Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-11-28
sTHEATRICAL MANAGERS WILL
FIGHT SHY OF IOWA TOWN.
s'EARLY HOURS REFORM WAVE
LAW HAS CAUSED PROPRIE-
eIs TORS OF SHOWS TO CAM
tIE GEL THEIR DATES.

go TORS OF SHOWS 10 CAM
49, GEL THEIR DATES.
+. 'Des Moines, Ia, is in bad favor with
theatrical managers, and IL the idea
inaugurated by Frank Perley is carried
out only question of time remains
until that Puritanical town will be
wiped off the professional map.
JAS the Morning Telegraph OF last
Monday chronicled, a wave OF reform
has struck that otherwise healthy burg
which makes Parkhurst crusade look
like unto an O'Brien in synagogue
claiming Yiddish relations.
..'One Of the laws passed during the
wave was to the effect that all the
atricA1 performances would have to be
finished in time to allow the spectators
to get to their respective homes before
lI:15 p. m. Immediately the owners Of
attractions booked there set UP howl,
but 1t did not avail with the blue law
Des Moinites, who think bedtime should
be regulated by due course Of law and
the curfew.
'.Mr. Perley wrote to Col. William
Foster, proprietor of the opera house in
that Iowa town. and told him it would
be Impossible to run off Miss Nielsen's
opera by 11:15. The reply came that
such was the law, and it could not be
violated. When Mr.. Perley received the
communication he sent Col. Foster an
other letter cancelling his dates there,
and at the same time took occasion to
say some things which, all in all, are
not highly complimentary to the good
people who had the law enacted.
".It appears. Mr.. Perley wrote, that
tidal wave Of idlocy has struck GER
tain element in Des Moines. This ele-
ment has always been handicap to
progress and 1t has revived certain or
dinances which bear testimony to the
narrow horizon OF our forefathers. This
latest action is tough on dramatic art
for the men who made the ordinance
make it a violation of a law unless the
curtain is rung down on "Othello" al
the same time 1t would be on Uncle
Toms Cabin
Mr.. Perley then goes on to say to
comply with the measure would mean
the cutting out Of acts in certain shows
and then suggests that the authorities
Of the town order full suits of fancy
lingerie be put on all the trees of the
city so they will not shock the corn.
Mr.. Perley declares positively he viii
not allow his company to play Des
Moines under any sueh conditions
WHAT PERLEY SAYS.
Manager Perley, in his letter to Col
Foster, tells him what the eastern PEG.
pie think of the Des Moines council
pointing out the things he thinks We
are coming to. His letter is full Of
funny things, and is as follows:
From Frank l.. Perley. Knicker.
NJ,
Street and Broadway, N. Y.-Nev
York, Nov. %. lS99-Alv Dear Mr.. Eos
ter: About month ago I laid out tn,
route for the Nielsen Opera Company
for next year, and included two night:
in Des Noines. Last Sunday I was sur
prised to find enclosed article in the
New York Herald. 1t appears that ;
tidal wave Of idiocy has struck a Ger
tain element in Des Moines-the ele
ment which has always been handi
cap to progress-and that they have
been reviving certain ordinances which
bear testimony to the narrow horizon
Of our forefathers. further note tina
they contemplate regulating the ris,
and fall of the curtain at the theaters
and that they would have the finales o
'.Othello" and Uncle Tom bceur a
the same moment. This would b,
tough on dramatic art. If an officia
time lock was to determine the dura
ton Of performances. 1t might compe
some of the companies to omit enc O
the acts Of their plays, which in som
instances would be a delightful innova
ton, and the audience would have tn
pleasure Of guessing as to what TIN
missing link in the play might be. l
this crusade under the banner of TIN
'curfew' continues, we may one day Sc
in the local columns of your estimabl
newspapers such notices as below
which are copied from the Salem
Mass, court record of 1889:
'Barbery, wife of - Clark, to b
whipped for unchaste words, etc., an,
is not to haue to doe with this MAJ
Joans.'
Joans (who is married MANI to b
set in stocks for drunkenness and fine
for his carriage with the said Mrs
Clark
Mr.. James Downing admonishe
to take heed of such company. H
manifested great remorse, which glad
dened the hearts of his friends.
Geo. Dill fined for drunkenes, & t
stand att the meeting hous doar mex
Lecture day, with Cleft stick upon hi
Z Tong. 4 a pap upon his hiatt, subscribe
for gross premeditated Lyinge., Nj
Humphreys security
There is one consolation in all thi.
however,: the Puritans who refuse t
live In the near-approaching light OF til
twentieth century. may succeed /
SCANNING Des Moines back into the re
cssSss q the past sunicisntlX IL I