The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-19
Woeful Condition of Drama attic
Situation in Topeka.
High Prices Prevail - Rates
Above Other Cities.
SAFETY is SECONDARY.
Many VIII Not Enter the Craw-
ford Theater.
A Safe and Comfortable House
Kept Closed by Crawford.

The theatrical situation in Topeka is
in a most unfortunate condition. in
imical alike to the people and their
pocketbooks. The one open theater in
this big town is a menace to the lives OF
those who enter it and pay extor-
tionate prices for the entertainment
The public place is not only unsafe,
but the prices are frequently from fifty
to one hundred per cent higher than
is regularly charged for the same
plays in other cities.
These are plain, simple, statements
of fact that are either known to our
citizens, or can be corroborated with
little effort.
These two conditions, unsafety and
extortion, are particularly unfair and
odious to the people of this city for
the reason that there is here an idle,
safe theater, and there is also here the
public, willing and anxious to give a
large patronage to the amusement
caterer who will present meritorious
attractions at popular prices and in a
safe play house, as extended IN other
cities of like size and larger.
third eXasperating condition is
that the lease of the safe theater by
trick was secured by Mr.. Crawford
who pays the rent, $125.0O, each and
every month. for the purpose of pre-
venting any one else from gaining ac-
cess TO the properly IOT pTcSSnllllS
plays or entertainment
In regard to the safety of the Craw-
ford theatre in this town there is the
one general opinion 1t is not re-
garded as safe. Those who go there
know that they take certain chances,
but there are those who. anxious for
amusement, take these chances, real
izing the danger they incur in case of
fire or panic, from the lack of proper
exits.
Topeka is c1assed as one of the
best amusement cities in the country.
Our people like to go to shows Still
there are very many who will not go
into the Crawford opera house. They
will fOrego the pleasure OF the drama
rather than take the risks incident to
Witnessing performances in the To-
peka theatre. Many of the best citi-
gems of Topeka have not entered the
Crawford opera house since the Iro-
Quois theatre disaster in Chicago, in
which hundreds of lives were lost.
The Grand opera house in Topeka is
one of the best constructed and best
arranged theatres in the west The
exits are ample and excellent. The
main floor is the ground floor, and the
entire house can be emptfed in a few
moments. There are exits, big ones,
on every one of the four sides of the
building. The stage is very large. A
few years ago several thousand dol
lars were spent upon the house by
Arthur Kane. who leased the property
for ten years. The house was put in
quite good condition, but Kane after
wards sold out to Crawford who is
now his partner. and although there
was a provision in the lease to the ef-
feet that Crawford was in no way to
gain control of this house, yet the
facts are today that Crawford does
control it and not only does not use it
for the public, but keeps any one else
from using 1t.
1t is understood that there are sew
eraI reasons alleged for this sort of
tn rc,f-tf 0O1f Ono 1f
them is that it is more expensive to
heat and operate the Grand opera
house. As it is a larger theatre than
the Crawford opera house and devoted
exclusively to amusement purposes
this is doubtless true. Another sup
posed reason is that by keeping the
house closed, as it has been closed for
a year or more, it does not become a
factor in amusement circles and
the property naturally deteriorates as
any vacant and unused building will.
This would give Crawford a chance to
buy the property in the future at a
less value than it has been held, for
the reason that the longer it is in
disuse the less valuable under similar
conditions it will become. Another
reason is the control of the house by
the lease running many years in the
future gives Crawford the amusement
control in Topeka for opera house at
fractions.
The Grand opera. house could be put
into excellent order by the expenditure
of a thousand dollars, and could be
put in fair order for a great deal less
money. A few planks in the entrance
platform and a little carpenter work
would fix that. There are some win
dow lights out and it is understood
there are a few broken seats new
boiler was put in some time ago. A
little soap and water would almost do
the rest and give Topeka an opera
house that people could patronize
without fear and permit their children /
to attend without constant alarm.
In regard to prices, a few instances
covering shows that are booked for /
appearance at the Crawford opera |
house in this city within the next few
days are sufficient to show the manner
IN which the amusement public is |
treated.
''Wedded But No Wife" is booked
Tor the Crawford tomorrow night. |
The prices asked are 25, SO and rs /
cents, while the same attraction is |
playing tonight at the ellis theater in
cents, the latter the highest priced
ticket.
For williams and Walker. who will
appear at the Crawford next Tuesday
night, the Topeka people are asked
to pay $3.50 for every seat on the
lower floor, and the lowest priced seat
in the top gallery is so cents This
same attraction played in Topeka two
years ago at prices running from 25
cents to 81, and is right now playing
at the Grand opera house in Kansas
city at 25, so, rs and 81, the latter
being the highest price asked At St
Joseph this company plays on sunday
night for 81 for best seats.
For york State Folks" which will
he in Topeka at the Crawford next
-raeIx the best seats are priced at
$50 The same attraction played In
Tcpeka last year, its first season here,