The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-02-21
New York's Popular Movement
for Education.
HIGH ENTERTAINMENT CHEAP
High Entertainment, Cheap Religious,
Political, intellectual Progress Among
the Poorer Glasses On a Basis Of
Least Cost to All Concerned,

NEW YORK, February ., l907.-So-
cial evolution in the shape OF dramat-
ic entertainment at popular prices, or,
in other words, the education and ele-
walton OF the masses by means OF the
theatre, is the purpose of movement
now well established in this city and
soon, ii is planned, TO b. introduced in
a general way throughout the country
through local committees working
in unison with the central committees
here.
Thus far in this city, the idea has
been extraordinarily successful. and
the theatre managers. on the whole,
nave welcomed ii no less vnthusias-
tically than the people who heretofore,
for want of capital to invest in first
class snow, have been obliged to stay
at home Or else to indulge in the du-
bious delights Of Queen OF China
town" King Of the Moonshiners,"
and other East Side apologies for a
play
Actually the movement has re-
vealed popular passion for Shakes
peare. The proof Of this lies in the
fact that the most successful period
so far was the week, not long ago, du-
ring which Robert Mantell appeared in
Shakesperian roles at one Of the local
theatres. No less than $500 tickets
We're sold through the dramatis
partment of the Peoples Institute,
which is the organization behind the
movement, and 1,eo0 of these tickets
were for the last night alone
1t used to be said Of New York the
atres that they would close their doors
but for the pleasure-loving Hebrews.
Such a condition no longer exists. AS
a matter of fact the managing iirec-
tor of the Peoples Institute, Charles
Sprague Smith, is of the opinion that
the1tre offering Il clean entertain
ment at popular prices cannot nave
too many seats. More surprising
things than a popular passion for the
classic drama have developed. Only
the other night. lat the rooms Of the
Peoples Institute Club 4, in the heart
Of the East Side, Mr.. Smith, who was
formerly professor of modern Ian
guages at Columbia University, found
an audience made up chiefly Of work
ing girls eager 10 near him discuss the
question whether Homer was a man or
a myth and whether the Minoan Thai
assocracy really did much f.
1t was furthermore, through cooper
alton with the Peoples Institute that
symphony concerts at 25 cents a sea-
son tIcket-at the rate of four and
one-sixth cents a concert-have been
offered to people who, except when at
church, had, perhaps never heard any
thing but barrel organ or a German
band. If the Institute had house
or auditorium Of its own, with 1000
seats, the place would be filled every
Sunday night, in Mr.. Smiths opinion.
Last year this popular theatre move
ment, drew 10000 people, mo
whom had never been inside a Broad
way playhouse before, to see Maud
Adams in Peter Pam and at present
it is drawing hundreds Of East Siders
nightly to one of the new American
dramas. In two weeks, recently, it
caused the sale of $500 seats at the
theatre where for two weeks George
Bernard Shaw's satirical Caesar and
Cleopatra was being performed; it
sent 5000 people in seven weeks to see
the drama made out Of Lew Wallace's
prince of India" 1000 more in two
weeks to see a revival of Shakespeares
rareaH performed "Cymbelirie," and
PEOPLES INSTITUTE =. .. ........
1000 in the course Of eight days to see
a presentation of Midsummer Nights
Dream" The same movement lately
afforded some 600 high school pupils
an opportunity to attend matinee per-
formances Of Browning's "Pippa Pass
es." This new movement, in some in
stances, has actually been responsible
for the success Of a. play.
In all but the theatres that cater es-
pecially to the social wnirlers, the
Peoples Institute element is becoming