The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-12
Propos es to Produce
Play S Where and
When He Pleases.
HE is NOT AWED
BY NJ AN AGERS.
Terms Independent Movement
self-Interested Attempt Of
Town Managers to Dictate
to Producers-Jssues Sar-
castle Statement on Re-
turn From Europe.
Especial 10 The Ttmes-nisr

Especial TO The eTimes-Dispatch.l
New York. July 11.--Charles Froh.
man to-day defined his position in re-
gard to the present theatrical situa-
tion--the opposition developed by a
number of small city managers against
the theatrical syndicate. Throughout
the various incidents connected with
the situation, Mr.. Frohman has re-
mained silent. but to-day four days
after his return from Europe he is
sued statement in which he asserts
that the so-calIed Independent move
ment is nothing but the self-interest-
ed attempt of group of town nlAnag-
ers to dictate to play producers whose
stars and attractions are the only
reason for the existence of the very
theatres who wish to control the
theatrical business in America"
BY the possession of new portable
stage. Mr.. Frohman says he means to
play his attractions and his stars
wherever he pleasess
"BfgsLitile MnnnEers."
In the present so-called situation"
he says, all / find is some towns
where there are big-littie mana gers
who foolishly believe that it Is great
thing to tell the producing managers
that unless they come to their prayer
meeting gatherings and walk along
their streets, there ain't going to be
no more theatres for them.
Now, in what have to say I
speak only because like the public
OF these towns. am bored with the
big ones. They can only give you
long runs and great successes. The
bis-little managers don't understa nd
the joke. They think that we ali come
TO their towns to visit them PERSONAL
~. But that is not the fact We do
not visit the manage s nf these towns
We visit the public of tSese towns.
las far as am concerned, Il do
| not care anything about these town
managers. consider them all my
servants Just as 1 am a servant OF
the public, and we are going right on
to play their towns when and where
We like. because we are not going to
have their publics, through the fool
ishness of some big-little managers
lose the entertainments we have to
give them.
Part of the System.
II only wish to speak to the public
of these towns and assure them that
the poor little gentlemen will not de-
prive them of seeing our plays and
our players. / play my attractions
only with the theatres that are a part
of our system, Just like the railroad
shops at the cities that are part
of It's system, and those that do not
come into my system must travel mar
| row gauge.
But my plays Will be produced in
! those towns l want to play them in
! just the same. am not going to dis
appoint any public that looks to me
| for my entertainments. l will disap-
point the big-little managers but L
| Will not disappoint their publics.
have found no difficulty in placing my
| plays along the Thames, the Seine. the
| Rhine and the Hudson, SO hardly eX-
! pect to find much difficulty in placing
them along the Erie and the Missouri.
| The only problem in the theatrical Sit
uation in America to-day is for the
big-little managers of the towns to
get together and find out how they
can run their theatres without good
attractions 1t is a question OF de-
mand and supply. They must have
the best that is to be had, and. of
course, that means me.
Has Portable Stage.
From Austria have secured new
patent-a stage that can handle at
fractions of any kind. and can be
placed in any town or public hall. A
travelling performance possible to any
theatre is possible to this com bina.
tion portable stage of mine. and in
less than an hour after the perform
ance it can be packed and carried
away.
Il am going to let all these big
little managers close their thtatres to
me, but with my new combination
stage, they cannot cut me off from
their theatre goers. With my porta
BILE stage I think am going to do a
lot of special good. because when /
come to these towns the regular the
atres will be closed, and then these
bis-little managers will have chance
to come to see my plays that they
could not previously see, because they
will not be busy counting money. and
not having money. ] am going to give
them each two tickets free to my per-
formances on my new Austrian conbi-
nation stage
''In the meantime, these big little
managers will hnd that new theatres
| will be going up In these towns, and
a lot of the old ones will be going up
! too,