The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-12-27
On Jan. I5 "The Legitimate" Will Cease to Have a Permanent Temple in
 Bridgeport
New Policy of Park Theatre Occasioned by Failure of Public to Give Paying Patronage Best Productions Management Will Return to Leg innate if Patronage Wmrants-Present Season Shows Loss of Thousands

Bridgeport theatregoers must prepare themselves for shock. This city is shortly to be without a house devoted to legitimate drama. The Park Thea tre is to cease temporarily. at least, from its estate as the home of the best drama on the American stage, and will be devoted mainly to pictures and vaudeville. dating from January 15. 1912
 When the theatre going public has recovered sufficiently from the pain inflicted by this announcement, it wSll be asked to sit up and take notice tfon that it-the public-is to blame for the change. and that it--the pub lic-can have the old order restored any time that 1t will show that 1t wants the old order restored.
 The news of the impending transi- tion from stately drama to the light est of modern entertainment, was made today to a representative of the Farmer, by a no less person than F. F. Shea, lessee of the Park Theatre. Mr. Shea is an experienced manager. He has worked his way close to the top of the amusement business, be- cause of his intimate acquaintance with public demand in the drama line, and his sturdy determination to sat- isfy that demand He owns and oper- ates a chain of important thea tres, in which he has had an extended eex- perience. Yet MT. Shea confesses that he is confused, perplexed, disturbed and sorrowful over his experience in Bridgeport.
 CT de. not know what the people of Bridgeport awant in the amusement >s,s<. r7 x< f{~~l <,,xf I wtll give them what they want. I have been in possession of the Park Theatre for more than year. In this q time have brought here the shows that are famous throughout the rfnited States. the very best to be had, both sSndf4f fe and izdeps asient.
 -L<eaVin9 out the productions of last such peerless stars at Otis Skinner, Robert ManteIl, and Mary, Mannering," continued MT. Shea,s"I will come down to the offerings of the present season. Look over this list
 At this point Mir. Shea passed to the Farmer representative a slip of paper, upon which appeared, in condensed form, a list of attractions that have been played at the Park, since Septem- Der. This list is necessary to com ple.e understanding of the case. 1t is appended and is as follows:
 sam 6ernaTus GTdcc Vdu OluUulIoIu, Wilton LAckaye, New York Symphony Orchestra, Robert Mantell. The Dollar Princess, As Man Thinks, Francis Starr, Otis Skinner, Bright Eyes, Richard Carle, George Evans Min strels. 'srhe Man From Home'', ''The Girl Of My Dreams. Margaret Anglin, Madame Sherry, Rebecca of Sunny brook Farm, Douglass Fairbanks, Mary Mannertng. Leslie Carter, Grace 3eorxe. Chauncey Olcott. Excuse Me-. 'Thy Neighbours Wife, "The Woman. Naughty Marietta, Mad anne X'. valeska Surratt, lover Night, ''Baby Mine', Henrieet Cross man. The Russian Dancers, Harry Lauder, Marie Dresler. "The Girl of the Golden Vest Pucinnfs musical version), Elsie Janis, 'fThe Spend thrift, May Robson. Maude Adams, '"The Chocolate Soldier, Charles Cherry, Margaret Ellington, The Drama Players, Ralph Hertz, William Faver- sham. v-
 II believe I am safe in saying" con- tinued Mir Shea, "that few, if any theatres in cities the size of Bridge