The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-10
BEATEN,
NOW FULLOF THREATS
Open Door Theatre Policy in Virginia Followed
by Talk of Building New House Here-Acad-
envy Open to Trust, but Trust Can't
Rule Others Out

Leath Theatrical Company. This is
hardly the way to put 1t. 1 am from
a business standpoint, in favor of the
open door for the Academy of Music,
both in Richmond and Norfolk, to play
all meritorious performances obtaina,
bic that the theatre going public OF
these cities care to see, and / am in a
position to state that my associates in
the Leath Theatrical Company feel the
same way about It. There have boon
some reasons why one or two OF them
have been a bit slow to act for reasons
that do not particularly concern the
public. but these gentlemen. In ths
past few days, after having made a
more careful study of the situation.
have agreed with me.
Therefore, I do not consider 1t any
personal victory in fact, no victory at
ALL simply final decision, after prop
er consideration on the part of tho
board OF directors OF the Leath The
atrical Company to place their the
aires at the disposal of all Legitimate
producing managers, for the purpose
of playing any neritorious attraction
that they may have to offer.
There is one erroneous impression
that has got a foothold. and tina, IL
that we arc leaving the klaw e Err
LANCER syndicate to 20 to the SIM
berts. another theatrical syndicate.
This is misleading. Conditions have
brought about the organization of
what is known to-day as the National
Theatre Owners Association, an or
Eanization OF theatre owners and on
orators, extending from the Atlantic
TO the Pacific coast and from the
State of Maine TO the Gulf The OBJ
ject of this organization is to conduct
their theatre under what is termed tina
open door policy. or, in other words,
to book Independently of all agencies.
and have business conducted directly
between tho theatre owners and oper-
ators and the producing mana gers.
There is no desire whatever TO exclude
kiaw & Erlanger or allied attractions.
or any legitimate producing manager
from placing his attractions In the
theatres OF this organization. We bar
nobody. and are prepared 10 give time
TO any and all of them without dis
elimination. We were compelled 10
resort 10 this measure because the
syndicate would not permit number
OF the biggest producing managers in
this country TO play their attractions
In our theatres and were In a position
10 take this attitude owing 10 an OK
| elusive booking arrangement entered
INTO years ago, when conditions were
Best for Public.
The National Theatre Owners and
operators, in taking this step, con-
sldercd the conditions very thoroughly.
and came to the one and only concl,,-
sion. that 1T was for the hes. inter
ests of themselves, the theatre going
| public and the theatrical profession
generally, that they ought not to be
allied with any partisan theatrical
combination to the exclusion of Others.
Il am only one of many who real
| lied the necessity of this course. but
as already stated this is a universal
movement that involves the entire the
atrical business of this country. and is
OF vital Importance to everybody in
| terested Electrically.
FROM local standpoint. I wish to
state that the object of the Leath
Theatrical Company is to place its
nigh class theatres in this city at the
disposal of all attractions obtainable
that the public would care TO witness.
and that as the theatre going people
or the city must know, there is sufii-
cient time during the season for the
| Academy to accommodate all high
class attractions obtainable In other
words, the city is not in need Of an
other theatre, but Is in need of mora
| meritorious attractions in the theatre
which 1t already has,.
I'm conclusion I wish to state that
all attractions. whether they be Klaw
| & Erlanger. Shuberts, Liebler & Co..
| Savage, Frohman, Brady. Cohan &
Harris. Wagenhals &; Ilemper, Woods.
or those Of any other legitimate pro-
| ducing manager, are welcome to play
| the Academy of Music. this city. That
is the policy of all the theatres now
members of tho National Theatre
| Owners Association"