The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-28
CRAWFORD ON TOP
Brings New Managers Of the
Grand to Terms.
They Surrender to the Local
Amusement Trust.
DIVIDE ATTRACTIONS.
Announced That Both Houses
VIII Be Kept Open.
A. S. Kane to Remain as Man
ager Of the Grand.
L. ii. Crawford Adds Brigham
Houses to His Circuit.

was leased last spring by A s Kane
and E. S. Brigham today passed under
the control of the trust and the threat
ened contest between the Crawford and
the Grand viii be avoided
The fact of the matter is that L. NJ.
Crawford compelled the new managers
of the Grand to surrender. They found
that Crawford was so strong, had con-
troll of so many opera houses, that they
could not compete with him in booking
attractions The managers of the Grand
got to the point where they felt that
they must either surrender to Crawford
or fail in their purpose to give Topeka
first-class plays at a frst-class house
and they hoisted the white flag.
The change is a big thing for Mr..
Crawford for it results in the adding
to his circuit all the opera houses con
trolled by Z. S Brigham the Atchison
theater, the Hot Springs theater, one
at Carthage and one at Springfield. Mo.
1t also results in Mr.. Brigham giving
up his LeaVenworth house and turning
it over to Mr.. Crawford
1t is pretty difficult to understand the
details OF the arrangement in Topeka
but II IS known That the purpose IS to
keep both houses open and divide the
attractions. A. S. Kane is also to re-
main as manager of the GEand Opera
House but it may also ultimately re
suit in the Grand being closed. Whether
the arrangement is a pool on the divis
ion OF profit plan is not known but at
any rate the white dove of peace is to
hover over the Topeka theatrical mana
gers while they count the cash
Topeka theater patrons will be disap-
pointed. They are sure to be. For years
they have been compelled to bow to one
theatrical management who had little
or no regard for them and they hailed
with delight the advent Of the new
mana cement especially when it was
known that A. s. Kane would be the
manager of the new house. Now they
see return to the old order of things
before they had even a. taste of the new.
Perhaps the theatrical atmosphere will
change and it certainly ought to If Mr..
Kane has much to do with the situa-
ton, for TOpekasS experience with him
as an amusement manager has been
satisfactory.
An official presentation of the case
was made today by the managers of
both houses. It follows:
1T is said that both houses found it
difficult to engage attractions for next
season Company managers knew two
attractions the same night in a town the
size of Topeka would not pay This
would be particularly true if the two
entertainments happened to be of the
same kind. Dozens of managers made
a stand on this proposition and abso-
luteIy refused to visit the city unless
the prospect of opposition for their at
fractions was called off In this way
also they hoped to remain friendly to
both mana gements and would have
played in the various other towns con-
trolled separately by E S Brigham and
the Crawford circuit. So strong was
this feeling among the big companies,
which are. of course, under heavy ex-
pense, that they would be the losers that
they told the arrangements here, 1t lS
said, they would cut out Topeka for
all time unless the two houses We're
booked in harmony.
with this unexpected condition aris-
ing Mr.. Brigham, Mr. Crawford and Mr..
Kane were not long in agreeing that if
they We're true to the public, to them
selves and to their partners in the the
atrical business, that is. the travelling
companies, they should arrange to have
harmony in engaging companies
Less than a month ago E. s Brigham
leased the .eavenwOrth theater. owned
by DR. T. Sinks This house had been
for the past year in the Crawford cir
cult The next day he started for New
York The Crawford interests at once
arranged for a new house in Lseaven-
worth Mr.. Brigham had not been in
New York three days. he says, before he
discovered that competition in Leaven-
worth, which was certain, meant tnan-
cial loss for everybody concerned. Yes
terday he withdrew from Leavenworth
and DR.. Sinks added his house to the
Crawford circuit for five years.
Many of the large companies carry
ing special scenery and special stage
equipment will appear at the Grand
Opera House It is believed this will be
public, which has long desired to see
some of the largest productions shown
on this big and well arranged stage.
1t win also permit many large attrac-
tions which desire to appear in the
Grand to come here, when they would
have been kept away under other cOndl-
tions Many of the high priced shows
will appear at the Crawford, which is
now being remOdeled. enlarged and dec
Grated at an expense of several thous-
and dollars
"A harmony arrangement has been
made which includes thirty odd theaters
in the west The Crawford circuit, E
s. Brigham Chamberlain & Co. six
teen playhouses in Illinois and Iowa,
and others Will work to each others in
terests. It is expected that by this ar
rangement more and better attract
will be induced to visit the territory ia
which they are interested in the theat-
ricaI business E. S. Brigham expects
to extend his circuit in the south. in
which he has the good town of Hot
Springs.
Mr.. Brigham's position is best stated
by this card, which he has given to the
public:
I am more pleased than I can ex-
press to know that things have been SO
arranged in Topeka that a long fight in
engaging attractions, from which the
attractions themselves feel they would
be the principal sufferers has been
avoided. The public has no idea what
an effort is being made to discourage
fighting in the small cities. Companies
absolutely refused to play Topeka be-
cause they knew there might be
counter attraction at the other house.
and that simply meant loss for both OF
them. They certainly cannot be blamed