The Washington times., 1910-09-14
PUBLIC LIKES STARS
INSTEAD OF OPERAS
Manager L. S. Taylor An
SwerS E. T. WincheSter'S
Arguments.

Grand opera in Washington at IS per
orchestra seat has always be=r a losing
game for the promoters, end the pdb-
lie has generally failed 20 give Eener-
Gus patronage to enEdgeu1e-. : At regU-
iar theater prices
This statement was I7a e today by l.
StOGdard Taylor. resilient manager Of
the BelascO TheateT. in reilly I'D thEse
made IN the Mail Bag column Of ees-
terday Times by Ernest 7 Ninch"s-
ter. organist at St PadTs
MI. Winchester attributed the fiSl
prices of grand opera in the capital 20
the local representatives, who. IN their
greedlness, profit in the proceeds, often
10 the extent Of one-third the price Of
every ticket sold
A Strong Plea
The writer made a strong Plea FOR
performances where citizens Of an ~
erage income might buy seats ilste1d
Of standing up against the soft side of
brick WALL and "humming to cur
selves the beautiful chorus II Handsl-s
Messiah All We. Like Sheep.'"
30 one depIores the present condi-
TORS which make grand opera beyond
the reach Of the majority Of music low
eTS more than / do declared MIR. Tay-
Tor But Mr. Winchester should put
the blame where It belongs. on the high
but who must be drawing cards
Neither the producer nor the local man
ayers reap more than a pittance from
me UTHdlCieCIs in Washington and the
conditions hold good in other cities from
Tue walls that arise from grand opera
managers al over the country"
M Taylor characterized the state
ment that the local managers or mid
dlenen received a third OF the price for
every ticket sold was absurd 90 The
business arrangements by which grand
aHnf
he said. precluded any form OF com
mission The companies he explained.
generally paid the fixed rental price for
a theater, the same price for which it
was rented 10 local amateur orEauiza-
lions and for concerts: a local repre-
sentative was sometimes engaged 10
look out for newspaper advertising and
publicity and the urOfitSzff there were
any, accrued 70 the producer
But in nv experience there have not
been any Profits, Mr.. Taylor said. In
the case Of tie engagement Of the Man
NATHAN company at the BegasCo last
winter, for instance, M Hammerstefa
lost money And each OF the six per
Iormances were given 10 capa city
standing room until stopped by the po-
lice, and the enEa genEeEt was probably
the most successful IN point OF attend
ancc ever given here Now. ] am not
thoroughly cOnverSant with Mr.. Ham
merseins business arrangements, buc
the salaries he paid some Of his sta-s
are known. and the cost OF bringing
scenery here Il would not take much
week was not financially successful.
even II he did not wish to take Mr.
Hammerstein's word for IT,"
EFen the nigh salaries paid star Per
formers could be laid at the doors OF the
theaJeT-Eoer, according TO Mr.. Taylor
Music Not Appreciated.
II there was any great demand for
good grand opera at the price charged
for dramatic entertainment. IL would b.
supplied without delay. But there isn't
There arc not enough music lovers in
the average American city OF csae tyne
OF Mr. winchester, who would be viii
ing 70 IA s 10 see a good grand opera
perform 8nca that stood striCTly on its
years ago the Sau Carlos Opera Com
The critics said the singing Of this
company was equal 10 that OF either OF
the two Gotham organizations save. OF
course they lacked a Carlso or a Tet-
raziuni TIE seats were sold at the
regular theater scale, from s. down On
no night save one did we do a good
grand opera business On that one
night Miss Alice Nelson was featured
and we turned the crowds away
The only conclusion we can draw Is
that the public will pay money to hear
a star sing, but II viii not chip IL for
grand opera performance.
Similar experiences were cited with
the AbrahamsOn and the New Orleans
grand opera companies. which played
at the Belasco at s. for the best seats.
Now. I have one ClinCher that should
make Mr. Winchester and the rest Of
our critics think I have here an ap-
plicatiOn from the New Orleans Organi-
zatiOn the Oldest and admittedly one OF
the best opera companies N this cOuE-
try. for a two weeks engagement here
AT popular prices Don't you suppose II
I thought the two weeks would pay
would sign the agreement this minute
But 7 seriously doubt II, and II they are
brought here IL VIII be as a speCula-
ton