New-York tribune., 1908-01-19
AS TO THEATRES.

Much Is promised from time to time reIativs 10
a fine theatre In New York in which while the
business department IS conducted with commercial
discretion the artistic purpose will dominate Not
much has been accomplished toward fulfIment
OF that promise. Perhaps the golden age will ar
rive when the New Theatre" becomes establIshaA
Rumor, at time proclaimed that Mrs Fisks
was to occupy e fine new theatre. under the man
agement OF Mr.. Harrison Grey Ffske and -srself
The announcement made In yesterdays Trbune
Of the alliance between Mr.. Belasco and Mr. Fisks
indicates the passing OF that prospect. Last year
announcement made that handsoms new
theatre. bearing the name OF the great tragedian.
'"The Booth" TO be built and, under
agsment Of E. H. Sothern would be devoted. large
~ on the part OF Mr.. sothern and Miss MarIowe.
to the best plays and the art of acting That. Ike
many other rosy theatrical projects. has proved
to be such stuff dreams are made Of" The
name. certainly. proptiOus- Edwin Booth es-
tablished great theatre and, though custOmarly
mentioned a failure, it was, in artistic mat
fers. really success: the collapse resulted from
adverse influences affecting the business manage
ment Perhaps, at this time. when business
dominates and acting meekly plays second hddle.'
certain views OF that great actor and noble gen
tieman. Edwin Booth, respecting his Art and his
Theatre. may not be without interest.
Booths Theatre was managed by him for over
four years. and almost everything that present
ed upon its stage accepted and sustained by
the public The profits of the house. during
its first year. $4,000; during it's second year
SIS. 900; during its third year, $4,000 A mortgage
OF 100000 was lifted The floating debt
duced from S66.Oo0 to $4,000 The decline in
ceipts due to a natural subsidence Of public
curiosity with reference to a novel enterprise
Booth retired from management in June, 1873. be-
cause he had grown weary. and because his health.
equally OF body and OS mind. was suffering under
the strain of care. Booth thereafter received in
come, from rents OF the Theatre, at the annual
rate Of $4,000 Long after his theatre was closed,
when he IN England in 1850. he wrote TO the
undersigned:
1T see that a Rev Mr. Somebody has been abus-
ing actors etc, and refers. IS frequently done
by such persons to the failure Of Booths and my
letter to The Christian Union When occasion
again offers, I wish you would set them right.
by stating positively that Booths failure was
owing solely to his ignorance OF finance. and not
on account OF his moral theatre-which was
success, but for the financial mismanage1aent-
Also that my letter was not directed against tne
theatre, but against a certain class OF managers
and plays Several times these illusions have been
made in support Of their false doctrines II the
theatre had cost but q couple Of hundred thou
sand instead Of over million it never would
have changed hands"
F2ooth's letter 10 .'The Christian Uuion' TO which
he refers was written in reply to request for
an article on the drama, and was published n the
Christmas number OF that paper 1t furnishes a
suggestion that both scribbling actors and news
papers that publish their scriooLnS' might pOnlsf
to advantage.
Dear sr:-On my arrival here I found your
favor Of the 1st inst. but have been prevented
from answering it until to-day
Having no literary ability whatever, I must
decline your fattering invitation; nor do 1 know
how to aid the worthy cause you advocate Could
I do So be assured it should Be freely done.
My knowledge OF the modern drama IS so very
meagre that 1 never permit my wife or daughter
10 witness a play without previously ascertainins
its character. This is the method I pursue can
suggest no other; unless il might be by means or
a dramatic censor,'-whose taste or Judgment
might however. be frequently at fault
IF the management Of theatres could be denied
to SPECTATORS and placed in the hands OF actors
who value their reputation and respect their call
Ing the stage would least afford healthy recTea-
ton il not. indeed. a wholesome stimulus 70 the
exercise Of noble sentiments But while the theatre
IS permitted 10 be a shop for gain,-ouen 70
every huckster Of immoral gimcracks,-there Is M
other way to discriminate between the pure ar-
the base than through the experience OF others.
your truly EDWIN BOOTH
December 1S7s.''
In the days OF his management Of the Winter
Garden Booth received a letter from a clergy
man. saying that he wished TO see the actor IN
Richelieu and other characters. ard would Ike. If
possible 10 be admitted by a side rear door
as he preferred risk Of being seen hy
any of his parishioners. entering at the front To
that communication Booth replied. in these words:
There is no door IN my theatre through which
God cannot see." In those words Booth. deeply
religious man. indicated his feeling toward tie
Theatre. w 81