The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-09
THE JEW AND THE STAGE
JUDAIC DOMINATION OF THE MOD
ERN THEATER IN AMERICA.
Christian Managers Being Gradually
Forced Into Bankruptcy by Jews
Who Are shrewd and Brainy.
Detroit Free Press.

Detroit Free Press.
Hillary Bell. writer on theatrical topics
who not only observes the superficial as
pect Of the stage. but gets into communica-
ton with its deeper penetralia. has this in
teresting. significant and judicial common
tary in the New York Press on the present
Jewish control OF our stage:
The Jews are an enterprising people. Al
ways inclined toward art. they have recent
~ forced their way upward in the theater.
Anti-semitic journals have contested their
progress step by step. yet our music and
drama are gradually losing their once dis
tinctively gentle complexion and becoming
Hebraic. Rachel was a Jewess, Bernhardt Is
Jewess; Edwin Booth was Jew by blood
and Inherited genius. Olga Nethersole,
Emma Calve, LilH Lehman. Anton Seidl,
Mrs James Brown Potter and Minnie Selig-
man, IL not Jews, were of Jewish extrac-
ton. The greatest of all impresarii Maurice
Grau, is a Jew. The most enterprising and
powerful of modern managers, Charles
Frohman, is Jew. The most artistic and
refined Of theatrical directors. Daniel Froh-
man, is a Jew The Haymans Klaw and
Erlanger, Nixon and Zimmerman Jews.
Weber and Fields are Jews Heinrich Con-
ried is a Jew. The Sires are Jews. Rudolph
Aronson is a Jew. There are almost as many
Jews controlling stage d there are tul-
pioyed in its performances.
IL Is not impossible that the art of our
theater shall become separate province
OF the Jews. 1t is not only possible but
probable that the government OF its ven
lures may be engrossed by the Jews. Our
Hebrew friends have declared remarkable
aptitude for its affairs. They shrewd
students OF public taste, they coura-
geous In expenditure. they are good losers.
they are phiiosophic and abundant in hope,
they have not personal fads or fancies to
force upon the audience, they do not take
themselves or the drama too seriously. they
regard the entertainment of the people as
q legitimate business and conduct 1t on bust
ness principles.
Semitism seems to be the spirit OF modern
advancement in the drama and music.
Gentle management has many faults of
WHICH Hebraic management is free Within
the past dozen years we have observed that
various once famous and prosperous Chris
tisns have been forced by their own errors
10 relinquish control OF playhouses that are
nosv successfully conducted by Jews. Man.
ayers who insist on giving entertainment
amusement that the public wants It's have have
fallen by the wayside. Lester Wallack. who
decided that his patrons must accept old
COMEDY whether or not they liked ii, went
into bankruptcy. BY forcing Lillian Rus
sell on us at time when she was out OF
favor Henry Il. ABBEY went into bank
ruptcy. A NJ Palmer fell into disaster be-
OF the public.
The Jews have no nonsense or selfish senti-
ment IN the running OF theater. Certain
Christian managers have compelled their
patrons to accept leading women with
whom their relations were meretricious;
others have forced their audiences to en-
durc actors and authors for whom they had
'sHath not a Jew eyes?' cries shyiock.
Hath not Jew organs, senses, passions,
affections?" Verify, but he does, not allow
ness is business A Jews romances and
friendships are as strong as Christians.
in carrying out any UNDERTAKING TO which
his efforts are applied.
The Jews are not only Woodworking, in
respecting. Scandal, too frequent in the
theater. seldom assails them. Certain of
involved in disgraceful incidents. These"
70 quote Shylock again. these be your
Christian husbands" There has never been
scandal in the public prints about our jew
ish managers. Charles and Daniel Froh-
man are bachelors and presumably not in
sensible to the beauty Of women; yet the
slanderous tongue OF gossip has never at
tackled them. Lederer, Hayman, Sire. Aron-
son, Hammerstein, Nixon, Rich, Harris,
Zimmerman and their comrades I'm faith
and matrimony are honest husbands so far
as the world knows. II is not to be argued
that morality Is an especial Characters
tic OF Judaism, but the fact remains that
guiarly free from that lively love for the
ladies which since Garrick's time has been
the Christian managers prerogative, al
though happily not always exercised
The Jewish entrepreneur does not, indeed.
public Mr.. ziegfieId IS the author of diver.
sions which have shocked modesty. Mr..
Aronson introduced Charmion and Mr..
George Lederer's nymphs are scantily clad,
and IN the costumes of Edna Wallace and
Clara Betz he made the judicious grieve.
IN ma zor4lxr
Hebraic. for 1t is 10 be noted that the
majority or our present lingerie entrepren-
eurs are good Catholics.
Because the Jew has refused to accept
theatrical entertainment as an art and pros
ecutes 1t as a legitimate business. the art
OF acting and of writing for actors has i'm
measurably progressed In America BY his
EFFORTS the enterprise Of amusing not only
TINS city. but the entire country, has been
all the famous modern dramatists, which
pays ample remuneration to talented play
ers. which acqUaintS the general people with
the grace Of the drama which Interests ey-
eryDody. civilian and rural. in the theater
which discovers new authors and develops
IL was a Jew who introduced US TO vaud-
evlfle- III was Jew who developed the
dainty. exquisite art Of Maude Adams. who
mary" II was Jew who trained Mrs Les
lie Carter into her new and splendid elo-
IN "Zaza'' At medium for her extraor-
binary talents. II was jew who produced
Secret Service" and who now fosters the
remarkable gifts OF its author 1t was a
Jew who increased the general store OF
good humor by Charles Aunt" Ii was
a Jew who picked E. A. Sothern out of
strolling troupe and developed him into a
favorite actor with everybody. IL a
Jew who lifted grand opera into prosperity,
engaged the finest company of singers that
music has known, and by his eminent skill
in the conduct OF operate art I'm America
was elected to management of the operate
art OF England.
In these circumstances Shylock remains
welcome on the stage as one Of the most
notable figures in the Shakspearean gallery,
and his descendants in race, if not in dispo-
sftion, are equally at home IN the govern
ment OF the stage. The fine art as well as
diversion. OF the theater owes much 10 the
Jews. From Maurice Grau. the distinguished
director OF grand opera. TO Florence Zieg-
field the exploiter of Anna Held. the art
of entertaining n all its forms has felt the
cuickening influence OF the Jews. From
Sarah Bernhardt to Clara Lpman the play
has been benefited by Jewish blood. wit and
passion.