do independent signing as in
dicated some ten weeks ago in these col
umns. Definite statements regarding this
arrangement will likely be made IN the i'm
mediate future.
Since consistency is jewel, it is a little
difficult to decide the proper monetary
value of its opposite. One is inclined TO
indulge in this observation after a careful
study of Private John Allen" the melo-
drama Lee Arthur claims to have written
While to the matinee girl and the casual
attendant there IS little wrong with this
second solid effort of the young Southern
er. when dissected carefully. ideas. lin5s,
and situations are found TO be considerably
at variance. Even the performance is not
exactly true to life and little BIT of Ousi-
ness in the initial act is Indicative The
venerable UNCLE 81 stands for ten minutes
talking politics with several political le;d-
ers, all the time wearing his broad straw
hat A Southern gentleman sitting behind
the writer the other evening remarked
that no such breach of etiquette would be
allowed anywhere, in the South much less
in Louisiana.
But tho fanIfs of. the nrasentinr cnn,nn n, !