The times., 1899-06-04
FINANCIAL RECORDS
BROKEN LAST week
Playhouse Patronage Surpass-
es ALI Previous History.
Miss Maude Adams Greeted by the
Largest 0ne-Night Audience.
s.The Dancing Grip TO standing
Room 0niy''-Last Week Of the
FrnwIeys-Othcr Attractions.

Attractive powers which compel persons
TO forsake the open air rides on cool street
cars for the sultry theatre are great in
deed. Two women possessed this potency
last week and as a result, the business
done by both the Columbia and the New
National was sufficient to establish new
financial record for the National Capital
In the single night in which the National
was bright and brilliant with the devotees
of art. the business was the greatest ever
done in the history of the theatre. Ad-
vanced prices all over the house made this
record possible. Doubtless other engage
ments have played TO more people, but it is
a question whether more money was ever
harvested home in one evening, excepting,
of course, nights of Grand Opera. Under
ordinary circumstances at regular prices,
the National will hold people whose ad-
mission fees mount close to the 81, 200
mark, but with practical doubling Of the
price of each seat in the house, Miss Ad-
ans must have faced an audience which
had paid some 2,5e6 or $500 to see and
hear her. This is, OF course, an immense
figure, and the means Of reaching it are
interesting. The average price of seats
all over the house was not far from Sl-75,
and from the seating capacity, the result
ant complimentary figures may be OBJ
tanned
Up at the Columbia the business was not
less gratifying. hastily called rchear-
sal and a regular performance of great
transforms early in the week kept the
Standing Room" sign in the office, but
on all other occasions this emblem of
financial prosperity was displayed ON the
outer wall to the immense qualification of
all who have watched the efforts of Mr..
Frawley to furnish the best entertainment
ever given continuously. Despite the rain,
the business done by The Dancing Girl
created a new level FOR summer companies
at summer prices. Away back in the SOS,
before the days Of bicycle popularity. es-
pecially for the fair sex, and ere the age
of trolley cars and other disturbing ele-
ments, the Winston opera season was
success in every way. Since then the river,
the track and the cool parks have Lowered
business to a minimum for summer Stock.
Even with the rivalry Of the strongest
stars in the theatrical profession, the
Frawleys have done fine business, not suf-
ficient TO enrich the popular actor-manager
to any great degree, but enough TO permit
him TO clear and establish record for re-
liability and stick-to-it-iveness which viii
stand him lot amiss when he returns and
serve as a foundation for future financial
prosperity Last weeks business was the
greatest ever done by summer company
at summer prices. and the best perform
ance of The Dancing Girl seen in Amer
ica was that OF Miss Bates, Mr.. Cook, and
the other clever people.
Vaudeville picked up pretty well last
week. The failure OF the Monte Carlo
Girls" to arrive caused q considerable Il
nancial loss to Manager Herman, but an
excellent olio bill after Monday won back
a large amount of the prestige. The Bijou
profited by its rivals misfortune and later
in the week secured its fun share of pat
ronage.
For the coming week, the Columbia will
play to the feminine sex and to all other
comers, while the vaudeville houses will as
usual delight their masculine deyotees.
Dion Boucicault's celebrated old-time COM
,edy London Assurance. with its bright
Irish wit will serve TO show the versatility
of Miss Bates at the Columbia Reyivals
of The Wife" and Sweet Lavender" viii
please former patrons and bring the sea-
son to a close. At hernan's an organiza-
tion bearing the significant title OF Hot
Air Burlesquers" viii begin a six-day en-
gagement with the advantage OF Manager
Rernans two benefits on Monday. The
stock company and an olio of supposed
merit will please the patrons of the BIZ
jou and the vaudeville bill at Glen Echo
amphitheatre will furnish similar amuse-
ments 10 the summer resort visitors.