The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-18
THE PASSING SHOW.

Thursday night saw the last perform
| ance at the Academy of Music under the
direction of Mr. Hashim, for on Friday
| afternoon the managers of the "A Wise
Guy company refused to continue the en-
gagcment on account of the poor patron
| age accorded the farce comedy, and the
matinee audience was dismissed. :,
| The effort Of the 1Messrs. Hashim to pro-
vide Washington with another vaudeville
theatre has proved most disastrous fail
ure, and has resulted in loss of about
$4,000. The Academy did not contain a
| paying audience after the opening mat
| inee, and notwithstanding the fact that
MI Hashim's programmes were perhaps
the most eypensivc-even il they were not
the best-that have ever appealed Tor
local patronage. Washngtonians did not
respond in sufficient numbers to make the
| venture anything like paying one.
When he first came to this city Mr..
Hashim announced that he was willing to
(, lose $4,000 on the season, merely for the
| privilege OF having another theatre on his
circuit, for in this manner, he argued, he
could secure artists for much less money
than if he booked them for but Philadel-
phia and New York. He came over to this
| city few weeks ago for the purpose OF
inspecting the field, and endeavOred to
ascertain why local theatregoers persist
ed In remaining away from his entertain
ments with such surprising regularity.
After being on the ground for a week. the
manager confessed to the belief that he
| thought Washington did not want two vau-
deville houses, and at the time announced
his intention Of abandoning this city as a
basis for his operations at an early date.
huc tnI IN
paper men that what he calls the 'unpop-
ularity of the Academy of Music was re-
sponsible for his failure. and has dwelt at
considerable length on this point.
Inc manager makes mistake in attrib-
uting to such iimsy excuse his unsuc-
ceSsful attempt to conduct a vaudeville
enterprise here. In the first place. Mr..
Hashm's principal reason for not making
success of the Academy of Music is to
be found in the fact that he did not keep
faith with the public from whom he looked
for support. He came to Washington with
1amboyant announcements of the numer-
gus and extensive repairs he was to make,
but when the opening day arrived all that
had bean done by him in the line of deco
rating the theatre was an application of
a little white paint to the front of the D
Street entrance.
inside the house, absolutely nothing had
been done-the dust of the previous sea-
sor's accumulation was even allowed to re-
ma n where it had settled and there was
not, in any respect, any effort made to
brighten up the theatre and make it more
attractive. Then. too, the bills Mr.. Hash
! i'm booked for. the Academy contained many
well known namss. but their performances
prov I'd to be totally unsuted for vaudeville.
The stage manager evidently did not exer-
elsa his authority and in many instances
acts were permitted to play an entire week.
when their Objectionable, features should
have caused them to be either censored or
| Cancelled after first performance.
In no way did Mr.. Hashlm give to the
theatre that close, personal attention that
is so necessary for the successful outcome
of such an amusement venture and he is
badly mistaken in assigning his failure to
the so-called "unpopula.ity of the Acade-
my" which has always been exceIlently
managed ard conducted In an intelligent
manner.
The Academy will now return to the fold
of popular price attractions, and as this
form of theatrical entertainment is offered
by Mr.. Stair in thirty-eight different cities
throughout the country with great sue
cess, there is every reason to believe that
it will be a paying investment in wash
ington. and local amusement lovers, On
the other hand, are assured really excel
lent performances at nominal prices. Mr..
Stair will proceed at once to renovate the
Academy, and it will reopen Monday.
November &c, with "a Rough Riders Ro-
nance"
Ting allng ting bling bling bling bing
T-r-r-r-r. zip!"
The telephone in the box office of Chase's
New Grand burst out with a vicious. pro-
longed ringing. 1t was evident the CEN
trail girl was acting under some undue
and urgent influence. The man who at
tends to the reservations and orders by
wire jumped from his chair and rushed
violently to the phone, his anxiety to
reach the instrument being not unmin-
gled with apprehension. There was some
thing behind that kind of a ring and he
knew it.
"Hello!''
rs that Chase's?"
Yes. sir
"Hooray, How're you, anyway"
We'll, sir: what can We do for you?"
.hh. say. don't rush me. now; it's too
good to tell. Honest. it's"
There was tinge OF the contents OF
the flowing bowl about the voice The
telephone wire is coed conductor
It's JUS this the voice at the far
end of the circuit continued. my muz-
zer'n-law's dead. homes she is. And
shay. I'm on a jagsh and a-gettin worsh
all time. My names | got four
seats down there, but don't want 'em
now Please scuse me. Hurrah for me,
Good bye
This incident is vouched for by Treas
urer Herbert. of the Grand and here. at
last. is a mother in law story which is
absolutely true.
Frank Mckee. who came into managerial
prominence by reason of his business |
partnership with Charles Hoyt in the |
conduct of the various Hoytian fares
was in Washington during the latter part
of the past w.,i. i0rking after his comedy
company that appeared at the Columbia
in THE Star and Garter" Mr.. Mckee
has three pronounced successes under his
control this scason-Peter Daley in
Hodge. Podge' & Co.. 1.-The Star and
Garter" and Mary Mannering in Janice
Meredith" sa-1s
Miss Mannering is one of the biggest
theatrical surprises OF the year. Ever
since her first appearance in the dram
at!zation of Paul Leicester Ford's novel
she has been greeted by a succession OF
crowded houses. and, too. In cities that
are regarded in the dramatic world as
about The poorest in the country. Her
engagement in ct. Louis last week drew
to the box office nearly $4,000 and in
such cities as Cincinnati. Milwaukee,
Roche err Toledo Indianapolis. and CO.
lumbus there has been evidenced a won
derfu: amount of interest in Miss Man
nerng and Janice Meredith
Mr. Mckee in speaking of the success
of his new star. remarked that the ma
jority of the audiences thus far have been
composnd of women. who have gone into
ert.sics over The delightful art of Miss