Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-03-04
OTIS SKINNER ON
SUNDAY THEATERS
Actor Writes TO Manager Of Salt
Lake Theater on
The Subject
GEORGE D. PYPER'S ANSWER,
says sunday Law Is in tic Interest of
Tie Health ~ the
Nation.

The proposition OF opening theaters
for sunday night performance IS one
in the public eye at the present time.
The Deseret News has already printed
several letters received by Manager
George ID Pyper OF the salt Lake
thoator from some Of the leading act
ors and actresses OF the country ON
the subject Those to date have been
Overwhelmingly In favor of rest ON
Sunday. one or two have gone on
record as being willing 90 appear on
the Sabbath. but nearly an have as
serted that I'm order 20 keep artistical-
ly keyed up. one day OF relaxation is
necessary. To play seven days a week
IFS artistic suicide. they affirm.
Mr. Pypcr is In receipt Of two more
letters one from Mrs. Fiskc's man
ager. which says that actress never
plays on Sunday. and another from
otis skinner. which Mr. Pyper has an
swercd
An three letters are herewith repro
duccd through the courtesy Of Mr.
Pypcr:
Dear sir-Yours Of the 2sth TO Mrs
plays Sundays. and therefore her at
titude on the subject OF sunday amuse-
ments may be readily inferred from
that fact
Yours very sincerely.
FRANK CARLTON GRIFFITH.
Acting Manager Mrs. Fiske.
Grand Opera House. Twenty-third
street and Eighth avenue New York,
No.
have your letter of Feb. s. Regarding
the Sunday theater question. / haven't
the least objection 60 it and Tor those
that want IL I regard 10 as boon.
Personally. however. I have "a deep
and rooted objection TO playing on
Sunday. Ny objection has no moral
or religious base. 90 ls simply a plea
for one days mental and physical
respite ga the week. / win not play
on Sunday if I can help IT,
However. there is much asiuiue leg
islaton regarding this sunday amuse-
meut business. Here I'm New York an
kinds OF uniuspircd. inartistic and UNI
worthy display De- permitted and toll
Grated by press. police and public for
so long as the performer does not
makeup, act or use dialect the
commonest song and dance man Of the
variety shop can dole out his inauities
TO the Sunday night audience.
And yet the representation of an
artistic play Is barred Rot,
There is n class OF hard working
people who get only one chance IN a
week 20 see a theatrical performance,
and that ON Sunday night.
Morally it IS right that the desire
FOR pleasure these people possess
should be grathed We am need recre-
alton quite as much as we need adj
monitiOu concerning the saving Of our
souls
I ann certainly ln favor Of a Sunday
relaxation Of the better sort IL is far
healthier for the morals of the COM
munity that good sound plays should
be given a Sunday hearing. than that
crude. il-mannered ahsurdity should
be permitted as the only thing the
public is allowed TO witness.
Yours truly
Otis SKINNER.
Mr. Pypor's answer follows:
Ny Dear Mr.. skinner am greatly
indebted 90 you for taking the time 10
answer my request for your opinion
on the sunday theater question. AZ 1
am unalterably opposed 10 opening
the theater on Sunday you can readily
see that I was somewhat disappointed
in your attitude. and yet. as ] reread
your letter I see IN it tho strongest
kind OF Sunday closing argument.
Your first paragraph tells the whole
story You say:
Personally. however, ] have a deco
and rooted objection 10 playing on sun
day. My objection has no moral nor