Los Angeles herald., 1905-01-06
SMOKING IN IHEATERs
The Prediction Of London Playhouse
Owner
From Jlhe london MAI.

From Tho London Mall
Are we 20 permit smoking In our
theaters?" is a question at present en-
gagins the serious attention Of proprie-
tors and managers. Playgoers or the
old school stand aghast at the mere
suggestion, but the portents are that
the old order is changing, giving place
TO the new, and that before long the
lord chamberlain's restrictions anent
smoking IN the auditorium will be re-
moved and the same facilities afforded
the theater-goer as are accorded the
habitue Of the music hall.
A well known London theoter pro-
prietor was emphatic upon this point
when seen recently by a representative
Of the News
Smoking in theaters is bound to
come; we can no more prevent it than
we could the advent Of the railway
train or the coming Of the motor car.
And why? Look on all sides and see
what is happening. Take the Palace
Theater of Varieties; where will you
find better class of audience? Yet
smoking Is permitted. Then In the
suburbs, what is going on In Chaplain.
In BALKAN, in Noting Hill or at Cam
berwell? Splendid modern theaters
were erected at each OF these places
and did we'll until q music hall started
in the neighborhood. Then what hap
pened?
"The music halls took the business
and the theaters were either converted
into variety halls themselves or are
making a bare living. The prohibition
against smoking in theaters is absurd
and the rule was never meant to op-
crate as at present. It was originally
framed 200 years ago, when the condi-
lions of play-acting were very different
from what they are now. 1t simply re-
mains in operation because successive
lord chamberlains have not deemed 1t
worthy of consideration; In a word,
have neglected to keep abreast of the
times"
But what of the county council?"
"The county council is a well-mean-
ing body, but In this case 1t has simply
lifted the lord chamberlains regula-
tions and added about fifty more"
Don't you think you will offend that
large section of the public who object
to tobacco in any shape or form?"
mo, think not. Who is to object2
The woman? Not at all. She will be
happy to think that her husband or
sweetheart is happy, and what better
happiness than that? No, what we as
a nation are suffering from is an in
nate conservatism, sort of uncon-
scious hostility to anything new. In a
few years we shall be wondering how
we tolerated a non-smoking theater at
all You see IL is really a question of
the greatest good to the greatest num-
Der, and the theater being a CONNER
cial undertaking, the manager has to
consult this before anything,
THE pace Is too swift, the competi-
tion too strong, and we must strain
every nerve to cater for the every
want OF the theater-goer, even to am
ticipate for him his requirements, for
he is the joy, the delight, the very
backbone of the theatrical manager,
the paying patron. Mind you, 1 don't
think every manager would permit
smoking In the auditorium even if the
restrictions were withdrawn. 1 do
not think ten out of the fifty theaters
in London would change; we only ask
that nothing shall be said in our
licenses about smoking. and that we
may be in a position to exercise our
| discretion in the matter.
Smoking in theater is not so novel
as a good many people think. Look
cessful high-cass provincial theaters
is in that town; there smoking is al
lowed. Then, again, there is Grims-
by 1t would be considered third
class theater town as judged by the
touring companies yet it is classed
! first, and why? Because there Is a
smoking theater. / don't think
would ever permit smoking, at any
rate in certain parts of my theaters
but, believe me, there is a strong un-
dercurrent of public opinion in its
favor, and sooner or later the restric-
tions will have to be removed"