The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-02-15
THINGS IMMORAL.


New York is supporting immoral
plays, while the clean plays are being
| neglected. and this demand for vulgar
| ity and coarseness has brought from
| sctors and actresses statements OF
their views. Many declare that the
public Graves immoral situations and
demands the suggestive and they hold
the theater-goers responsible for the
| low moral tone of the stage. There is
! always call for salacious play.
Blanche Stcddard says: 81 can as
sure you that. from the standpoint OF
the actress. there is very little salts
faction in reading before an audience
lines which TEEN with vulgarity.v "Of
course she says. there are plays
which depict the processes of elemen-
tai emotions which can not justly be
regarded as immoral, on the other
hand we find performances which have
their chief claim for popularity and
SUCCESS in the degree to which they
pander to the sensual curiosity OF
certain number of theater goers. Per-
sonally, l always feel ashamed TO
speak lines on the stage that l would
not use in private life. My cuss words
In the part of Mary Tudor? Oh, that's
different; cuss words are not immor-
al"
Homer B. Mason. leading man in "A
Stubborn Cinderella" says the man
who cannot make his audience laugh
without descending to nasty situations
and vulgar dialogue is no comedian.
But it is as much the fault OF the
public as of the actor that indecent
plays are tolerated. 1T really has
been getting so that people in New
York." declares Mr.. Mason. will not
go to see show unless 1t is rotten
But you must remember that in New
York great many theaters are play
ing to roues-to the class which takes
10 cocktails before breakfast Dirt
has got TO be such an old thing 10
them now that clean, wholesome
show is almost unique, and so they'll
probably rush to It Ten or Is years
ago 1t was tho indecent show which
was unique. Watch the young school
girls coming out Of some OF the thea
ters today. They can't look each other
straight In the eye as they pass
through the door. but they giggle and
slmper and nudge each other, That's
All indication. 1t is more the fault of
The women than the men that the
immoral plays have grown In number.
There were more women than men In
attendance at the Thaw trial"
After all, is the world growing bet
ter? The minister says yes. the show.
man shakes his head. the worldly fel-
low says no.
When vaudeville had a big run in
Ogden four years ago, half OF the
spScldlueS were maze up OF coarse
Jokes and vulgar acts. For a time the
people seemed to encourage this i'm
moral tone, but finally the vulgarisms
drove families from the playhouses,
so that when vaudeville had its re.
vival, the offensive parts were elimio.
Med. A place like New York may de-
mand the salacious, but in a city or
homes such as Ogden. there must he
come attempt at decency, and local
show people have come TO recognize
the fact that clean plays are the most
profitable for no father or mother will
long continue to patronize a show
house where the children are to be
taught the sensual or vulgar.
Where there is a large floating pop
ulntton as in New York. those who
applaud the indecent things. will out
number the pure.minded, but in small
e. communities, where the real test OF
moral tone is to be had the people
always will be found on the side OF
clean plays.