The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-28
What the Milwaukee JOurna.
Has to Say.
CASE OF 0 L BRICKS
People No Longer Willing to
Take Them.
Nearly All Good Shows $50
ArOund'' Topeka.

theatergoers are coming to a reaItza-
ton of the fact that they have been
systematically ''gold-bricked' time after
time in the matter of theatrical amuse-
ment.
The current number of the New York
Dramatic Mirror contains the following
which is the reproduction of an editor
taI from the Milwaukee Journal togeth-
er with the comment of the editor of the
Dramatic Mirror, which paper is regard
ed as the highest authority OF things
theatrical:
Criticisms of the result of trust opera
tons in it's manipulation of the theaters
of the country continue in influential
here and there In almost
every city of note dissatisfaction has
been expressed this season as to the
class of attractions offered at high
rates.
There can be no doubt that these at
tacks on trust methods in reputable
reflect the feeling OF the
theater public, which at last is begin
MIN to resent abuses Of confidence. A
typical expression is this, from the Mil
Waukee Journal
trust operates, as pointed out by the
Journal at the beginning of the present
season, has been furnished Milwaukee
this week. At the trust theater IN TINS
city, the Davidson, a second-class com
pany has been furnishing an entertain
ment at hrst-class prices. This com
DdDV WAS as USUAL nCAaAAC4 ~ 1
trust through it's local representative as
being the best, and the public invited 10
pay hrst-class prices The trust e1actS
its pound of flesh and oleedS
for it.. In it's it imposes upon
US, and il seems we have no remedy,
no relief. It is not Milwaukee only Inc
same conditions prevail the
country, and they are rapidly bringing
about the decadence Of the theater. The
imposition upon the public which has
been perpetrated in Milwaukee this
week is reported here many times dur
ing the year and it is perpetrateo IN al
the large cities of the country. H1gh
prices are charged for lOW-claSS attrac-
tfons. and in the people are
victimized. But the remedy Is obvious
People should good offerings
and they should refuse to ~patronize IN
feriOr attractions which demand prices
that are high even for the best perform
ances. They should not be axe on
their guard because these exhibitions
are given at houses which claim to be
first class. Let them discriminate care
fully, discriminate all the time, anu
even the theater trust viii find that
It does not pay to- send poor attractions
on the road. And that trust, you may
be sure, Will not continue doing any
thing that does not pay II cares 1tOe
or nothing about art, but It has a deep
affection for the almighty dollar"
The Journal errs in the eoncluding
idea that the trust will
sending unworthy attractions when II
discovers that they do not pay II
sends the best it has. no doubt; and
the fact that lit cares little or nothing
about art is no truer than the relative
fact that it knows less about it.
h Journal says the
people should learn to discriminate
between the good and the inferior at
fractions which are booked TO the
theater even if the house is claimed
to be a first class house.
The experience of the season just
passing in Topek shows that the peo-
ple have been using discrimination.
1t is hard to determine which has had
the greater influence upon keeping
the attendance down, poor plays or
poor and unsafe facilities and build
ing.
Whether from one cause or the
other. the fact remains the same, the
attendance at the theatrical produc-
tons offered here this season has been
extremely unsatisfactory.
The capacity of the house has not
been tested at any attraction during
the past two months or more. Per-
haps the largest attendance Of the
season was at the performance Of
"Babes in Toyland' or The Wizard of
o." Other attractions have been
notable for the lack of attendance.
The Topeka situation is becoming
quite well known throughout theat-
rical circles.
No doubt if the theatergoing pub
~ ~ 49, C-~E
they have started, that of staying
away from the theater until the time
they think they get a dollars worth
for q dollar, and not a dollars worth
for a dollar and a half or an actual IS
cents worth, said to be worth a dol
lar and a half, marked down to a
dollar, they will eventually accom-
uash the needed reforms.
There are many of the really stand
ard high class attractions of known
worth, headed by actors of known
prestige who make several one night
stands in this vicinity every year. For
some reason. they are not brought to
Topeka It is of course a difficult
matter for anyone outside Of the bust
ness office of the theater to accurately
say why these shows are not brought
here. 1t may be one or more of a
dozen reasons. Tt may be that the
companies refuse to deal with the
Crawford management; it may be
that the players dislike to put up
with the dressing room c-onveniences
at the Crawford theater, and the con-
diticn of the theater itself, or it may
be that the Crawford management
isn't willing TO give UP a sufficient per
cent of the gross receipts to pay the
reason may be that the companies,
knowing that they have more scenery
than may be used on the Crawford
stage would rather not come than to
come and give their production to the
people and be required to cut out a
lot of the best parts.
Any one of those reasons may ex-
plain why we do not get the prOduc-
tons here, and they may not. Those
reasons do not explain. however, why
$3.50 is frequently charged for pro-
auctions in ToDeka which play in 9TH
er cities for 81.
The people do not forget that if a
show is given here for the same price
which is charged for it at other one
night stands, that frequently Topeka
does not get to see the entire produc-
ton