The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-11
SHUbERTS AFTER
CITY AUDITORIUM.
Apply for One Weeks Lease to
Put on Last Years Hippo
drome Show.
CAN GET II FOR A SONG
Other Theatres May Fight Con-
tract on Ground That Rental
= Rates Are Too Low.
CAN GET 1T FOR A SONG

What is regarded as the greatest
travelling theatrical organization that
ever left New York-the Hippodromu
Road Company-has made an offer to
the city to lease the City Auditorium
for one week in December. Building
Inspector Beck, custodian OF all city
property. received telegram several
days ago from r. Fl. Burnsides,, gen.
eral stage director OF the hippodrome
and special representative OF the Shu-
berts. asking for terms. Mr.. Beck no.
could not be secured for the week OF
December 5, as the Radcliffe Company
has conflicting dates, but that II was
open for the week OF peee EN- da AZ
this amount Including neat and lights.
Stage May he Too Small.
Mr.. Beck said yesterday that ne ex-
pected to get formal reply to-day.
building. other agents having been
sent to all big cities between New
York and the Pacific coast They 1ound
date the show-the Hammerstein Met
ropoltan Opera House In Phtladeiphia
In many instances, buildings nave
been enlarged, changed and improved
and while the Auditorium woula an
swer all purposes SO far as the seat, seat.
doubts seriously II the stage is sutil-
GENTLY large to handle the proauctioI
1t is IS by So feet There are GOO peo-
pie in the company and 100 horses e:
and while that number might 6e
squeezed on the stage. they "ouiu
hardly have turning space.
In his letter Mr.. Beck called atteii-
ton to the fact that the new conc ne, .
Grounds would be more preferable
perhaps, except thot 1t is not equip,
ped with n heating plant, winch WI
be necessary in December. put tnat J!
The real ditficulty, he explained. wouit
be in handling the crowds on a s'nsi y
line car track.
bitter Fight May, Follow r,,,
II the city leases the Auu. .hn,., ~ :,
| however. for the rates quoted, theW u
the practical certaint ythat a nitte!
| fight Will be made, the other theatres
which are heavily taxed: and WnlGi
nav high licenses, contending that ~ y
unfair for the municipality TO enteI
into competition with them, giving IN
1 visiting shows every possible adyaut
| age. Being relieved OF taxes and th'
! other expenses, the Auditorium car
afford to offer cheap rates. 10 or, ~.
/ members admit that 1t is unfair TO tn
| Academy of Music. the Bijou ana IN
! other theatres, which are heaiIy oul
dened As matter OF t .se,' l 4 the,
/ bertS were lUipl4itN -
niaved for popular prices they coul'
/ get the house for less than 500 gay
II costs a circus a small fortune .
| show in Richmond the trayei,ng a,p
nod rome-the last years producti ION
would come in for a song. whiie tnea
ne Se reople declare that II Is simply
/ circus without the canvas.
Might Go to Court. ,s,,,
still the Shuberts are not hoiuln'
off because Of price. It All depei.a
mon ~, the fact as to whether or no
they can stage their show IN me Az !.
dit6r,um. Taxpayers, for ins.an 8 !.
p might resist by Injunction any i,,,, a,
ta Int to equip the Industrial Bnlla
NO at the Fair Grounds for an inaoo
c rH which could lease the pro 1,ser :
f for Something like $50 q day, Ih sp
r ~, violent complaint against IN In
low rates charged tn eRatcilne s,o,
r rem and Mr.. Ratcliffe only m al {,
70 get /: because ne pul o nr,cas
~ ~ stion at ridiculously cheap pl.ces
some Councilmen contend that :.
+ns soi huditorium is vacant, any r Iti,a
Comes on in the shape Of profits d.ser I thse
u wise they contend that If other me- sis
re owners suffer by, reason OF Az 5n,
Elimination rfi they might seek ana M
] relief in court.