The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-01
A ca d envy Folk Heard
Mayor W. as Prepar-
ing to Close It.
w HOL E HOUSE
ALMOST SOLD OUT
Belasco Agrees With Wells That
."The Easiest Way" Had Bet
ter Seek Other Fields, Even
When Richmond People
Were Buying Every
Seat in Theatre.

Even when III. house had been prac-
tically sold out for three performances,
the Academy Of Music, by agreement
with David Belasco. decided yesterday
10 cancel the engagement Of Frances
Starr in The Easiest Way" which was
scheduled 10 begin on Friday night.
THIS break in the booking came sud
denly. For the past week there has
bten more or less talk that Mayor
l;ichardeon would not allow the pro
ductton TO be put on here. though up
TO yesterday he had expressed no
opinion concerning II, The Mayor had
conference yesterday with repre-
scntativcs Of the Academy, at which
he stated that while he doubted IL the
law permitted him 20 prohibit a play
the nature OF which he did not know.
lie would be forced to act on Saturday
IS any citizens complained TO him that
the first performance on Friday night
was coarse and indecent,
Expected to Close II.
While the Mayor did not desire or
attempt 10 shirk any responsibility
Mhich fell upon his shoulders. lie was
rather in the position OF the man seek
inE light.
Before he had been advised that
Bclasco and TIC Academy people had
determined to transfer the cnga cement
to some other point. the Mayor said
that he had promised TO give the the
ntrc anal answer this morning at 10
o'clock. LAS al present advised, . si i'll
lie Mayor last night, Il do no, see how
! can permit the play to be put on
here
But i, will not be necessary FOR
Mayor Richardson to give amy
iinal answer to-day. The Easiest
Way" Viii pass Richmond by The
thousands OF dollars which have been
i'm t I'm az ,.tt
and If the local folk are still so anxious
u see Miss Starr they must go to some
other city IN Virginia.
rut II Up 10 BclnscO.
When Otto Wells heard tn.
rumblings as FAR away from here as
Norfolk. he was quick 10 act. He real
lied tina ii would lie most unfortu-
nate 10 have. a repetition Of that Blue
Mouse farce. and rather than involve
Tho Academy ip any wrangle or CON
tention with the city authorities. lie
caught David Bclasco over the long
distance telephone in New York. eX-
planned the situation and suggested
that the Richmond engagement be can
Ceied. Mr.. Belasco was very much
surprised and upset. because no COM
plant had reached him from other
Southern cities in which Miss Starr
has been appearing during the past
Two or three weeks, but he told Mr.
Wells to go ahead and cut ii out. Then
Mr.. Wells sat down and wrote the fol-
lowing telegram TO Manager Leo Wise.
which came yesterday:
with view OF eliminating any pos
sibility OF contention with city author
tiles as to ccnsoring Of Tie Ia siest
Way we have agreed with the Belasco
management TO cancel the Richmond
dates OF this attraction
Must Refund BIE Money.
I,a "a
Wise TO refund all money paid o the
academy for tickets. This is quite a
considerable sum, for the sale, which
went on early Monday, was exceeding
~ heavy, and there was every indica-
ton that not single seat for any Of
the three performances would be left
tonight
II was not explained whether or not
the Mayor had received any urgent
complaint in advance against "Fhe
Easiest Way" though lie did secure
dozens of newspaper criticisms from
towns in which the play appeared 1t
is known however, that other big pro-
auctions were not booked for the Acad
envy through fear that they would be
driven away.
Miss Starr played last night in Co
lumbin, S. c., and last week she was
In Montgomery, Birmingham and At
lanta, where her truly wonderful act
ing lifted her audience above the sordid
lines Of the piece.
Some Tint Did Not Get BY.
The first production at the Academy
on which Mayor richardson put down
his foot was 1.-THE Blue Mouse" There
was protest from a few people in the
audience who did not leave the the
atre until the final curtain went down.
and while the company gave a dress
rehearsal for the police, instead Of the
regular matinee. and then eliminated
certain lines 10 satisfy Major Werner
and members of the Police Commits
sioncrs, Mayor Richardson would not
permit an abbreviated performance
that night hut no other cities stopped
sThc Blue Mousse
.1Charluttc Temple
Not long after that real wicked
show came to the Bjou and the All.
thorities chopped ii in the head after
the first performance. And then The
Girl From Rcctor's'' was advertised.
Seeking frst-hand information, Mayor
Richardson sent committee Of censors
to Norfolk to see the play, and on this
committees unfavorable report the
Richmond engagement was canceied
Several other cities also shooed THE
Girl" away.
"