Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-18
ReIasco Theater VIII Have a New
Leading Man-Actor and Stage
Manager Have Disagreement
About a Rehearsal

"A new matinee idol has been evolved
at the Belasco theater.
In a contest for the dictatorship of
the theater between George Barnum
and John Blackwood on the one side
and Joseph Galbraith on the other the
erstwhile leading man was padly
worsted, and now he of the blue eyes
and blonde hair will no longer delight
the heart of the impressionable matt
nee girl.
Manager Blackwood said last even
ing: ,a;s
nensable matinee idol. While we were
very sorry to have to get along with
out Mr.. Galbraith, when 1t comes 10
that, you know, we would sun nave
theater here on Main street If every
member of the cast should leave tomor-
row. ~
"This is the story of the lost hero
and the stern stage manager.
"On Monday evening after the per-
formance Galbraith went to Mr.. Bar
mum and protested against the way NE
(Barnum) disregarded his cues:
"Barnum admitted that he had not
heen letter perfect in his role, but pro-
ceeded to point out a few faulty scenes
of Galbraiths.
Mr.. Barnum lncensed
''Well, one word seems to have leo
on to another, and finally Barnum salo
that the play had not been given as II
was rehearsed and that he intended 10
call another rehearsal of The Dictator.
"'Well,' said Galbraith, you can call
it If you wish, but I shall not attend.
"Then Barnum told him that he
would attend if he was told to by the
stage director, which is Barnum. Cal
braith again refused to go TO the re-
hearsal. Then Barnum said:
"'In my capacity as stage director OF
this theater 1 notify you that there
will be a rehearsal of ''The Dictator"
at 10 o'clock in the morning.
"Then Galbraith said: Go to the
dickens This greatly incensed Mr'
Barnum and he called me.
"I decided to see if Galbraith was on
hand to rehearse this morning AT 10: :3u
he came and asked If it was time for
the rehearsal of The Pretty Sister OF
Jose,' which we will play next week
Barnum sent out word for him to come
in and rehearse The Dictator and Gal
braith refused to do so.
GaIbraith Is Released
'VThen there was just one thing for
me to do and that was to release Gal
braith. which | did. Discipline must
be maintained in theater as well as
In an army, and If l allowed the actors
to run things this house would close
in about week.
"As soon as L notified Galbralth thai
his connection with the Belasco
stock company was ended / told Bar
mum that he would have to take the
part of Brook Travers, which Is the
leading one in The Dictator He had
from in the afternon until time for
the performance and at that he was
almost letter perfect in the part to-
night. -,
Next week Mr.. De Grasse will be
given the leading part in the Pretty
Sister of jose and in a few weeks
White Whttlesey will be here for the
summer season, and in the fall we
will have a new leading man and a
new matinee idol.
"Galbraiths contract had only to run
until June 1 anyway. 1t Is a sad mis-
take for any one in any position to inn
agine that he is Indispensable"
MIR. Galbraith's Version
Mr. Galbraith declined to discuss his
troubles with the Belasco management
but from friends remarks 1t is evident
that Mr.. Galbraith feels the contro-
versy is one between him and Mr.. Bar
mum and it has been thus for some time
1t appears that the leading man and
the stage director have had a series OF
misunderstanding of which the most
recent incident seems to be the culmina-
ton. They differed on methods and out
of this grew friction.
"Mr. Galbraith has wanted resi-
badly anyway" said friend, "and
he would have soon retired whether d
clash came or not"