Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-10-18
PUBLIC APPROVAL TRAvLES WITH SHOW
What Might Have nappeaed if "FIoro-
DORA Had Been Failure Instead.
of the Success Which it
Has Proved.

Has anybody ever stopped to think
what might have happened if ''Floro-
dora" had been failure instead of
tie big success which it has proved?
The subject is one that is most prolific
in suggesting what would not" have
happened if this tuneful creation of
Owen Hall and Leslie Stuart had its
obituary written at the'age that is
ordinarily allotted musical comedy.
Among the few things that "would
not' have become vogue is the
haunting melody of Leslie Stuart's
music. which has been hummed and
whistled, played nv orchestras. street
pianos, MCKEE in the-slot .machines
and every other known device for pro-
ducing harmony for the past three
wears. If :Florodora' had failed there
never would have been the 9. S67
'original" sextette girls who are at
present scattered over the country. and
consequently there would have been
some several hundred millionaires who
would not have married into the pro-
fession.
Wall Street. and other avenues where
stock speculation obtains, would not
have been depleted of It's millions by
UiTSC ooAAO mdtutuS hOA
would there have been ANYTHING like
the number of diamonds and automo-
biles sent to the Casino theatre that
were duly reported by the press agent
during the seventeen months of
Florodora's" run at that house. The
actress who played Lady Hollywood
would not have had the opportunity
OF buying up the matinee for a
fabulous sum, closing the theatre and
inviting the entire company to be her
guests at the running of the Brooklyn
handicap, nor would the stage door
Johnny" have been crowded out of
existence by the financial heads of
Gotham's principal institutions.
Another thing that would have
proved huge loss would have been
the falling off In numbers in the
European travel, for be it known that
few months in the sextette is quite
enough to cause hankering for the
"other side" which nothing short of
few months to year abroad can
crafty. 1t is likewise doubtful if
Fisher and Ryley who produced
Florodora" in this country, would
have become millionaires in the short
time they did if Florodora' failed
and they endeavored to make their
fortunes out of another musical play.
The "show girl'' who mas become
of quite as much Importance in
musical comedy as the prima donna.
might never have been discovered
if the Florodora" manager had not
tabooed tights and put their girls in
gowns, that made the toilets of society
women. at exclusive gatherings look
cheap in comparison. 1t is a fact that
the Florodora" sextette was re-
sponsible for the advent Of the 'show
girl". who has little to do but wear
expensive gowns and worry the mana
gers with her disregard for the rules
necessary to preserve discipline.
| Prior to the appearance sof the
deliberately gowned pretty maidens''
all of the expensive wardrobes in a
musical comedy or comic opera com
pany belonged to the prima donna,
but in the past three years this has
been changed. and in manv produc-
tions the leading lady is forced to
play a part and it calls for only very
modest gowning, while the "show
girl" is made radiant by the most
recent creations of Worth.
Columns might be written on the
revolution which "Florodora'' has
brought about, but it is enough to say
that the tuneful. beautifully mounted
and engaging play has wrought no
change which has not served to elevate
the tone of musical comedy. causing
the producers of this class of entertain
ment to recognize that the old style
Of tights and vulgarity never had
the fascination for play.goers that
attractions in which melody and
cleanliness are the chief ingredients
possessed.
This great production will be seen
at the Grand Nov. 9Th.