Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-10
RY w. HERBERT BLAKE

NOLLIER'S WEEKLY, itching with
controversial ardor. shivers an
~ editorial lance against the steely
ribs of the New York dramatic critics.
They have failed to acclaim THE
Melting Pot" Israel Zangwilfs latest
play, which had a phenomenal run of
months in Chicago, and to which, Col
lier's remarks with acerbity, men of
experience and brains, like the former
president of the United States, Booth
Harrington, the mayor Of Toledo and
Oscar Straus,'' have given extreme
praise" Resting firmly on the au-
thority of this interesting male quar-
tet, Golfers continues:
These (New York; critics are
product of the Tenderloin. 1t is the
air they breathe. IL is all they know.
David Belasco is their god. A pretty
chorus is their heaven. Tension like
that in The Thief is their highest
reach. Ideas worry them. They rep
resent honestly both themselves and
that Tenderloin of which they are the
flower Remembering dozens of such
dren of the Ghetto Candida, 'El
Gran Galeoto,' The Master Builder
and now The Melting Pot we say
without hesitation that New York
criticism does less to help the Amer
lean stage forward than it does to
mold II back.
All of which is rafting good read
ing, and most of which is true. Still,
one fails to see why it should beat
the Collier pruning hook into a spear.
New York is only a small corner of
the country for all it's golden potency
as a metropolis, and many an excel
lent play has Jared, and is faring,
healthily in the big stretches between
Broadway and the Golden Gate, which
frb4 % la,
icism'' pointedly declined to illumine.
"The Melting Pot" is assured of a
candid, open minded reception from
the Pacific coast whenever 1t deigns
to visit US. One cannot promise in
advance to feebly support the stupen-
dous boosting endeavors of the illus
trious quartet af dramatic experts
mentioned by Golfers. but we cannot
forget them any more than can THE
Melting Pot" press agent.
In the meantime. let Golfers take
courage and remember that a pro-
vincial scold is no sweeter for the
palliating fact that she is scolding
those of her own household. The great
trouble with the provincial scold is
that she cannot see outside that
household. There are honest dramatic
critics elsewhere than on Broadway.
And theatrical electricity has been
known to flash many miles west of
the Great White Way and the bellig-
erent brain factory of the National
Weekly.
In 1.-THE Third Degree" we are as
sured that Charles Klein has written
a drama which corrects the principal
structural weakness of 1.-THE Lion and
the Mouse" All. or nearly all. the
characters are said to be real crea-
tions. vital to the action. With a
vivid memory of the two-dimensioned
silhouettes who did duty for minor
characters in his former powerful
drama of love and finance. one cor,
daily hopes 1t is so. 1t was much to
produce three characters so real as
the Ryders and Shirley Rossmore. To
fill a dramatic canvas with them Is as
memorable a creative achievement as
II is a staggering blow at the star
system. We shall know Monday night
at the Mason.
During the last few weeks I have
had the pleasure Of reading two inter-
esting plays by Los Angeles authors
"The Fugitives," tragedy by T.