Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-07-02
Travelling Stars to Combine
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Special Correspondence.
New York, June 2l--The decision Of
both Joseph Weber and Lew Fields to
launch out next season upon lines iden-
teal with those which formerly gov
erned the Weber and Fields music hall,
is likely to prove rather serious mat
ter TO one or both Of them. Too much
Of a good thing Is pretty nearly as bad
as none at all, and 1t IS quite possible to
create surfeit Of the musical farce
form Of entertainment with which the
names Of these comedians have been
identified for the past few years. In
fact, last season it became apparent
that the New York public was growing
tired OF the type Of frivolity presented
by Weber and Fields. or else that the
quality of this particular offering
wasn't mp to the mark. At any rate the
patronage Of the music hall fell off 10
an easily perceptible degree and the
road season was taken up considerably
earlier than usual quite clearly on ac-
count Of the shrinkage of appreciation
along Broadway, When Mr. Weber
and Mr., Fields parted company It was
supposed that each Of them would
branch out In a new direction, and even
after Fields has concluded the deal by
which he Is to be the star OF the new
theater built by Mr., Hammerstein In
West Forty second street II was init
mated that his former confrere would
devote himself to managemnt conduct
ing the old music hall as "A combina-
ton house for the shelterng of farces
and comedies Az matters stand at
| present however we are simply to have
! two competitive shows upon the Weber
and Fields plan Both will be carried
on at enormous expense I'm the struggle
| for supremacy, and both must depend
| for subsistence upon the clientele that
! formerly supported but one enterprise
! Of this kind. OF course, almost any,
| thing Is possible I'm the amusement field,
| and both Weber and Fields may profit
| from the now order OF things But as
| plain commercial proposition the matter
/ ms 1t stands at this moment doesn't
! look especially promising. The decision
| Of Florenz Ziegfcld Jr,, at the last mo-
ment to cast his fortunes with those OF
Mr.. Weber and make Anna Held a
member OF the notable company to be
engaged at the Weber establishment
was a surprise, for the reason that
| Zierfeld had declared himself emphat-
/ Ically against such a plan-w which
| among other things VIII reduce by one
| example the number Of travelling at
| fractions I'M this country, The engage
| ment OF Marie Cabin by the opposition
! leaves another route untitled, while the
| all-star cast Of The Two Orphans viii
| stnl further relieve the congestion Of
! grcgarious stars. The retiring ones in
| clude Grace George, James O'Neill,
I n 4. ! To- AiVHr
! LeMoyne Ellta Proctor Otis and two or
! three more, quite materially lessening
! Its Of amusement puryeyors none too
| long to nm the ever increasing number
| OF theatcrs throughout the country. II
need not be inferred from this state
| ment Of affairs that we are going TO
| suffer from q dearth Of stage offerings
| for although New York wasn't as pro-
| life last year as usual in the manufac-
! turc Of new material for the general
market, IL is almost always the unex-
| pected that happens, and the new
things Of the early fall are likely to
! more than nll the bin. a year ago at
this time the leading managers were In
"a state nt great citation over their pros
poets They were not alone more than
| satisfied with the quality Of their wares
for the then ensuing season, but were
sure that times would be good I'm a
| financial sense. Only one OF the half
dozen ! personally interviewed on this
! subject tWiuiam A. Brady was doubt
! ful regarding the prospects OF the mo-
mont and HIS forecast was verified to
am almost startling degree, just now
the managers are anything but 1nbllunt.
! They say there Us no reason 20 look for
am immediate change In business condi-
lions and that the presidential election
win still further deaden the interests Of
the people I'm stage entertainments.
Moreover these gentlemen are not IN
clined 10 be optimistic regarding the
potentially Of their most recently ac-
uulrcd PLAYS But as already pointed
out it ig from inst this degree Of de-
preston that the best results IN the
theater branch Of Undertaking very
often spring
The roof gardens are In the very
height and flower OF their prosperity