Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-03

to put new stars into old plays Certainly
there is nothing in the one mentioned
merely as an example-to entitle it to i'm
mortality and what is true OF 1t Is equally
true Of host Of others that are being pa
raded nightly before the American people,
while play writer's are begging for chance
10 give us new things To be sure. people
will 20 to hear the old plays, just like they
stop to hear the old songs, but there is not
the satisfaction, either for the actor or the
auditor. For the one cannot help feeling
the comment Of contrast the other is sure
to make. and thus both suffer through the
comparison. The moral to it all is that an
actor should be too ambitious TO allow him
self to wear second hand another mans
character. He should as lief wear the 9TH
cr's cast-on clothing.
It seems that Omaha theater. goers arr
not the only ones who have to put up with
the smudgy Advertising pamphlets that are
handed out to patrons OF the different local
playhouses and that by common courtesy
only are called programs. New York B0s-
ton and others Of the large eastern cities
seem to be compelled to suffer the same
nuisance, Judging from some of the caustc
articles anent this subject which have re-
cont found their way in.o the press Of that
section. Says the New York Times:
4 collection Of programs Of this sort and
Nhere ore has attended the performances
represented especially II the period covered
Is fifteen or twenty years, cannot but be Of
rare value and interest to the possessOr
program should be n souvenir and
would, have made n collection Of programs
on the same lines as my acquaintance If
from tasteful or artistic point Of view
the average program Of today or ycstcr-
day was worth the preserving. The old
time bill Of the play stands in dignihcd
contrast with the smutchy linked advertise
Ing sheet, IN which the program is an
incident to which the theater or opera
Eoer must at present submit. believe
this Is hitting pretty hard at certain field
OF advertising which has been developed
largely Of late years but really | don {
think the average theater-goer wants the
subjects of hair dye. pickles and corn
remedy obtrudcd upon his notice when he
IL comfortably cnsCounced I'm an expensive
seat ready to indulge I'm an artistic feast
respectfully beg to suggest a reform and
the s. thcatCrs can AFFORD IT, Let the
program be souvenir-no advertising. If
cents can be made If advertising there
must be. make It so the advertising matter
can be detached, and the program pre-
served in its integrity as true bill OF
the play
The New York Dramatic Mirror dis
courses upon the same subject thuswse:
The so-caled theater program that is
imposed upon the public IS but an Incident
among many incidents that are natural to
the commerclaizing Of the theater. II is
but one OF the many schemes of the trad
ers that control the theaters for revenue
only. The essential features of this con-
troll and its results are daily becoming
better understood by the theater public,
which, after bearing imposition after i'm
position, evidently is awakening 20 the
facts and in some recent cases has had the
spirit TO apply the remedy.
The Council Bluffs Dramatic club will
present THE Charity Ball" at the Dohany
theater In Council Bluffs Friday evening,
February 10. The piece, which is one OF
Charles Frohmans successes OF n few years
ago. has been staged and rehearsed under
the direction OF Miss Lillian Fitch of this
city and the performance will be watched
with interest by this young woman's local
friends and admirers. as 1t is practically her
first effort OF this kind. The proceeds OF the
performance will go to a Council Bluffs
hospital.
tnO