The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-25

has developed in Washington against
his scheme of presenting Mrs. Leslie
Carter in that city in an improvised
theater in Convention Hall. The build
ing laws have been invoked, as already
made known in the press dispatches,
to prevent the opening of the hall for
theatrical purposes, and last night Mr..
Belasco observed, with some grimness,
that if necessary he would produce the
new play without making any charge
for admission, thereby rendering the
law imperative, as it applies only to
places of entertainment where an en-
trance fee is exacted. If this step is
found unavoidable at the last moment
it will be a costly affair for Belasco,
but it will give him the satisfaction
of knowing that he has not been
thwarted in his plan to invariably give
Mrs. Carter her first appearance in a
new play at the national capital. Mr.
Belasco takes it for granted that the
influences behind the appeal to the
Washington building ordinance are
centered in the offices of the theatre
cal syndicate, with which institution,
as everybody knows, he is at deadly
odds. But he is inclined to view the
situation philosophically and with in
creasing determination to win out"
All appearances indicate that New
Years Eve will be the biggest theatre
cal occasion in New York in a number
of years. For the past two weeks it
has been utterly impossible to secure
seat for the night in question at any
one of the metropolitan play houses
showing that all persons who conclude
I'm the interval that they wish stage
amusement as a part of their New
Years festivities will have to be con-
tent with standing room or no room
at all. The growth of New Years as
a time for the expression of universal
rejoicing has been very rapid in the
past few seasons. There was a period
when 1t was not observed to any ex-
tent in New York. but that time has
certainly gone out of existence.
The advance sale for Maude Adams
revival of THE Little Minister" at the
Empire Theater indicates not alone
that she will have a rousing reception
next Monday. but that the engagement
will be attended with extraordinary
success. The house is practically sold
out for several weeks. showing. among
other things. that this particular star
is now materially affected in the pub
lie esteem by the play in which she
appears.
Thompson e. Dundys New York Hip
podrome nears completion on the Sixth
avenue block, between Forty-third and
Forty-fourth streets, and the opening
Is definitely set for the latter part OF
January. The structure will be the
largest playhouse In the world the
FIRST amusement enterprise OF It's char
acter IN the United States. and an i'm
proyement In construction. equipment
and conduct over the hippodromea u
London, Paris and Berlin. More than
5000 persons viii ma accommodation
IN its eapacious body and the best or
chestrn seats VIII cost only 81. Two
performances will be given daily. and
the popular confidently precDncelvsd
idsn that solely winter Indoor cir
Gus D. planned viii be- rudeiy shat
tered. There viii be- circus the best
arts lu this country o. abroad Th0mp-
son a DundY insist buf blended With
~ viii b. spectacular. dramatic. go0-
logic. pnnf0mimir, musical comedy and
aquatic fnforfHiumeut Pretty FIriH al
costly costumes designed bY ~ a.
frrH1 I4fI ~ Nar'f. heroes Villains
aua fatuufe Broadway principals nili