The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-07-15
Manager w. A. Kinney Points Out
AlIurements Of What He Calls
Biggest Sucker Game"

"Theater owners all over the coun-
try have just passed a season that put
dent in the profits OF several good
years, AID yet in a field already over
crowded, we hear OF projects for
more play-houses," Such is the state
ment of w. A. Kinney. formerly man.
ager OF the John Hopkins theater IN
Louisville. Ky Continuing Mr.. Kinney
said I'm running a theater in Louis
vile which seats 5000 people, we
have lost In about IA months, $4,000
in popular-priced vaudeville, booked
by one OF the big vaudeville agencies
Everything looked very rosy at first
and myself and some associates were
induced to go into the business, but
ii has been a sad experience. The
trouble with amusement enterprises
ts that everything is so alluring, II Is
easy for promoters TO interest people
with money TO invest The promoter
can make a very rosy picture Of prof
It's on paper; he can present figures
that are convincing to those who view
matters only from the outside The
angel is shown house full OF peo-
pie, and as 1t is cash business, he gets
the idea that IL Is all profit He does
not stop TO consider that he is seeing
things at their best nor does he take
into account the expense OF running
theater. There are days, too when
on account Of weather, attendance is
small, but expenses go on just the
same.
Il am not speaking simply of local
Louisville conditions; the same is
true almost everywhere. Take In
dianapolis, where there are now two
theaters on the market, seeking new
lessees. Cincinnati has three or four
for rent, and | venture to say there is
hardly big city in the country where
such a condition does not exist
But to return to Louisville. There
are four theaters in which vaudeville
has been tried and found losing ven
ture. The Hopkins Is the latest OF
these experiments. The house is now
on the market for rent And yet We
hear OF projected new theaters. These
new promoters need not go TO the ex-
pense OF building for there are plenty
Of opportunities to rent. This Is the
situation as we in the business know
It.
"A business man before he puts
money into the dry goods business, a
grocery, or In fact any commercial en-
terprise, will do some figuring on the
assets and the chance OF success, but
in the theatrical business hot air"
statements are accepted as facts. It's
the biggest game there Is and failures
do not seem TO deter others from TAX
ing a chance. So the promoters have
easy, picklngs. going from place to
place with their alluring schemes.
nave IltllllOhtu
prises. but see how the picture shows
have multiplied under the popular i'm
preston that they are all gold
mines" Well-see what the result has
been with them. The patronage has
been so split up and divided that to-
day there is little or no profit in the
business. In New York City alone
over 500 picture shows were advertis-
ed for sale in one newspaper recently.
The simple fact is the whole amuse-
ment business has been overdone and
| marvel that there should be talk Of
new enterprises.
Il notice by an advertisement In
the papers within the past few days
that certain parties are trying to raise
capital in Detroit for a theatrical en-
terprise In Louisville. 1t would seem
plausible in turning to Detroit for aid,
that Louisville had practically turned
down the proposition so far as buying
stock is concerned.
THE Cleveland Hippodrome public
stock proposition was great lesson
to so-called theater investors. over
81 600, 900 collected most of this hay-
ing been subscribed by the public, and
up TO the present time, the theater
having been built over five years ago,
tho etock holders have mayor reolized
a cent on their investment
Men who know the show business
don't need the publics money and
men who don't know this business
should not be allow ed the privilege
OF handling the public's money and
my associates are very much wiser
regarding the theatrical business now