Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-15
frank. Frdyne
Gr,1nd

is not this very discrimination, if such
it be, a compliment to the hold of the
stage upon the popular heart? We are
getting tired of certain sort of So
ciety, very true; we are losing faith in
the New York variety, although not. I
believe. in the doings Of those who live
around us. We are not growing tired
of the stage or its people. We are not
losing faith in the stage, or even Its
managers, despite the mutually CO.
operative efforts of the parties to the
present thrilling theatrical war to
make us do that very thing. We are
nightly interested in the Messrs. Shu-
bert, despite what the Morning Tele-
graph in New York bellows at us to
their supposed discredit And Klaw
and Erlanger still appeal to us as a
sort of organized monopoly in magic,
whatever THE open Door" may de-
pose from its Chicago smithy.
And we are interested in the actors
So much so that their doings-good and
bad-will continue to slake our thirst
for the sensational so long as the voice
of the press agent is heard in the land.
And the reason is that we have never
lost our childhood wonder at the great,
darkeped labyrinth Of veal and woe up
back of the footlights Born IN the
medieval mystery Of the miracle play
and bearing within itself a subtle re-
lgious tradition which centuries have
not effaced or apostasized, the theater
is still the shadowy vestibule to fairy
land, and to the country of the super
natural which lies just beyond.
The International Grand Opera com
pany last night brought to close a
gratifying local engagement of two
weeks at the Mason. Both in the va
riety of its offerings and their gener-
ally averaging excellence the visit has
been memorable and a pleasant one.
Success to Manager Norcross, and
Colombini, and Norelli, and all the rest
of that good and gallant company.
May they return soon and stay lOnger
A brave and a timely word is that
spoken by Rabbi Alexander Lyons in
the August number of the Federation
Review on THE Publication of the
Stage" Reviewing the tornado of in
dignation at the emanations of filth
from certain New York theaters, which
Travelled west with Broadway as its
storm center, Rabbi Lyons says, among
other things:
If the stage is to become, even only
in part, a panderer to passion, in the
interest OF pecuniary profit our civil
lizatiOn will by so much be the loser
and we the poorer. A play may not
harm me- but am L not under moral
compulsion to discourage it if l have
reason to believe that it is a source OF
decentralization to my weaker brother?
1t is a deeper joy to me to steady the
uncertain steps of another than to see
play of disputed morality.
ITO specify at least one play: There
is a difference of opinion as to the
morality of The Easiest Way In my
Judgment it is dramatized filth made
acceptable by its tinseled trappings.
1t ridicules integrity and makes the
life of a mistress entertaining. A host
agree that the play ought not to be
seen by some, and these some are not
few. Are they not worth our consider
atom"
For the temporary success of objec-
tionable drama Rabbi Lyons chieIly
blanes the women playgoers who coun-
tenance public exploitation Of the de-
pravity of their SEX He concludes
with a stirring plea to Jews as Jews,
which owing to many interesting tacts
connected with the management and
direction of the theatrical business, is
worth reproducing in full He con
tinues,
"Now. to come to the main issue:
/ The ramp8nCy of the immoral on the
stage nj the present time, and es-
peciallv i'm New York, presents rare
opportunity for the Jews. We could
settle the problem Of the publication
of the stage if We chose to be true to
our principles and tradition. We are
chargcable with "a large measure of re-
sponsiblity for the continuance of dra-
matte conditions which insidiOusly de-
base. and alc permitted because they
entertain We Jews can alter this.
we are large patrons of the theater'
As theatrical managers, playWrights'
actors and impresarios, we WELD a
power difficult to resist i'm the theatrical
world. Let MS but agree to be power
for dramatic purity, and the things
which now disgust viii give way to
such as dignity while they delight, If,
for instance Hammcrstein were as
good a Jew as he is business man,
he would not permit the association Of
his managerial name with such a re-
voting exhibition of seusuous sugges-
tiycncss as has been given i'm New
York for many months by Princess
Rafah. This dancer was heralded as
"a fud of Mr., Hammcrstcin's Enviable
distinction! There is so much that is
good and beautiful and beneficial that
pays; why go after the bad, the ugly
thp harmful?
so [ call upon the Jewish citizenship
of the country, but especially Of New
York, which rs a pace-setter, to awaken