Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-14
CHURCH PUTS BAN
ON NAUGHTY PLAY
Queen of the Moulin Rouge Not
Wanted Here, the Shu-
beFts Are Told
REFUSE TO CANCEL DATES
City Prosecutor May Take Steps
to Prevent Appearance
of Offending Show
REFUSE TO CANCEL DATES

Should "The Queen Of the Moulin
Rouge" be permitted to hold high reVel
in the Auditorium theater which on
Sundays houses the congregation of
the Temple Baptist church? Already
the question has caused much trouble,
though the queen and her encourage
are not due here until next Monday;
and it promises to make stllI more
before it is settled.
When it was first announced that the
musical comedy would be played at
the Auditorium the board of directors
of the Auditorium building at once
entered a protest. None of them had
seen the play, but several of them
had heard about il and what they had
heard was not exactly complimentary
to the queens morals or to the morals
of her court: Consequently word was
sent to the Shubert general ottlces IN
New York that the theater would be
mot at home" should the queen send
in her card.
1t so happens, however, that the
Shuberts hold lease on the Auditor
ium, covering every secular day in the
year, for which they pay at the rate
of $21, 900 per annum. 1t also happens,
now that the Majestic theater is being
used by Shubert attractions, that they
would a little rather cancel this lease
than not. Consequently they sent word
back that if the comedy were barred
they would regard it as a violation
of their lease.
BEHYMER Is POWERLESS
Following the receipt of this mes
sage l.. f. Behymer, the Auditorium
house manager, was appealed to. Mr.
Behymer, however, explained that he
is powerless to interfere. He added
hi ic that Of a
''hired man" on salary, who must do
as he is told, and confessed that he
had been given iron-clad instructions
to abide by the contract made by the
Shuberts with Samuel r. Rork propri-
etor of "The Queen of the Moulin
Rouge" company.
Recourse was then had to the mayor
and to City Prose Guy Eddie.
Clubwomen complained. Church or
ganizations protested. Yesterday the
w. c. r. L. added it's protest to the
others, and Mr.. Eddie made up his
mind to act. He organized an official
board of censors, members of which
will attend the opening performance
of the play next Monday night, pro-
vided there is any opening perform
ance. If that board decides that the
play is too naughty the city prosecutor
declares he will order it stopped and
will at once arrest the actors and man
agement. Representatives of the Fri
day Morning club, the Ebell club, Su-
perintendent Francis of the public
schools, Charles Farwell Edison and
one or two others, whose names Mr..
Eddie does not disclose, will act upon
the censor board.
Meantime Samuel E. Rork is in Los
Angeles and is preparing to fight. He
has refused fatty to eliminate certain
features of his performance. though
requested to do so by Mr.. Behymer,
who saw the comedy in Riverside last
Saturday night. He has employed a
local attorney to look after his in
terests, and he declares that if he is
prevented from presenting his show
damage suit viii certainly follow
Today the board of directors of the
Auditorium building will meet to de-
eide on a course of action. Under the
Shubert lease the board is empowered