Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-03
The TheaterS
BY SHIRLEY OLYMPUS


pairs Of burning ears yesterday, for
Henry Miller, actor producer
was talking about the women and their
influence upon the drama. What Mi.
Miller had to say was not exactly
complimentary, hence the burning ears.
AS he sat in the office of the Mason
opera house conVersing generally and
generously-he gave utterance to some
facts which will bear repeating. From
| his experience as an actor of undoubt-
| ed standing, q producer of artistic ex-
cellence and a manager of more or less
| financial success. Mr.. Miller is fully
qualified to speak upon stage to2':s.
A man who gave us 1.-THE Great Dl-
vide' knows what he's about when he
| discusses the stage and the people
Yet Mr. Miller declares vehemently
that he knows nothing about matters
theatrical.
"If there were no women in the world
there would be no theaters," said Mr.
Miller. "It is upon the patronage of
women that managers build their hopes
of success. The aforementioned tired
business man who goes to the theater
for relaxation is largely a myth. In
stead of going to the theater he would
prefer to go to his club or even stay at
home. When you find him in the the
ater he has ben dragged there by a
spouse, ambitious to be seen of women.
tastes of women that producers select
plays, for without the patronage of
women there would be no receipts,
hence bills could not be paid and the
theater would fall into bankruptcy.
"Just what sort of plays do women
demand? Be it said to their discredit
that they want something sensational,
something morbid or something distort
ed. The wholly clean and refreshing
fails to catch hold as a general rule.
Women feed upon excitement. They
demand thrills. They desire to see the
ugly things in life depicted upon the
stage, and they declare that such ug-
liness is life, everyday life. But 1T isn't:
Ugliness is life distorted, and as 1t
should not be lived. They call such
ugliness the naked truth. oh, piffie!
The indecencies of humanity are it's
blacklist lies.
'nThe theater is the peephole for the
public And oh. how many Peeping
Toms and Polly Prys rush to that peep
hole with hope of seeing something
Just a little naughty, just bit sensa-
tional, just a trifle off color or just
mite abnormal!
"It seems strange to me that moth
ers, who are so careful as to the friends
of their daughters, will allow those
daughters to make the worst possible
mental associates through the medium
Oh lDG Dldys w lletI WOlliCil llSON
is not the ballot, but more common
sense. Until such time as women
patronize plays like 1.-THE Fortune
Hunter" which when seen leaves one
refreshed in mind body and soul, and
refuse to lend their aid in making such
plays at "The Devil" a success, the
theater cannot progress very far.
81 would not have the public feed
upon mental baby food. But I would
have them cease trying to eat dramatic
meat slightly decayed, which causes
psychical indigestion"
Hal stephens and his company will
head the Orpheum bill for next week.
Mr.. stephens will present scenes from
Toms cabin" and rip Van Wrinkle" ="
Louise Myers is the star member of
Myers, Warren and Lyon, who will be
seen in a hodgepodge entitled "a Little
Bit of Everything" This act was seen
here last year and made tremendous
hit. The six Abdallahs are Americans
and not Arabs, as would be supposed
from their name. They do tumbling
and athletic act. The Joseph Adlemann
family will offer musical turn. Rock
and Fulton, the sensational dancing
team, are the headliners of the hold
overs. Others holding over are Free
man and company in TONY and the
Stork," the Neapolitans, singers Of
popular classics. and Work and over,
gymnasts.
At the Pantages theater the headliner
will be Daphne Pollard and her COM
pany in a musical act, "a Dolls Shop." "
Miss Pollard is known all over the land
for her association with the Lilliputian
opera company. Others on the bill will
be Camilles miniature dog circus. an
act which should please the little folks;
Allan Show, card and coin manipulat-
or: the Haskins- Graham huo and the
Variety trio. singers Of popular song