Evening star., 1901-05-25

the fact. though I manage a high-class
vaudeville house and a dramatic house.
that the theaters In which / cater to pa
irons of burlesque belong to the variety
stage which has its limitations. There is
always room for Improvement, but the pa
irons of the variety stage are in meas
ure responsible for the standard of the at
fractions which they support. and. dare
say, II We take into consideration the
usual falling off in receipts during the
presidential year. the burlesque combina-
tionS have been rewarded with as generous
patronage as they deserved. There have
been few poor ones and the repetition of
burleSque has Impaired a sameness to the
performances. but L do not think the
shows on the whole have deteriorated.'
DO you look for better shows next sea-
SOM Mr.. Herman was asked.
Most decidedly. There is a disposition
on the part of local managers to weed out
| inferior shows, and this spurs travelling
| managers to maintain the standard of their
attractions The Empire circuit. which in
cludes ten of the principal cities and con-
StltuteS one-Quarter of a seasons time.
| which most burlesque managers are glad
| TO secure, has positively refused to play
| inferior shows and has barred out several
attractions that this season fell short of
| expectations. l. support this circuit with
my Lyceum, Washington: Monumental.
Baltimore. and Lafayette Square Buffalo.
| ana IN return it supports me. and l have
| no hesitation in saying that the attrac-
tlons booked for next season will be the
| best the patrons of burlesque have wit
| messed, as well as bear unmistakable evil
dence of this combined effort to improve
the performances. No show with an OBJ
| jectionable feature will be tolerated on the
Empire circuit"
What do you think of the theatrical
! regulations in the interest of public de
cency?'
Il think they are quite proper. and /
hope the Commissioners will make an ex-
ample of every one who offends But
right here let me say that in all my thea
terS for years the rules for the conduct OF
the performances have been in perfect ac-
cord with the spirit of these new regula-
tioEs. l do not as a proprietor desire To
shirk any responsibility, but experience
teaches me that the burden of the RESPONSE
blity should rest on the individual per
former. On the variety stage especially
where the performer is permitted to work
ad lib, the habit of saying smart things
that may mean something else has grown.
and more than once have l been compelled
to make an example"
How has the reduction of prices affected
your business, Mr.. kernan?"
My business. l can frankly say, has
been better. The receipts of some attrac-
tlons at cheap prices have been larger
than they were last season at high prices.
One attraction that played the Lyceum in
October at the former prices returned
holy week and went far ahead Of its first
engagement. | hardly think / made mis-
take when l realized the situa ton in
Washington. which has not only one but
prices, and which. with supply of amuse-
ments greater than the demand, can be
persuaded to divide its patronage only by
some sort of concession or inducement.'
1t is announced that Whitman Osgood.
who has for a long time past been connect
ed with Chase's Theater it's managers
advertising assistant, has severed his as
sociation with the interests of that house.
Mr.. Osgood has been an efficient and en-
thusiastic worker in the field of theatrical
publicity, and has originated a number OF
striking ideas. His experience in theatrical
enterprises the road and his knowledge
of Washington gained through long service
In newspaper work here, have combined to
make him valued attache of the theater.
1t is probable that the Palm Garden at
Cabin John will not be conducted as a
vaudeville theater this summer. Noonan
Brothers, who controlled it last year, in
connection with other amusement conces-
sons secured a decision from the court
holding the proprietors of Cabin John to a
contract by which the Noonans had pos
session of all concessions, but arrangements
have been made excepting the theater from
the list.
Local actors will be interested in the ap-
pearance Of Paul Evans next week in the
part which he played in the Carroll Insti-
tute production of Alabama" The manage
ment found difficulty in filling the part,
and DIR. Evans familiarity with it caused
him to consent to appear, although with
some reluctance, as he has decided to per
manently abandon the stage, in order to
devote himself to his profession.
Manager Frederick G. Berger has COM
pleted arrangements by which the Lafay-
cite Stock Company will soon be seen in a
production of Secret Service" William
G1llette's great war play, which enjoyed
The production will be made about the
middle of June, as it will require great
deal of preliminary preparation.