Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-06

entertainments. 1t is popular with the
! performers and with the public. AND
therefore vaudeville has come to stay
Since vaudeville has become a eogent
! force in public affairs the progression
| or retrogression of l. is of public con-
cern. Every effort to uplift vaudeville
| should be hailed with acclaim, every
effort on the part of players, managers
| or the public to impede the progress
/ of vaudeville should be resented
Worthy acts should be applauded with
| praise and with dollars. Unworthy
ones should receive condemnation.
Standing as the very Napoleon of
vaudeville today is Martin Beck.
known by name to millions, but known
in person to few. Upon his judgment
the future of vaudeville rests. What
he calls good is good.
What he calls bad. is bad. That is
from the producing standpoint. He is
endeaVoring to eliminate ribald songs,
stories with doubtful, double meanings
and burlesquing of races and creeds,
which outrage the sensiblities of the
people.
Theater goers have seen and enjoyed
playlet called. THE Fifth Command
ment," presented by Julius Steger at
based upon the Mosaic law in the
decalogue: Honor thy father and thy
mother.
Aside from the artistic, there's
worth in 1.-The Fifth Commandment" >"
1t teaches a lesson and arouses the
moral sense. 1t makes the heart throb.
and 1t sends home the thought that no
matter what the condition of ones
parents, one should honor and respect
them.
That such theme can be used on
the stage is one of the remarkable
things of today. Most adaptations of
religious themes are irreligious and
often sacreligeous, as is instanced by
'Saloiue" or John the Baptist" The
interpretations of 'The Fifth Ccan-
mandment" as given by Mr.. Steger is
in no sense irreligious, nor yet is it
Sunday school affair. 1t carries it's
lesson, yet does not bore one. 1t in
structs and amuses.
How much better it is to sit through
a performance of such worth as that
given by Mr. Steger. learn lesson of
moral worth and be made' a better
man, than 1t is to watch some nim-
ble-footed freak, hear some lusty-
lunged individual sing ribald or at best
inane ditties,s ,sor see some alleged i'm
personator who does not impersonate
but burlesques a race or a creed.
1t has taken Mr.. Steger sixteen years
to convince managers that his sort of
performance is what the public is
waiting for. Has he succeeded? I'm
qualifedly, yes. To Mr.. Steger should
go full measure of praise. ."
He is uplifting vaudeville for he is
bringing it up to sincere and artistic
plane,
Under the guise of impersonations
more outrages have been committed
than can be enumerated. Especially is
this true of impersonations of the Jew
and the Irish. There is wit and humor
to be gained from the proper presenta-
tion of a Jewish character on the
stage. But is there anything but dis
gust to be had from holding the Jew
up to riiicule7 Martin Beck
has a grand opportunity to take vau-
deville from the disgustingly ridicu-
lous into the delightfully."- sensible by
refusing to allow any more out
rageous burlesquing of the Jew and
Vaudeville needs betterment. Vul-
garity seems to cling to it. Common
ness is ever present. There is much |
good in vaudeville but there is a world |
of room for Improvement. Why not