The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-10
STAGE CENSORSHIP
IS sign OF TIMES
Theatrical Manager UphOlds
Archbishop Farley.
MODERN SHOWS INSPIRE EVIL
Charles Burnhsm Agrees with Arch
bishops Assertion that Some Of the
Broadway Productions Are "Orgies
of cbseenityr BIan,es Society,
Which Takes the Lead.

New York, Feb. a.eIf Thad my way
there are i've shows In New York would
close" declared Charles Burnham. presi-
dent OF The Theatrical Managers Associ-
alton of New York
1T IS a harsh thing 70 say that there
should be a stage cen sOrship." he con
tinued, so I don't say Is. But the events
OF the day point toward =. 5lst the same.
IF New York Heater managers con
tinue TO put on the Inexpressiblv filthy
shows that have drawn crowds for the
last twelve months Of more. We viii have
a stage censor. Or else we win be honest
with ourselves and the public. and open
our theaters as concert halls. such as
the Dew Drop Inns Of the old times
Aad above the doors We should inscribe.
For men oily
Mr. BUrnham. when he gave utterance
70 these expressions. was IN his Office at
the wallsck Theatre Building. reading
the sermon preachcd on Sunday BY Arch
bishop Farley at St Patrick's Cathedral
Among other things. the Archbishop de-
scrfbed certain OF the shows 20 be found
on Broadway as "orgies OF obscenity.'' .
and said that the stage to-day is worse
than in the days OF pagauism-
Set Bad Example.
I'VE see men and women old enough to
know better setting evil examples" said
the archbishop We see men hoary with
age inspiring with evil the minds OF the
young. They go to the thesters and to
public places II shamelessness, and bring
with them youngsters who cannot escape
contagion."
Mr. Burnham declared emphatically that
the archbishop was right and said:
There are shows running on Broadway
to-day to which no right-1ninded man
would take his mother or his wife or his
sister But who is 20 be blamed? The
manager The manager viii tel you that
If he puts on what We call good show
one with merit and lacking any unchaste
attraction-he wiz sJarve to death
The actor must I've. He will tell you
that it IS his mission TO portray life and
that il Is not his fault II the conditions. he
shows the public are obscene. Witness a
recent case. II was advertised that a
1-c" '%1-o SNDEff - SAl1 hflANr Al "A fiElEff-
boring town. The night that show opened
here ticket spectators ssld their seats for
what they pleased 70 ask It was de-
Dounced as dull as dishWater, beeaCse
the evil things that had outraged the
other town had been cut out
Mission to Entertain.
Il tell you that the theater Is. not edu-
catIonaL It does not teach a lesson. It
does not deliver a sermon It's mission
Is purely one Of entertainment When il
presents the story of a harlot, that story
is told TO entertain the audience merely.
not TO elevate the soul. II might be Of
less importance Il men only attended the
theaters, and some theaters should admit
men only.
up on Forty-second street there is a
show running 10 tremendous business. It
tells the story Of a woman of III fame and
her tradicking with her lovers. Who goes
10 see that play2 Young men and women
You viii see young girls. with dresses TO
their shoe tops, pressing about the doors
10 get IN. giggling as they come out.
Were they elevated morally by that re-
cital Of bestlaiity? Fudge, II society
didn't go the rest wouldn't.
Society must accept the blame. Il
leads. and the others follow. as every
thester manager knows And what can
the manager dor