The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-10-09
VAUDEVILLE.
MI. {. Milton ROyIs Writes Interest.
lngly on the Subject.
II Has Established The Commercial Value
Of DecenCy, He Says, sESs&

be NaudevIlIe theatre maY

4 ne NduutNillt may DO NNIfi
to have established the commercial
value OF decency." writes Edwin Mil
ton Royle, an an interesting contrlbu-
,ion TO The OcaDber ScrFbners. He points
out that there is nothing else like II in
| the world. and that IL is a distinctly
American institution, upon a far higher
| plane than the GERMAN beer gSrden or
the French cafe chantant
Fourteen years ago" says Mr.Royle.
''this may have been dream in a yam
| KEGS brain; now II Is part OF us. The
| strictly professional world ha, been
looking for the balloon 10 come down
| FOR the 'fad to die out, but year by
| year these theatres increase and multi
ply"
Mr. Royle is we'll qualified to discuss
this toprc, Tor the comprehensive vaude-
Nille stage mas enabled MN, IN company
with ms gifted wife, Selena Fetter, 10
achieye ms success a. AN actor and
playwright, and has views and observa-
tions are not only those OF the "profes-
sional, but OF the intelligent student
equipped FOR the task Boy a liberal edu
cation and literary tastes. His article,
while emitting direct reference ID any
one theatre. or manager, is marifestly
based upon his experience in the Keith
circuit of vaudeville theatres. which OF
necessity must tie the case when Vaude-
Vile IN its highest and ideal develop
ment is under cons Iteration, especially
a. IL was the creation of Mr.. Keith, and
the fruit of his long years OF experience
and thought ana labor in providing
clean ana legitimate entertainment that
should appeal TO the best among all
classes Of theatregoers.
In speaking of the Keith circuit indi-
rectly as an illustration OF the magni-
tude or vaudeville from the commercial
Viewpoint. Mr.. Royle states that more
than 5000, 900 persons are entertained in
these four theatres every year or over
1000 per day; they give employment to
$50 attaches and 70 over $500 actors: and
more than $4,000 are distributed week
ly in salaries to the actors, and over
$1,000 To the attaches.
1T is manifest" writes Mr. Royle
that the vaudeville theatre is playing
an important part I'm the amusement
world and i'm our national life. Perhaps
we should be grateful At present. 80
would seem that the moral tone oe a
theatre is in the inverse ratio Oc the
price Of admission. l'he higher the
price. the hover the tone. Il is certain
that plays are tolerated AMI even ac-
claimed on the New Gof< stage today
which wsald have been removed with
tongs half a dozen years aso"
"A censorship, in the opinion OF the
actor would be suUcrhucus I'm these
theatres. as "the manlgcr ~ every
vaudeville house is irs vc7rEDr. anJttiv
up TO his position labori 1uSly and 70
ligiously. Long before the performer
has entered the dressing rooms he has
been made acquainted wi she follow
inc legend which cvervwm,fc adorns
the walls. 'YoR are hereby warned that
your act must b. frsa from a,i vLlgat-
ity and suggestiveucs In words acti>n
and costume: and all Vulgar. double
meaning and pfOfane words an1 sDr.,s
must be cut out OF your act before the
first performance. All words unfit for
the ears OF ladies and children are pro-
hibited under penalty of instant dis |
charge And this is obligatory and fl |
nal. The funniest farce ever written |
could not be done at these houses If II |
had any OF the earmarks OF The thing in |
vogue at many of our 'first-class' thea
tres
After referring entertainingly TO In |
stances iluStra tive of the enforcement |
Of this policy. Mr.. Royle says; These
are the chronicles OF what is known
among the vaudeville fraternity as the
Sunday school circuit and the propri-
etor Of the Sunday school circuit is
the inventor Of vaudeville as we know
IT, This which makes for righteous
ness makes also for great and abiding
cleanliness. physical as well as moral:
and l almost lost things i'm my Phila-
delphia dressing room, IT was cleaned |
so constantly
Regarding the nature OF the perform
lnce ltself. Mr.. Royle points out that
every ones taste is consulted; and If
me objects TO the Derilous feats OF the |
3crobats or iuggers no can read his
program or shut his eyes for few mo-
nents and he will be compensated by
some sweet bell ringing. a sentimental
ar comic song. graceful or grotcsque
dancing. a one-adt farce or comedietta, |
trained animals. legerdemain. imper-
clay modelling. the Bl0graph !
pictures or the stories of the comic
Seriousness is barred.
There is one concentrated. strenuous
struggle for laugh. No artist can af-
ord 10 do without IT,"
TEe only reflection upon his own |
Drsadth OF view that lis found i'm Mr. |
Royle's article is his somewhat dis
reference here 10 the impor- |
ant and elevating part that the dra- |
ratic sketch has played i'm vaudcvNlc. |
hough IL is true that much difficulty |
has been found i'm securing good ma
erial for the purpose: hui: he says hat |
'audeVille presents an open door" and |
hat whatever or whoever can inter-
st an audience for thirty minutes or
ess and has passed quarantine is well
ome."
While once L was considered beneath
he dignity Of a SO-called Legitimate"
ctor 90 appear in vaudeville. Mr.
loyle points out that though "the dig
.ity Of the artist is a serious thing,
he dignity OF he dollar Is also seri-
us thing" and salaries ranging from
500 up To even $1,000 have tempted
ome Of the best and most famous ar ,
lists TO contribute their efforts and tall
rts 60 vaudeville: and he asserts tina.
audevile has actually been "A boon
% the 'legi innate artist"
vaudeville has toTpedocd the an.
iort SUPERSTITION that the manager Is
lways forced TO give. the public just
that il wants. asserts the actor. rc-
arding the manner in which the earl
ar patrons of the vaudeville houses
ave been educated M 10 the present
igh standard Of vaudeville attractions.
esulting In "a distinct elevation iD'the
erformance ana tho patronage OF the
theatres"
After anord'ng an interesting glimpse |
{ the World behind the scenes Mr.
,ovle concludes; Vaudeville appeals
D the bugirFgS man ffred n nj v.nrp. | ,