The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-05-19
CAPITAL CITY IS
VAUDEVILLE CRAZY
Little Theatres of Richmond Playing
to Crowds That StartIes All, and
StiIl They Come.
RICHMOND, vA-speciaI.-


trite saying of Shakespeare Mondy
night.
For the space OF two hours yes
terday afternoon and three hours last
night Richmond, or. rather. her the
atergoing element, was vaudeville
crazy.
A stranger within our gates, who
might have happened upon Broad
street last night, could not2haVe failfd
To have been impressed at the Sightt0f
the thousands who lined the sidewa -
on the north side of the thoroughf8re,
between Fifth and Sixth Streets and
seventh mad Ninth Streets, and who,
eagerly clutching pasteboard admis-
sion tickets in their hands. fought and
elbowed each other for positions in
the circu1tous, winding, squirming. SER
pentine-like lines which found an in
let only when the yawning, gaping
doors OF Richmonds Quartette OF Vau-
deVllie playhouSeS were reached.
The balmy and inviting air of an
IDEAL spring night brought thousands
out of doors and sent them scurrying
Broad Streetward. IL is no enthusi-
asts hyperbole to say that more peo-
pie by several thousand went down
into their jeans for the wherewithal
with which to gain entrance to one
or more of the four vaudeville and
moving picture emporiums yesterday
and last night than has ever before
been the case.
The opening of Richmonds newest
blJOu"ldIGlY
the home OF musical comedy and the
melodrama-was perhaps the chief
factor in breaking all previous records
Whether this condition had anything
TO do with II or not. each OF the four
theaters at each of their five perform
ances, played to capacity houses.
Some idea of the number OF people
who saw the four shows can be CLEAN
ed by the following figures: At the
Colonial, which house has seating
capacity of 1886, il was estimated last
night by Manager Ed Lyons that at
least 1000 people saw each of the
five performances, carrying the total
for the day up to 5000. .-
The Bijou. with a seating capacity
Of 1902, played to not less than 5000
people at five shows. according to
Manager William T. Kirby. - the
house was sold out at both of tie al
ternoon and the first and second night
performances-with a waiting line
that extneded from Eighth to Ninth
Streets-the estimate is considered
conservative.
The Lubin. with a seating capacity
Of 500, likewise played to capacity
houses afternoon and night yesterday.
Manager S. Galeski estimated that
$500 persons would witness the hve
shows given by this house.
The Theato also came in for lite
share of the patronage. This little
playhouse has its hands full every
week in accommodating all who desire
line" is also the rule at Fifth and
Broad. This theater. with a seating
capacity OF $50, played yesterday and
last night. according to an estimate
furnished The Journal by Manager
WEIGH, to not less than 1900 people
and nossbly more.
When il is taken into consideration
that all Of the foregoing estimates are
conservative and may fall several
thousand short of the actual number
Of paid admissions yesterday. IL is
safe TO place the combined total OF the
four houses at $1,000.
According to Manager Galesl<i. OF
the Lubin, and he has given the mat
ter careful attention. there are no less
than 10000 theatergoers IN this city
who regularly attend one or NOR. Of
the four vaudeville theaters e.. ~
week. and Of these large percSntase,
if not majority, attend all four
shows.
When seen by a Journal represent
tatiVe last night the managers of the
respective houses were quite enthu-
siastic and in high glee. NOT one of
the four would entertain the idea
that the evidence OF the appreciation
and response of the theatergoers OF
Richmond is in the nature of boom.
1t Is a steady, consistent growth
that has been discernible fer the past
seven months or more. This is at
tested by the fact that every hous
has all the business il can handle.
| Were there another theater or two
although / am not in favor Of en-
couraging any more-there would stiu
! he clientele large enough tor all 20
| draw upon" said a well known the
atrical man last night. "As long as
the people are responsive and will
patroniZe the shows. you can depend
| upon us to be right on the JOB.
DO / think the thing is being over
done?" the gentleman continued, re-
Il - =.
| lieve it, / believe the people want and
will patroniZe all we can give them
| provided ii is OF the best and on a
high, clean plane.
Just as soon as someone gets care
| less, though, you are going to hear
something drop. On the other hand
Just so long as the present standard is
! adhered to, there will be plenty of
business for all OF us. and there will
be no need of encroaching on any
one else'S rights. We will have all
we can handle right in front of our
| respective houses"
The Colonial last week broke it's
previous record OF $4,000 paid admis-
sions for the six days, which feat is
attributed to the act of the Seven
! metropolitan Minstrels-the galaxy OF
youngsters who took the town by
| storm-and while the exact figures
or last weeks attendance are not Just
now obtainable, it is known that the
| PACNlOuS IlSn-WaIer mark was exceed
ed by several thousands.
The indications for the present
| week are excellent" Manager Lyons
said last night. I'VE are having our
hands full seating everyone who have
tickets, and if today's attendance is
duplicated the balance OF the week we
Will have no cause to complain"
| The playgoers of Richmond have
paid us great compliment on this,
our first day, by their appreciative
response to our endeavors. We look
for good week, and will be disap-
pointed If we do not have it," said
manager Kirby of the Bijou. I'VE
have few surprises up our sleeves
which we will spring from week to
week. Just keep your eyes peeled"
Business is excellent: couldn't be
better" said Manager Galeski of the
Lubin. We have one of the best
shows this week that we have ever
had, and the people are not slow in
hnding 1t out. We have no reason to
complain and are playing to large
and appreciative houses at every per-