New-York tribune., 1909-12-19
THE PLAYG0ER
On Manufacturing and Her-
chandising an the Theatre.


;ng ruined by the building Of too many
theatres and the creation OF too many
stars" whereupon the Pittsburgers SEN
sihly kept their million in their pockets
Every little while somebody says what
Mr. Belasco said. Every month or two
during the winter a new and needless the
stre is opened somewhere. All managers
of any account seem TO agree. when they
ere interviewed. that there is glut OF
theatres. But behold how quickly the
leases are taken, Is il 70 be supposed
that Manager A doesn't want :he theatre,
but takes IL so that Manager cannot
sav hands on a.?
There are not actors enough nor drama
lists enough 10 supply the theatres with
good performances and good plays And
81 there were. tie public Is not big enough
- support all The enterprises. II is all
very well for the managers 10 join in Mr.
Belascos lsmentation over the decline or
at. but Il may be observed that II is al
WAYS in the enterprises Of some other man
thst art declines.
The managers. on their own confession,
have built ZIP a system Of destructive ten
6encies II NAV fatten the box office, hut
A. leaves art lean. FIOm the commercial
soint OF view their labors may be remark
Hble their organizations even wonderful
"A play is ordered. or accepted. and put
through all the phases Of preparation and
r,roducrion lust as the Pirrsburgers al
dressed BY Mr.. Belasco Ill orders for cleo
srical machinery in their srupendous work
shops. Through This department and that
the orders run. and IN due course the huge
variety OF parts is assembled. and the ma
chimes are shipped 10 some specified spot
OF the known globe The manufacturing
snd commercial organizations seem miracu-
aous 70 the lay mind There is no hitch
suywhere- The same condition prevails IN
the huge enterprises which multiply the
Rtres and weaken arr. The manufacturer
Of machinery Is called upon 10 consider not
art but engineering The manufacturers or
theatrical enterprise have a notion that by
suitating the electric works or the steel
mills or the Standard Oil model they can
accomplish a similar results. But they can
mot The engineering works improve their
products. the theatrical works are de-
xtructive OF dramatic art, even when they
ere making the most money
Commercially. the theatrical organlza-
,sions are remarkable affairs. Viewed as
rprEanizs tons for keeping the entertain
srnent mills in motion they are successful
achievements They ship their products
anywhere al the shortest notice and
charge the highest rates. Plays are never
lacking nor persons 10 perform IN them
But art. That is quite another matter.
rThe theatrical manufacturers haven't time
20 consider that The details Of vast en-
terprise take Up too much Of their time
During the present season one manager
has been reported as saying that ne can
not IND actors enough for I'll his plays
and MS projected companies Having built
large navy he finds II short in per
Eonnel Nor is he alone in this dilemma
Other managers urge like complaints.
And one Of them is reported as volunteer
ing 10 offer 81. 600 If each OF nine other
persons will contribute as much for the
endowment OF & chair Of dramatic writing
.n an American university Is he likely 10
BE called upon for his check
From whatever point Of view the condl-
ZION Of the theatrical mills is regarded the
observer beholds the chief operators ac-
knoUledging that there are not enough
GOOD plays and actors 10 90 around. Let
a critic say the same thing and add that
the present condition Of affairs tends 10 the
destrlction Of dramatic art and you shall
hear fhe managers make vigorous denial,
while they declare the objector TO be
-,erson without eyes or information
With the disputes among managers ana
.-ndtrates and the roaring but bloodless
battles fought by competing press agents
one is not al all concerned. nor Is the
.ubuc The public cares only for results
the plays and their performances The
-,,b5e interest is with actors and acting,
not with managers and managing But II
takes q lo.g time for the contestlns
rsrries 70 arrive al an appreciation OF that
6scn The ouarrels Of the managing world
sre Ike the ouarrels IN other branches OF
commerce There IS not z particle Of olt-
ference. The fights are commercial 1hey
have nothing 10 DO with dramatic art. ex-
cspttng 70 make Il suffer. But there Is
.his 70 be said: II the managers are con-
rtnced. as reports indicate, that there are
VOC many theatres in this country, scare
s-,- Of dranarists and skilled actors. and
a. slirfeit Of hslf-hedged stars who VIII
never act any better than they 90 now
.bs remedy Is in their own hands.
',here never was a time when art was
.erved al wholesale, and there never can
n. such a time. There is more IN indivld-
.sI initiative individual waJchfUlness, IN
5ividusl care for detail than the whole
rslers OF the stage are willing 10 acknowl-
edge. They know II well enough. or
rome of them 40. But their ambitions are
as boundless as the air. Living in an age
when com binations Of industry and capital
are common occurrences IN the worlds OF
@nance. manufacture and distribution, it
IS natural enough that the shTewdest bust
ness men in the theatrical world should
.o,low the general trend. Il is even possible
that they do the best they know how for
art Il isn't much 10 be sure; but how
much has anybody q right 70 expect from
The conditions?
Take q case. Mr.. y produces twenty
.,lavs IN tweuty-six weeks, al six. or six
teen OF twenty theatres. How much per
sonsl attention can he give 70 each pro-
duc-ion. 10 the mulufarious details which
should make up an artistic whole The
E-antiest Even with The best Intentions
-be smallest Commercially his enterprise
= vasr. as q contribution 10 dramatic art
4, Is commoupiace. And even he viii tell
zoI that there are not enough good plays
70 20 around nor enough good players 10
MI the bills And yet he has agreed TO
rupply ATTRACTIONS 10 thirty, forty, sixty
theatres in different parts Of the land,
some for one week. some for two, or six
I8e IS hard put 70 II 10 shift the pieces on
the board. And there are other managers
sn similar quandaIy. Art? Why talk of
art when these kettles Of lsh have 10 be
boiled?
II comes 10 this. II the great gods Of the
theatrical world complain about famine
csf plays ano players. they have only them
selves 10 blame, since they have under
fskeu 10 supply more than they are able