The San Francisco call., 1906-06-03


we have. and that is vaudeville only
and long way TO go to get il. That
being the situation. IL is consoling to
remember thar vaudeville is coming
into very high estate. The improve
mont in that line OF public amusement
is believed TO be more rapid than in
any other form OF theatrical enterprise.
II emerged first from inferiority into
thorough resP-cta bility. and now it is
ambitious 70 rorge ahead into pre-
emipence.
Il already appears to be pre-eminent
as te the scale OF salaries paid. Some
OF the stars get paid immensely by the
minute, and they. only have TO work
a few minutes to earn that immense
wage. There was a time when vaude-
vile was used as a sort of training
school by aspirants who wished to
MT themselves for large career in the
legitimate or regular drama, but now
that process is reversed and often the
graduation is up into vaudeville from
the dramatic stage. and thereupon the
actors play TO bigger crowds for bigger
pay.
William Morris, the vaudeville mag
nate, says that vaudeville is in its in
fancy, and mo combination: of interests,
alliance Of managers or syn[icating by
syndicates can stop its growth"
Il is in no uncertain voice that the
vaudeville magnate of the metropolis
prophesies fine future for the swiftly
changing variety Of programme plan.
And our own popular theatrical mana
ger VIII /. Greenbaum, actually speaks
OF vaudeville as somewhat of a spirit
ualizing force. It will perform some
thing like what the preachers and the
phllanthrOpists call uplifting = the
masses The bright attractions of its
present day programmes call young
men from the enticements of pleasures
that are not improving and at which
they would probably spend their time
II respectable vaudeville were not so
bright beautiful and witty: Such play
house may even be credited with trans
forming toughs. MIR. Greenbaum can
cite city history TO prove his theory
AS vaudeville comes more fully into
us high estate. then in the same ratio
the dives and dance halls with their
drink and their vulgar women sink
away into a lesser menace to society:
and so such pitfalls. prospering less.
are less frequent. Mr. Greenbaum
speaks Of the ancient history of the
city and Of the decay of such business
e as was represented by the old Adel-
phi and the Bella Union. Many of such
businesses might be fiourishing now if
d good class Of vaudeville did not shut
them from most of the field. Men must
nave entertainment of some kind and
II you furnish the first class at reach
&bie rates to the toilers most men will
take IL and leave the inferior severely
10 The few who viii persist in playing
with pitch So, inthis disaster period
while we have only vaudeville 10 60
10, let as make ,the best of il, and
prove by patronage that only the best
Is worth producing
Speaking OF William Morris brings.
sp the subject of the big vaudeville
syndicate which has planned TO control
frrf ka
the whole show" 1t is said thar the
plan viii shut William Morris out of a
great deal of business that would
otherwise be his. There was a rumor
IN the middle of the week that ar.
rangements for the big deal were all
maze and that IL had gone through.
according TO the reports from New
. o. X, when the syndicate was in close
prospect OF contamination, Mr.. Morris
was optimistic in spite of the business
OF booking that he would lose. He de-
termined TO remain independent of com
Dlnes and the only partner he was ever
q likely 10 take is his son. whom he is
trslAlng TO know the theatrical booking
business This syndicate at whose
neso are Keith and Proctor, will if Mr.
helth's deep-laid plans succeed have
authority TO book acts in all Western
Association. houses. embracing the or
pheum circuit the Kohl and Castle
son houses and all the numerous thea
ters allied with the Western Vaude1-i1Ia
association" The BILLBOARD of Gin
cinnau says that Keith even went eo
far as TO call Klaw and Erlaneer
p INTO an alleged conference which was
. 70 bind together. the vaudeville and
dramatic business controlled nv the.
conference " '
The theatrical people across the ba,v
seem 10 be doing very well notwith-
standing the days of disaster The
tSlshop and Greenbaum interests, with
lnelr He Liberty Theater and their
pIayhouse at Idora Park. are delight
ING people and doing good business
The play at Ye Liberty, Hearts of
tenhessee, written by Mr. Collins.
VINO is newspaper man, is pleasing
good audiences. What beautifnI
theater that is. To have seen >. NAV
IN II is TO have seen something abso
lutely unique, for there is onIv tbfs
one playhouse in America wherein ~
scenes are set up on a Whirlfsfp So
they can be Instantly shifted by one
man.
A curious thing about earthquakes
and theaters is that many people have
. not yet so far recovered their nerves
since the big temblor to enable them
10 feel comfortable in a crowded the
ater. Mr.. Bishop believes that one
hah OF his former patrons stay .awav
from the plays now because tbev are
timio about venturing within the the
ater walls OF course that tfn,idftv
VIII pass away in time and the sooner
II does so the better it will be for
the people, for good nerves make han
piness and prosperity and we shorId
have faith in our scientific men who
say the danger from more big ouabes
is not imminent
The friends OF Miss Irene Outtr;n,
who was playing at Ye Liberty. he
came nervous about her being out in
this earthquake country and tbev
called her home and she is now On
her way to Australia
Mr. Bishop, who has the big tent
Bernhardt played in, is contemplaffng
putting II up in San Francisco. where
he may run the outfit as a theater II
the prospects OF a big playhouse do
not seem good or do not pan ont we'll
he may transform the theater tent into
a place for a big skating rink Rut
just what class of plays he will ven
ture TO put on and just where he will
spread the tent are undecided. AS
for place he prefers a downtown site
and as for time he thinks he NAV nut
up the big canvas within thirty davs