Omaha daily bee., 1906-08-26


I'M summer presents an anomalous
condition, but u doesn't seem 70
Ilt Tease the theatrical man. He
VR1t4 smiles amid the beady sweat and
insists that now IL the accepted
time. OF course, he had TO make his dates
away ahead and there was really no way
OF telling last June just how hot II would
be at this time in August. II was not
expected that the frost would have tinged
tho grass with brown. OF have turned the
leaves, but It was not anticipated that the
weather man would have pulled the hot
plug out 20 its limit and then have gone
away and forgotten Il. But Omaha IL not
unique in this condition. Theaters all
over the country have been opening during
the last fortnight, and each has expert
enced the sams extremely warm weather
etrangest Of ell, the business has been such
as justified the managerial enterprise.
From all over come the stories Of crowded
houses and Of much enthusiasm. This II
what gives the cue TO the boz ONCE and
~ long a. the people will 60 to see the
show tho theater will be kept open. even
II II takes one 70 the extreme reached
In Chicago this season. where tho houses
ran right through the summer without any
interrnission on account Of the heated term.
Three Of the local theaters are now under
full sail for the coming season. AID the
other two win go into commission very
coon. The opening for the Orpheum IL Get
for Septenber 4 while that Of the Boyd IL
tribe vague. The work Of repair and
renovation has not progressed as rapidly
O. was expected. ana Manager Burgess II
q little ohsry about announcing the open
ing date or attraction Several companies
have asked for time early In September, but
no exact time for the FIRST play Of the
season 10 yet nxed. Something definite may
be known during the week. Since his re-
turn from Europe Mr.. Burgess has been
very busy getting AFFAIRS at Omaha ana
Sioux City In readiness for the coming sea-
son. His list Of bookings for the Boyd
are Of the best, and promise much more in
the way Of genuine attractions than have
been seen here for several seasons. The
Krus started of to capacity business, al
though the weather conditions were such
as would seem to preclude anyone's going
TO the theatsr. The Burwood made a
good start, and the Bijou has held its own
so far. ''Business enough for ALL" Is the
expression OF the managers.
The xeneral outlook for the season 10
good. II IL one OF the best evidences OF
the continued prosperity Of the country
that the people are turning with apparent
eakerness to the theater again. Base ball
and other outdoor amusements are still at
the very zenith Of their attractiveness, and
are drawing great crowds, but the demand
for more amusement is such as shows how
eager the people are for advertisement.
Although the week was one OF excessive
heat, the days being torrid and the nights
Oppressive, the attendance at the KruS
ana the Bijou was big and the advance sale
for the opening at the Burwood was the
heaviest recorded at that house, being
even greater than at the opening last fall.
This means that the public has money and
is willing to spend It at the theaters.
%
william A. Brady has made an announce
ment that will DO more to bring him fame
than anything he has yet undertaken, II
II be carried out in the spirit in which II
Is conceived. He proposes to give series
of authors matinees at his New York
theater, AS soon as Grace George is well
started on her seasons run. Mr.. Brady In
tends to give new play by a new author
on each Thursday afternoon. with special
cast and all scenery needed for a salts
factory production. This will AFFORD a
splendid opportunity for making actual
working tests OF the merits Of the plays
offered, and ought to determine the value
Of them for acting purposes. II 10 well
still prove comparatively useless for acting
purposes. Also. a play may act WELL and
still lack the essential but undetermined
elements OF success. BY Mr.. Brady's plar
the test will be made in such a way as &C
indicate IL the play experimental with hal
any element OF success. This ought to b'
the means Of discovering a number of new
plays, a thing that would be very desirable
right now. when almost every star is look
ing about for a suitable vehicle. At any
rate. II will satisfy a number Of aspiring
authors. who are now despairtng OF evei
getting q chance.
Even the most astute manager canno
tell In advance II the play he is spending
his money on will succeed. Most OF then
can give a good guess to the nterar!
merits and histrionic possibilities OF tn
play while in It's manuscript form. bu
after this they must walt for the verdio
Of the public That they have been laugh
caution is shown by the fact that the suo
eeas of last season. The Lion and tn
Mouse" was turned down by four differen
managers, each presumed to be wise AM
ostute In the matter Of selecting plays 10
production. The NTH manager took II o,
q venture. and the result Is that two com
panies have been engaged continually II
its presentation since the FIRST week Of It
production. and four companies are To b
seen In II during the coming season. Thi
instance oan be multiplied many times
On the other hand. many plays that prom
ised well have been staged with lavish
ness only TO fail missrabiy. A notable in
stance OF this was the Kiaw & Eriange
production OF last season, THE Prince c
india. which was put on at Chicago on
magnificent scale. with . splendid actin
company only to score q failure to IN
extent that Il IL 70 be sent on the roa
this season with an inferior company
the hope OF partially recouping the los
OF last season. The Brady experiment wi
DO much to remove this uncertainty II
can stand the test o. the special perform
anoe. Il may have q chance of comm
through the nrS OF general production.