New-York tribune., 1908-01-12
MR.. KEITH'S ANNIVERSARY.

Last Wednesday, at the Keith & Proctor the
aires. the twenty-fifth anniversary of the begin
ming Of Mr. B. +. Keiths career as manager
CIauuary s. 1889. observed by informal recep-
tions The Keith & Proctor theatres were dec
GRATED in honor of the occasion and much con-
graduation offered.
Mr. Keith's career while not exceptionally novel
in accomplishment. provides interesting in
stance Of the success frequently gained in almost
every walk of life in this country by incessant
Iaborious determined industry. The assurance Is
often given that the existing control of theatrical
affairs is entirely benefcent. 1t would be instruct
i've 10 learn whether anybody familiar with the
ac+r,aI conditions is sufficiently cTeduous 10 be
ueve that any person, by laborious industry and
shrevdnass could to-day enter any branch OF the
atrica1 enterprise even with considerable capital
and fndapendently conduct his business to success
The travesty reading of Hamlet might well be
adonted bv actors and managers who attempt u
develop along lines selected by themselves: There
is a destiny shapes our ends rough,-hew them
how will"
terfa-nfr Franklin Keith was born at HiIlsboro
bridge n H. about forty-ive years ago. He IS
of scotch French parentage, and. until he was
about eighteen he labored as a farm boy. Incl
dentallv receiving a common school education
Ills first venture manager is said to have been
the exhibition. January s. 1888 IN small bos-
tan store of "a midget weighing little more than
f7ur ounces. His attention directed TO
..-lle sho \ business by witnessing performance
+ Van Amburghs Circus. he obtained employ
,nerr and experience a circus Aand with
t3r1,ne1l.s Museum and Barnums and with cir
c,,sas managed by Forepaugh and by Bachelor
and Doris on July 5. 1883. Mr.. Keith, adapting
~ his own use old plan of practically contin-
mons performances, laid the foundation of the
rnresent day variety entertainments in this coun-
ny known as vaudeville" That plan it seems
rrobabIe was suggested to him by performances
=, tho old museums Many years ago, before
Mr. Keith arrived, continuous performances were
given at Barnums Museum, one in the morning
ONE in the afternoon and one at night The hu-
,noroIs Arterrus Ward, writing in the long eX-
.ir,,+ and forgotten Vanity Fair complimented
the actors on their activity: They are he said
..an Industrious, hard-wnrkfng class OF persons: /
roo4t then, every morning, their way to work
oarr,-ing their little tin dinner cans" There is at
nresent one capital actor before the pubic Gun
bappily in a play unworthy OF his fine taIehts)
1,bo Gained his first experience in that hard school
Mr. E NJ Holland. Mr.. Keith's application OF
the continuous plan however, was novel, and
though first put into practice on small stage 1t
was received with favor and rewarded with sue
es Mr. Keith was at that time part owner Of
IT, caiaty Mus6e in Boston, and financial
1if1c,,Ities then beset him. but the success
., his Variety plar enabled him, in 1886, to
Ieaea the Biiou Theatre in that city. After
that time leasing theatres and building
.hars Mr. Keith obtained control of various houses
uutu in 1905 besides two in Boston he was direct
t,s theatres In London and New York Philadelphia
f-4veland Providence. Portland, Ne and several
cities, all Of them deNottd 70 'ah"eN III IL
1906 he made a partnership with his chief opponent
{, the same field Mr. F. + Proctor. and formed the
Laitb < Proctor Amusement Company. The United
Rookiug Offices of America was SubSequtht5
s,rrnad with Messrs Keith Proctor as its head
That organization is sometimes called the Natde-
vile Trust Mr.. Keith's principal services 10 inc
community have been provide clean amusement
which does not. for the most part pretend 70 p-
anything else at comparatively low prices
.i.s In ,,pusnaIlv handsome. commodious theatres
and 70 exact from his employees polite ana con
sidarate treatment of the public. In dong IiaI he
| gained wealth aud influence To some observers /
! seems that Mr.. Keith holds the balance Oh pow
;, ,ba American Theatre. Ii IL pleased him TO open
| ,ba chain of theatres controlled by him and MI