Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-27
DOLLAR OPERA IS
SUCCESS-BEHYMER
70,950 Persons Pay $38,469.50
to Hear 80 Performances
of Bevani Singers
LONGER SEASON IS POSSIBLE
Auditorium Manager Solves Prob
lem That Was Called Crazy
Idea All Over the U. S.
LONGER SEASON is POSSIBLE

dollar opera has been a success in
Los Angeles" said L. e. Behymer
manager Of the Auditorium. last night
as the curtain of the big stage rang
down on the performance which
closed the fourth week of the engage
ment of the Bevani singers.
After four weeks, during which time
0,950 persons have paid $3S, ,469.50 to
listen to thirty-two operas, the ques-
tion of grand opera in Los Angeles
has been solved. The company has
made money and goes on its way re-
joicing. / have vindicated fmy as
sertlons and have shown that the Audi
torium is a practical house with its
large seating capacity and large stage
for giving grand opera at popular
prices. There is no reason why a
series of from eight to twelve weeks
of grand opera could not be financed
and given here in an artistic manner,
with the right kind of brains, energy
and determination behind It,"
When Mr. Behymer tried to book
this opera company he found that
eastern bookings already arranged for
the house presented serious difficulty.
II had to get the eastern managers to
cancel four plays before I could make
this engagement" he said, "Going
Some" "Arizona," 1.-THE Blue Mouse"
and one company with a star which
afterward played at another house.
and to all my letters and kilograms the
New York office finally wired: You're
nutty on grand opera. We cancel the
shows. It's up to you to make good
HERE'S HIS ANSWER
AT the end of the first week, after
playing to some $4,000 persons, with an
income Of ss297, wired back. we may
be nutty, but we are cheerfully max
ing good
sThe members of the New York Of
fee force were not the only doubters
either" continued Mr.. Behymer. "This
experiment was looked upon as a
crazy idea all over the United States.
Dollar grand opera!"
Letters of coincidence came frequent
", advice more frequently. No one
had any faith in 1t. Even the Los
Angeles public awaited the criticism
of the local press before venturing to
invest fifty cents for cushioned seat
in a good part of the house to listen
to sixty-eight persons working con-
tinuously for three hours.
"The New York grand opera man
ayers said: IF Bee makes good the
problem is solved. but he is as crazy
as ever on music. Why doesn't he
turn his attention to the moving pic
ture show and ride in an automobile? 2
The Bevanis themselves questioned
dollar opera: they wanted the first
ten rows at S1.50, but had forgotten to
stipulate the prices in the contract.
Dollar opera has come to Los An
geles and Los Angeles received 1t. The
Bevani company has sung thirty-two
operas, Lucia and La Traviata' four
times each; Faust 'Aida,' 'La Boheme,
The Love Tales of Hoffman, 'Rigo-
letto' and IL Trovatore' each received
three presentations. Martha was
given twice and 'Cavalleria' and
'Pagiacci one afternoon and one even
ing; a mixed program was given on
Verdi night, and an all-star program
on Saturday evening.
7osSO SEE OPERAS
'In all 70,950 persons paid admission.
OF this number $500 witnessed Lucia
$500 Faust $3.50 Aida 5000 Martha
$3.50 La Boheme,' $3.50 Love Tales OF
Hoffman, 5000 'Rigoletto. 5400, Ira
viata,' 400 the double bill, 1850 I'll Tro-
vatore' and 420o the mixed programs.
"Lucia' and Aida We'd in popular
fly with 'Rigoletto and La Boheme.'
The first weeks business was $S297;
the second week, as the reputation of
the Bevanis spread, amounted to $11,-
941. The third week, repetition of
many of the operas given during the
previous weeks, showed 7,930.50 as the
receipts for eight performances. The
fourth week, with La Boheme' as the
stellar attraction, $10,301-a total of
$38, ,46950.
"And this" concluded Mr.. Behymer,
sis less than the cost of one week of
grand opera in New York at the
Metropolitan opera house, where less
than one-third as many persons could
receive the educational advantages
which have been offered to the people
of this city in the productions given
by the Bevani singers"