The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-07-04
RPHEUM
WILL CLOSE
Last Performance Next
Saturday.
|THEATER'S LOSSES HEAVY
Cohen Says the Public Has Not
Backed His Efforts For::Their
Entertainment.

The Orpheum Theater Company will
close it's doors after the performance
next Saturday night for an indefinite
period. This decision was reached yes
terday afternoon and the Southwell
| Opera Company will probably leave for
| San Francisco on the Australia il the
steamship company can make room for
them.
| directors meeting of the local play
house was held yesterday but was post.
poned on account of the result of a con-
ference between Manager Wolff of the
Southwells and Manager Cohen of the
Orpheum Theater. Between them they
arranged matters with the above result.
| Yesterday was payday for the Opera
| company. 1t is the last one in which
the Orpheum Theater Company will
| figure. Not only was last week IS salary
paid up in full, but the members Of
the troupe were paid up TO the time
when the curtain falls next Saturday
night. After that the playhouse will be
| DIRK until the directors take some ac-
ton to bring down other performers to
curry favor at the hands of the Homo
lulu public.
| Manager Cohen was seen by an Ad-
vertiser reporter last evening. and in
| answer to question as to what deci-'
sion was reached at the conference, the
| following reply was given:
| I'VE are going to close up on Satur-
day night. After that the Orpheum
will be closed book. For how long?
Well, that is something l cannot tell
you. We. of course, have not made ar
Irangements for new attractions and
with the departure of the opera COM
pany, a void is left which cannot be.
filled.
THE Southwell's came down here Tor
a sixteen weeks engagement. divided
up in this manner. They were given
a certain six weeks guarantee with the
privilege on their part and ours of re-
newing their contracts for the full
period of sixteen weeks.
ut is unnecessary to state that for
some reason the Orpheum Company has
run sadly behind in Honolulu. They
have lost a barrel of money. That is
not to be gainsaid, but the Orpheum
Company has splendid backing, and al
Z though we have paid up salaries to the
: last cent, and even advanced salaries
to Saturday night, we still have a little
money in the safe.
But il is useless to try and curry
: favor with a public which has not
n backed our efforts to give them enter
k tainment. We cannot do it, Mr.. Wolff
y Is very nucn IOT ne
y knows that with this Opera company
: he could get engagements anywhere on
the Mainland and make a success. Here
his efforts seemed to have been nil and
l 1t is natural he should choose an oppor-
| tunity to go back to San Francisco"
Manager Cohen also stated that the
| Orpheum Company had been placing
l the best operas before the public at
| popular prices, although the company
| was a great expense especially In
/ steamer fares which have been furnish
| ed the company both ways. He also
/ stated that there was no outside in
| come to assist the Orpheum Theater
| Company. In San Francisco every
| playhouse has a liquor license granted
| it. whereby a bar and cafe is maintain
| ed. This revenue has t.ded many San
| Francisco theater over financial diff
culties. Thus a San Francisco play
house which does not have to pay
steamer fares and has a liquor license
has a double advantage over the Homo
| lulu Orpheum.
| The manager is not inclined to lam
| haste the public. but feels mat they dc
| not appreciate a good opera company
| and a comedian of national reputation
| 1t is understood that the Orpheum ha'
| run short about 5000 or $40 900 on the
| present engagement, and is quite Will
| ing that the contracts should not be re
| newed.
The closing of the playhouse for al
indefinite period means a dearth o
| amusement. as the Nell company onl!
came to Honolulu for three weeks en-
gagement and this is about half finish
| ed In that event even old Jim" Pos
and May Ashley of Orpheum fam
: would undoubtedly prove drawini
cards.