Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-12
BY w. HERBERT BLAKE
HHE partial alliance of the Lieblt


HHE partial alliance of the Lieblers
with the Shuberts, while continu-
II ing to book many of their at
fractions over the Klaw & Erlanger
circuit, suggests the probable ultimate
solution of a perplexing problem.
Why should not the producers of plays
arbitrate the differences conventionally
If somewhat strictly-described as
''the great theatrical WARP"
If Charles Frohman, David Belasco,
Harrison Grey Fiske, Henry B. Harris,
George Tyler, William A Brady,
Henry W. Savage, Frederic Thompson,
Joseph Weber and Lew Fields should
agree upon a rational Interpretation of
the "open door" that would protect the
interests of a syndicate which has done
much for the drama, and gotten more
out of it, future adjustments would be
easy. 1t is natural, of course, for every
opponent Of the trust idea to decry
such a solution, just as every opponent
of the trust idea naturally sides with
the Shuberts in the present controversy
and against Klaw & Erlanger. But
nothing is more certain than that the
Shuberts, If victorious in the present
fight, would adopt many of the same
arbitrary methods which have brought
obloquy upon the so-called trust" It
would not be a question of ethics in
that event, I think, but of business
sagacity and commercial opportunity,
which is precisely what 1t has been in
the case of the trust.
Here appears the opportunity of the
genuine producers, as contrasted with
the mere manipulators of theatrical
property. The drama is unlike 'other
Industries" which have been monopol-
lied as a part of the general economic
trend of our modern life. In the long
run, brains, and not dollars, are the
capital. And dramatic brains, like the
brains which are combined in the con-
duct Of the most successful trade
unions, are not always on the market.
They must be sought out. When found
they require intelligence for their di-
rection, not merely a fat check book.
Above ALL they require certain de-
gree of popular sympathy and Qt
must be said) a liberal amount of
artistic culture TO appraise them at
their true value.
This Is why the biggest and best
things which have come into the older
syndicate houses have been offered
by some Of the producing managers
above mentioned. That was one rea-
their peace with the Shuberts. They
needed the Shuberts as much as the
Shuberts needed the houses They
wanted the Shuberts' wares, which at
that time were insufficient to Justify
an Independent fight of long duration,
but which still were good enough to
fill the houses at least some of them,
And that is why the best of many
good things which have been offered
at the Mason this summer season have
been the output of the smaller pro-
ducers rather than of the syndicate it.
self-such plays as 1.-THE Morals OF
Marcus and Lady Frederick (Froh-
man's). Polly of the Circus" (Thomp-
SOM, 1.-THE Climax" (Joe Weber, and
Fiskes made their truce with Klaw &
Erlanger-it was not surrender-be-
cause the Fiskes wanted the houses
and also because Klaw & Erlanger
wanted the Fiskes.
Now, If the Shuberts justify their
protestations of sincerity in the pres
ent fight, the outcome is bound to be
that the men who make plays-the
produeers--in both camps will come
together some time in an agreement
which will settle the thing equitably
for all concerned. The public wants
plays-real plays-not makesbift per-
formances gotten together for purposes
OF attack OF ueIelSe. Inc producing
managers have the plays. The syn
dicates-Klaw & Erlanger and the Shu-
berts-have the theaters. But the
plays in the long run, are a more
important card than the playhouses. as
the success Of Mansfield. Fislke Mar
lowe, Bernhardt, Modjeska and many
others has abundantly proved. Il
there Is no other way the public vii
crowd a circus tent or a pavilion tc
see a real star or a real play. That
public is becoming very wide-awake
1t will not crowd the finest and best
appointed theater, Shubert or X. and
e., to see a near-star or a near-play
The renaissance of the stock company
has taught 1t better. And the markedly
superior quality of road offerings dur