The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-01

output in proportion to the period COW
cred, if the entire list of states is to be
staged. In point of fact the title in
connection with Thomas plays is not
important. The play is the thing. But
ha ing hit upon a value by the title
ne chose for his first play, and having
thereby made the names Of the states
peculiarly his dramatic trademark,
Thomas was wise enough to follow his
own lead. And like all men of orig
inal quality, ne has been initiated. In
Old Kentucky" Louisiana, % "Ver-
mont, up York State Tennessee
and Down in Injianny" are a few Of
the titles inspired by Thomas lead.
That Thomas has considered breaking
away from the names of states is
known. His Arizona" was otherwise
named, but Kirke La Shelle, its pro-
ducer, preferred the state name. Just
in passing. La Shelle has still another
state play by Thomas, 1t is called
Wisconsin" but may be given an
other title when produced. II is await
ing a New York opening.
With traditions and every reason in
the world TO decry it the ever recur-
ring denunciatiOn of the bOOk-made
play viii not down. The failure of one
play of this origin seems sufficient
warrant to bring forth a TRADE against
making plays out Of popular novels,
and yet some of our best stage mate
rial of late has sprung from this source.
"Eben Holden" which has Just gone
into New York, is said to be a good
enough rural comedy to succeed even
without the advertisement the book
gave it. Mr.. StOddart continues to en-
joy success in Beside the Bonnie Brier
Bush, and SO on one might continue
T. enumerate the success Of Viola Al
len, Julia Marlowe, Crane in David
Harum," Gillette in Sherlock Holmes,
Mary Mannering in Janice Meredith"
and even harken back to those ever
popular old timers, East Lynne" ga
mile" and Uncle Toms Cabin" With
all those things TO count on it seems
wonderful that any one would care to
waste time reading these TRADES
against the bookmade play.
Howard Kyle got on his mettle down
in Savannah, Ca. the other evening
and tore up a minister Of that town in
a curtain speech. The incident is re-
corded by the New York Telegraph as
follows;
''Mr. Kyle's talk was in the nature
Of a spirited reply to a sermon
preached by Rev Robert Vandeventer,
pastor OF the Duffy street Baptist
church the night before the presenta-
ton Of Way Down East Mr. Van
deventeT attacked the stage as an evil
institution unworthy Of Christian pat
ronage AS is well known, Mr. Kyle
originated the leading part in Way
Down East and felt he could not let
the opportunity of replying to the min
lister pass, although he is now IN the
production.
When a man assumes an absurd
position and INDUCES himself in the
expression of grotesQue ideas" said
Mr. Kyle. 1T is rather natural that we
should assume that he either does not
know what he is saying. or else is
animated by a desire to gain some adj
vertising. If in this case the latter
assumption be correct, shall feel
somewhat chagTined that / have been
entrapped into gratifying his ambi-
ton" The actor continued, showing
that only the decent plays survive.
The following is either a remarkable
circumstance. or the work Of 4 clever
press agent. At any rate Il went into
the columns Of a Cincinnati paper as a
special from Wheeling. w. Va. and is
readable:
Not only was every seat in the
opera house sold tonight to hear Rose
Celia Shay in Carmen, but nearly
loo people heard her sweet and power
full voice over the phone in their own
homes. At an early hour today il was
seen that there would be an unprece-
denied crowd TO hear this young and
brilliant star, and the telephones were
kept busy in the morning asking If
there was TO way 10 hear Miss SHAY.
When informed there were no seats.
and that practically every seat was
sold for the matinee and evening per-
fOFmanee Tuesday much disappoint-
ment was shown. This soon reached