The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-08-09
SoEItOQUY BY JULIUS HopP.
THEME. THE ONLY MUNICIPAL
THEATRE IN AMERICA.


but They Devote More Time to Sewer,
FIRE H0se and Biuest0ne Sidewalks.
When the Fort Lee Borough Council met
for It's bi-weekly meeting last night In a
room just Of the bar OF Sohlosser's saloon
two important questions Of state confronted
Mayor Dan MoAvoy and the Ave Council
men present-the building Of q In
Main street and the consideration Of Julius
Hopp's proposition to have Fort Lee estab-
lish the first municipal theatre In America.
Mr.. Hopp, It will be remembered, Is the
apostle Of the Theatre Of Labor and 1t was
he who promoted the Progressive Stage
Society while II Ia sted. All summer he has
been producing drama In the raw-labor
drama, for, Of and by the union and with
strong Socialistio tendencies-on an open
afr stage at Schule's Beer Garden, Fort Lee.
He said last night that 90 far the treasury
hasn't any money, because whenever Sl2
or o1b was taken In at the door 1t had to be
divided among the actors. He gave the
borough fathers to understand last night.
however, that II they establish a municipal
theatre on top Of the Palisades and let him
manage Il he will permit the borough to
have the profits.
Art personifisd by Mr.. Hopp painted i'm
patiently In o corner Of the meeting room
last night while the new sewer got the right
Of way. After a long discussion the sewer
question was practically where 1t started
and was laid over until the next meeting.
Mr.. Hopp had It all framed up to advance
to the spotlight and talk art, but again
aesthetics were delayed while the borough
clerk announced that the next question be-
fore the house was whether or not to use
biuestone on the proposed new sidewalk
that just now has all Fort Lee agog.
When the question Of bluestone had been
settled by also laying II on the table to give
everybody a chance to give the matter
more serious study, a lanky Philistine
rose to ask why Madison avenue wasn't
sprinkled this week. Following this the
committee appointed at the last meeting
to 60 out and sec II there was anything IN
the complaint that there was a pool Of dirty
water on lower Main street turned In a long
report to the effect that Councilmen Bill
Wood and Pete Celia had personally visited
t he spot and found there was nothing to
It,. The water, they said, was perfectly
clear.
Julius Hopp sighed soggily when the
oouncilmen next took up the question as
to whether It would be better to have the
old fire hose sent down TO New York to be
patched or to go the limit by buying a new
hose. Then he walked out on the porch and
wiped his brow.
THE drama waiting for sewers, and
hosesesl' he complained. Il Offer this beau
tiful place my services as manager OF q
municipal theatre 30 that / the time will
work like Goethe did when he was like me-:
Have you heard of my new play, The Friend
Of Labor? Once a committee Of the Gas
Filters Union came to me In New York,
and while I looked at them l got the in
SEPARATION.
New York, but he said he couldn't put 1t on
because there are only sixty-eight pages to
It. But on the other hand, the people who
have read II say it is too long. Always
somebody is finding fault. Maybe 1t never
Yesterday I g. a letter from UPtaI'
had the letter here I show you what he say
that he hasn't time o to read It because
they s,,, o are making T Issd i; q - the g 5 aerSlsn q P ptay NIKE s ID
she said 1t was the most curious play she
ever read. Some day maybe l get a big
theatre for 1t in New York and have big
delegations from the Gas Filters Union
supes-playing the Democrat parades In
one act and the Republican parade In the
other"
BY this time the councilmen within had
nn1Bl60 q DrOtraCUeO OlHCubslOH dB 10
whether a wall on Hudson Terrace stuck
out over the street line or not, and II 30,
what of It. Mr.. Hopp fastened then to
tell Of his scheme. He explained to Mayor
Dan McA voy that what Fort Lee needs is
art, and that II they would appoint a om-
mittee Of five to overlook things he would
let the town divide the money.
aTheYBorough Council will consider the
matter" said Mayor a briefly, just as
Julius was gathering breath for further
Grating. Then the Council got back to
the sewer again.
Outside the barroom Julius said he was
more than pleased with the reception Of his
life's dream by the Council.
'The Fort Lee boys now distribute my
handbills free all over the surrounding
country In two hours" he said. with what
q auiokness will they do the work now
that they know that every one has a share In
the beautiful theatre. And how the great
actors will flock to me to act In the plays
lust for the honor of appearing In the only
municipal theatre In Americal'.
Just where the only municipal theatre
In America is to be situated and when
Il will be started probably will not be taken
up by the borough statesmen until the eve
is out OF the way. Besides there's the hose
question to be disposed Of, not to mention
the b~luestone sidewalk. But Mr.. Hopp
says he does not pine for another Hippo
drome building, because he would rather
nave a vacant lot theatre, when all things