The Washington herald., 1912-02-18
Honey Atmosphere of
Well-known Vaudeville
House Due to the Per-
sonaI Touch of Miss
Wnifred De Witte.
By JULIA CHANDLER NAME.

By JU1IA CHANDLER MANI.
An habitual patron of Chsse's !Theater
told me recently that he had never been
in a theater anywhere in America where
he had the same honey feeling as
here. He couldn't account for the SEN
/ sation Of complete comfort that seemed
TO steal over him as soon as he entered
the lobby at Chase's, that followed him
through the doors. down the aisle to his
seat, and remained with him through the
evening.
thought again OF his description Of
the atmosphere of washinEton's home
OF polite vaudeville when sat waiting
for Miss Winifred De witte in her apart
ment in the Cumberland last Thursday
afternoon.
For the atmosphere of the commodious
playhouse is filed with that same wom-
an-spirit that met me at the threshold
OF Miss De Whites home. IL is the per-
sonal contact OF its woman manager that
gives Chase's that indeinable honey
atmosphere which every one in Wash
ington recognizes and talks about, all
though they are sometimes at a loss TO
know just how to account for II.
told Miss De witte about IL when she
came in TO greet me.
Yes" she admitted II do believe
people feel at home with us, and / think
a good deal OF this feeling is due to the
fact that our interest in our patrons does
not stop at the box office. but follows
them to their seats. Our audiences seem
more like a big, happy family-strong In
opinions and frank in expressing them.
In leaving a performance our patrons do
not hesitate to stop at the office for
chat with me, in which they tell me
quite honestly If they disapprove any
act behind the footlights. They seem TO
feel a personal interest in everything per-
tanning to our performances"
While she talked of the intimate in
terest OF the patrons Of polite vaudeville
in Washington, / was thinking OF the
active personal concern Of the woman
who has imbued a big playhouse with SO
comfortable an atmosphere that folks
feel that they are being entertained most
delightfully."- at home instead Of in a pub
lie theater.
Impressive WomanIineEs.
II you found Miss De witte in her own
home and knew nothing OF her big sue
cess as the active manager Of a popular
theater. your first thought would be OF
her vomanIiness, and ! don't believe
that the gentle grace of her manner or
the subtle charm of her most feminine
personality would bring any suspicion
to your mind that for thirteen years
she has been 4 successful theater man.
ager, and before that
Yes: let's go back a little. for the yes
terday OF Miss Winifred De Witte is an
interesting story.
1 asked her to tell me OF the years be-
fore she was engaged by Mr.. p. B.
Chase to manage his theaters, of which
there were more than one when Miss
De Witte entered the work.
There isn't much to tell" she said
with characteristic modesty. My faith
er. who was a big New York manufac-
turer, died when my mother was twenty
seven years old. leaving her five chill
dren. When 1 came home from the con-
vent and found that there was a good
deal of enlargement in my fathers
financial affairs, l wanted to do some
thing that would add TO the comforts
of my mother and sisters. My mother
said there was no need, and there wasn't
from her angle; but / was ambitious
and II seems to me that ] must have
been born with a tremendous amount of
independence. for l cannot remember the
time when IT failed TO give me discom-
forts.
Clerical work was impossible to me.
could never stand having people over
me. could never endure anything that