Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-01-14
Theatre Managers Should Have a
Protective Associa-
ton
AND KEEP EACH OTHER INFORMED
Would Soon Finish the Barnstorm-
Grooming Attrac-
tiOns.

y
transforming theatricals. In the
latter days of the old play hoase il
availed the management rDthing t.
offer a meritorious attraction. for
the reason that the public had lost
confidence in the theatre, and the
only alternative was fo Cato to the
element that would pa'ronIIr the
cheap show.
With n new theatre the people have
a right to expect n best class of
attractions travelling. AT least two,
The Princess Chic and Eugeni,
Blair with Peg Woffington. hav,
already been offered. AMI there are
others of equal merit bo"kod. arnt ng
which might be mentioned Mel
bourne Mcdowell for tomorrow
cert company Friday, = Poor Rela-
ton" Saturday and Lost River Sun
day. but the management has not
been without request for dates from
the claptrap variety, and several of
that class have broken in. a few OF
them falling far below expectations.
and Disappointing both tl,c manage
ment and those who had paid their
g. cd money to wIsr"~s them.
The One Remedy.
1t has always appeared to The Ar
- tLere should he = nTluS # pre-
e. rtI theatre patrons against theSr
last mentioned conditions. Managers
of play houses surely realize that
they are sufferers when they disap-
point their audiences, for eventually
il means a loss of confidence the
part of the patrons of the h1Ise
and consequently diminishing of box
ot:i.e sales. The r.sin'-!v that stIg-
gCStes ISrlf is an asao'. tiun. 81 uu-
derstanding, i'm which the managers
of circuits are boun'' To cunuuUni-
eat" with each othct "a Ia the quail
il - ALTERATIONS; foe iuStapc,. If
show IL n. ed at tn I;::no : that IL
not wait IL was rapras mel I" b.
the manager here should commune
cate Immediately with those in
charge of the several other houses
in the circuit that they could cancel
and inform their people the occa-
sion therefor. If such plan were
followed il is believed IL would not be
long until the transformers were
driven back to the brush.
Johnston Favors Idea.
George III. Johnston's disposition
ms to this question was shown Satur-
day. when at his recommendation the
manager of theatre in n nearby
town VINO was visiting here scratched
two companies ne had booked that
had obtained money in Rock Island
under misrepresentation. This is the
kind of stand that establishes and
that confidence that
should exist between theatre mana
ger and his patrons.
As stockholders in the Illinois
iheatre-for it is understood they
are 70 be so interested when Mr..
Johnston formally organizes his
for the control if the local
se-Chamberlin. Kindt & Co..
who operate theatres in twcaty
cities. are in position to keep inn
posters out of Rock Island. of they
would adopt such system as has
been suggested. 1t is the one way
N which to rid the country of the
lass of performers sailing under
'alse colors.
w hltney company
An ideal entertainment of that
Kind known as miscellaneous concert
was given at the " NJ. c. 4. hall last
evening. The Whitney Woodbridge
presented, to an audience
which packed the hall, thoroughly
artistic and thoroughly enjoyable
The gentleman
whose name heads this organization,
Whitney Mockridge, is at the
present time, since the formal re-
-irement of Lloyd, one of the two
great oratorio tenors of the English
speaking world. He possesses a
7oice which is at the same time
arge and mellow. alternately mas
'ive and ETHEREAL. reminding one of
he great tenor of a former gener-
rtion, Mario. Mr.. Mockridge would
certainly be a star on the operate
stage ifhe chose to adopt that ca
.eer, for his voice and his manner
If delivering it are instinct with |
emotional life in that degree and in |
hat kind which rouses vivid glow |
N the hearts of the listening public |
md converts it from a passive re- |
,ipient to an active sympathizer. |
lis voice is delivered with that broad, |
rec. liquid ease which permits the
ound TO well forth as from an in
Xhaustible spring of melody, and |
lis control of it in all dynamic eff
ects, in notifications of tone-qual-
ty. and in sudden dramatic effects, |
S that which we hear from none but
-reat artists. The enunciation of
he verbal text also is admirable,
'utting the poet in direct touch with
'ur minds at the same moment that
he tones of the musician are thrill
ng us. Mr.. Mockridge can. not fail,
possessing so phenomenal a voice
nd being so well schooled in vocal
TT, and furthermore being guided by
o noble and lofty an ideal of the
rt-life. to make himself the very
rst oratorio and concert tenor of
Il