The Pensacola journal., 1906-05-20

panies were not assured Of paying bus
mess. and, being under capitalized,
they were wrecked or stranded on the
road. much distress being thus oc-
casioned.
How the Syndicate Grew.
The syndicate was the necessary
outcome of the existing cOnditions.
Men who could command the capital
recognized that the supply had to be
made to conform more nearly to the
Cemand; and that if the business was
10 be made successful it had to be
safeguarded. The stage had greatly
deteriorated and something had to be
done to improve its conditions. A
combination was formed by the owners
Of theatres in much the same way as
combinations have been forced IN
ether lines of business. The theatre
owners entered into agreements, put
ting their houses into the hands Of cen
trally located managers and engaging
these managers to route the cOmpa-
nies for the circuits thus created
There were a number of circuits, and
also a number of central bureaus, but,
in general, the circuits were treated as
one the object being to appOrtion the
companies so that no one ciucu1t
should be overcrowded, yet each cir
cult to obtain a certain number OF
what was technically called "attrac'
tons"
This arrangement had immediate ef
feet in raising the standard of stage
performances, A company being as
Eured of a series Of paying audiences
lasting through a season, its owner
could reasonably make the investment
iecessary to put il on the road in frsl
! class shape. Consequently, small
cities, located at great distances from
the metropolis. were offered many per
fOrmances that in stage setting, cos
tunes. class of performers, ETC., closely
followed the style of the original per
fcrmances in the metropolis.
The sufferers by this system were
the small, poorly equipped companies
They were barred because they could
not expect to meet the demand of the
public. and their earnings would no.
cover the great cost of travelling the
long distances, For a considerable
1eriod the syndicate plan worked very
well; until, in fact, the profits of the
syndicates became so large as to at
tract more capital into the theatrical
business. Thus came competing syn
dicates, and the establishment Of rival
circuits over all Of the more profitable
territory.
A Change Impending.
We seem now to have reached a
point where another change is impend.
ing. The older syndicate men see oI
fear that the field is becoming over
supplied again. There is nothing for
il. but to give the rivals a fight for the
possession fol. the cream of the busi
ness: ana this we take It is what the
rev combination with immense CAPT
tai, means. These managers will at
tempt to hold control Of the best
houses. and best companies, and pre-
sent only the best attractions in the
best manner. One need not speculate
as to the result with respect to the
managers, but as to the public, it can
not fail to receive a benefit. Mr.. Albee
expresses the managerial view of the
situation clearly, saying:
This is a matter which managers
have been discussing among them
selves at intervals Of years. 1t has
simply assumed definite shape now
We do not intend to wage war on any.
body, but we do Intend to protect our
selves. There is no reason why the
combination should not prove valuable
to all owners Of theatres and all in