The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-13
THEATERS AND THEIR PRICES.
Timely Remarks On a Situation That
Exists in Every Town.
Washington Post.

Washington Post.
The Posts dramatic department. on Sum
day last, contained some very sensible and
timely comments on the spectacle, much
too common in Washington, OF actors and
actresses who, choosing TO assume that
they are persons OF special professional
merit, practically compel the local mana
gers to raise the regular price Of admission.
We do not propose to deny the claim
that some actors and some plays are bet
ter than others. We are quite willing TO
admit, in fact, that the inferiority OF GER
tain theatrical companies q so great as
to be painful. Mr.. Sothern. for example.
is a far better actor than the Count
Johannes ever was, and we could name
quite number OF alleged artists who
not nearly as attractive and amusing as
Mr.. John Drew. This, however. is not
the real question, The price OF admission
is feature Of the theater itself II IS
like the decorations. the comforts. the up
holstery. There are cheap theaters and
there are expensive theaters At place
the ticket comes high. and at another for
obvious reasons. they are within the reach
OF the humbeSt citizen. But why should
the frst-classs playhouse, which has
adopted its tariff with the approval OF it's
patrons, and by standard OF obvious jus
tice and propriety, Increase its known
prices every time some troupe comes along
with a more or less warranted conviction
of its superiority 10 the troupe OF the week
ton. with a fixed clientele and secure
patronage based upon mutual understand
Ing and long-established custom. IL owes
much more to it's friends and customers
than it does to any actor, however preten-
tious or conceited. There is a tacit COM
pact between the management and the pub
lie. Why depart from settled practice
at the instance OF the third party-the least
important party TO the arrangement?
The Washington playhouses are not pala-
tial resorts upon which vast amounts OF
money have been expended. They are thor
oughly comfort able. they suit the commu-
nifty. and each has its MISUNDERSTOOD
tariff. Is there any reason why the ac-
cepted adjustment should be disloaated
because Brown thinks he is a better actor
than Jones? Would ii not be Infinitely
preferable to pass Brown on. IL the theater
and it's reguIa lions do not please hffn2 There
ARE Joneses innumerable who can be had
at the regular rates and who. In all prob
ability will entertain their audiences quite
as well as Brown. or course, we realize the
fact that certain phenomenal artists visit
Washington for time. and that. because OF
their transcendent accomplishments and
the undoubted superiority OF the attractions
they present. are warranted in demanding
a departure from the established rule These
are not numerous enough, however, TO
make such departures so frequent as TO af-
I'm the theatrical world are so well defined
as TO make controversy superfiuOus. The
fact remains that nineteen out of every
twenty present a dead level of merit. and
that for any one OF them 70 claim special
favor Is to offer an impertinence which our
local managers should rebulxe in no uncer-
tain terms.
After all, It Is the patronage that counts
at the box offlce-not the effrontry OF the
individual actors