The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-07
THEATRICAL OUTLOOK.


Tied conditions maintained between the
different managerial factions known. for
the purpose Of differentiating them, as
syndicate and anti-syndicate. Messrs.
klaw & Granger claim that they will
not be hurt at all by the detection from
their ranks Of Henry w Savage. Brady
John Cort, and others, and broadly
claim that they Will have a better list
Of attractions TO offer than ever. The
snti-syndicate forces. led by the Shu-
berts. show, on the other hand that they
have taken so many attractions away
from the syndicate that, with their own
productions. they will nave a better
showing than ever before.
1t IS not plain. as yet. just how the
general public is to benefit at all by the
theatrical fight There is no suggestion
either that the plays, under either ban
ner, viii be better; will be presented by
better companies, or that prices will be
lowered at all.
A curious phase Of the matter is that
neither the syndicate nor the anti-syndl-
cate forces are willing just now TO give
out a complete list OF the attractions
each is supposed to control. Such lists
published side by side might allow the
theatrics, patrons TO make an intelligent
comparison: as II is they can only walt
and see.
In the meantime announcements are
coming thick and fast and il is evident
that there is 10 be an immense amount
Of activity in the matter OF new plays
both native and imported. 1t is also
plain at this stage. though. that the
thoater-goers will have to put up-es-
pecially in the early part OF the season
with a lot Of old plays that hope to get
TIE money on the second or third time
around.
It has often been reported by the
enemies OF Mr.. Erlanger that once on
time he declared that II he had his way
no actor should be paid moro than so a
week. Il Is much 10 be doubted II he
ever made such remark. But at the
same time there are not lacking indlca-
lions that the time for fancy salaries
among actors is rapidly passing. Many
things contribute to this end, but chief
among them, probably, is the rapid
growth and rise in popularity OF the NOV
ing picture show. Theatrical managers
have affected TO believe that this was a
craze. like bicycling and roller skating.
OF which the public would soon get tired.
but the popularity OF moving pictures in
creases and improvements are being
made all the time. The low price OF this
form or entertainment Is bound TO affect
the patronage OF the high-priced theater.
II has done so already. as any manager
who had a show on the road last season
can testify The difference between pay
ing 20 cents for two seats and from 50 to
s. for two seats presents too great a dis
parity In these times OF high prices. and
though as yet theatrical managers have
shown no disposition 10 lower their
tariffs. the trend seems 20 be IN that
direction, and especially In the case OF
the second-class shows lower prices will
have 10 prevail II these attractions are
10 continue TO exist.
The local theatrical situation promises
TO be an interesting one. for Washing
ton IS well provided with theaters OF
every class and suited to every need
Two OF the principal theaters. the Ma |
tional and the Columbia will receive /
their bookings through Messrs. Klaw & /
have many hrst-class attractions, but /
how they are TO divide them through a |
long season remains 20 be seen. The
BelRsoo-which name. by the way. seems /
out OF place now that David Belasco !
has gone over 20 Klaw & Erlanger-
viii have. OF course. a much larger list |
OF attractions than ever before. As
against the loss Of Mr.. Belasco they can
place the acquisition OF a great number
OF attractions OF other managers and
this theater Is sure OF a very full sea-
son. The Academy fits into the Wash !
ington situation nicely with its long list |
Of bookings Of popular-prlced attrac-
transformations which have grown TO
have a much better and more artistic !
quality than they had few years ago. |
The vaudeville situation remains. as
heretofore. dominated by Chase's, which !
may be relied upon, as II has been in the |
past. to provide Washington theatergoers
with fine quality Of vaudeville at rea- /
sonable prices and Chase's is so firmly /
established as a Washington institution I
that Il Is doubtful whether the advent Of /
the few vaudeville acts at the moving !
picture theaters will affect It to any de-
gree.
1t seems probable now that the regular /
theatrical season will be in full swing |
early in September. though the opening |
dates are not yet all decided upon. !
Chase's VIII be the first to open. on Au- !
gust %. its box Office opening August Is. !
The Columbia follows on September u. !
with Al Wilson in new play. and it is |
probable that the National will open at
the same time. Although It has not yet
been definitely settled It is probable that !
the Nationals opening attraction viii be |
The Follies Of 1910" The date for the |
Belasco's opening is not yet known, save |
that It will be early in September.
In New York there Is little activity !
about the theaters. Only eight OF them
are open. The Knlckerbocker opened dur /
ing the past week with The Arcadians,"
which resumed its long run Of last season, /
but It Is soon 10 be replaced by "Our |
Miss Gibbs" the first one OF the Froh- /
man attractions I'm which Pauline Chase /
is TO be featured. The Academy OF Music |
is open with the Corse Payton stock COM /
pany. At the Astor seven Days" con- /
tinues It's run. which has now lasted ten /
months. and which Is the sole survivor
of this years Broadway successes. At
the Jardin de Paris. ziegfeld's "Follies Of
1870 is adding new features from week
TO week. and so keeps going until It Is
ready for the road, and It viii probably
not leave the Jardin until it starts for
Washington. AZ the New Amsterdam
"Girlies," Fred Thompson's much-adver-
tised musical show is running, with Jo-
semi Cawthorne and Maude Ravnond as