The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-02-08
SUPPORTING The 4sHowp


SUPPORTING THE .sHoWp
The Banner does not care for any
more communications on the ethical
issue raised by the management Of
the opera house in statement re-
Gently printed in this paper. The
words in Mr.. Woods statement that
were objected to are not new, but
are from an old-time minstrel gag"
as old as the Bennington opera house
and probably much older, 1t wasn't
very refined remark and ought not
to have been printed.
The point, however as to support
ing the local theatre is a matter Of
public interest and worthy of further
discussion. The management of the
opera house thinks that the house Is
not properly supported and the pub
lie thinks that the prices charged for
ordinary attractions are too high.
The opinion of The Banner on the
subject probably isn't worth much
for 1t confesses to caring but little
| for theatrical matters, but our view
Is that the American habit of extrav-
agance is one-half the fault in this
case, and that the other half Is that
other Americans desire, to get rich
quick. Half our evils arise from
these causes.
There isn't a theatrical attraction
on the boards that, in the opinion OF
The Banner, is worth over dollar
to see, and from rs to rs cents Is
fair price for most of them. But II
isn't the fault of the opera house
manager that the prices are high. He
doesn't fix the rates On the other
hand, he is in the tolls of the theatre
cal trust and the booking combine
and is held up and mulcted at every
turn. The average theatre manager
in a small city doesn't get fifteen
cents an hour for the time he actually
spends trying to make the business
go.
In our view, the average actor is
not as valuable an asset in a commu-
nifty as a good blacksmith. good
plumber, or a good printer. Nor is
the average actress as desirable an
addition to the womanhood OF com.
munity as is the average housewife,
the conscientious schoolteacher or the
competent stenographer. The black
smith, the plumber and the printer
spend more time and honest effort In
perfectlng themselves for their trade
than does the actor, yet the man who
pays two dollars to see a show kicks
because the blacksmith charges sixty
cents for two hours OF hard back
breaking labor. The dressmaker. the
stenographer and her sisters work
from six to ten hours a day for just
barely enough to live.
Is she to be criticised because she
doesn't do more to support the &C
tress who draws from 5000 to $4,000 a
week, paints her face. bleaches her
hair. buys gowns from Paris, and too
often lives in open defiance Of the
seventh commandment?
Extravaganza and greed have pref
ty nearly ruined the theatrical bust
ness and the promoters of 1t, in the
words of the small boy. ARE getting
theirs" and the number OF mourners
is not large.
When the small group OF real &C
tors and actresses. the large group OF
near talent and the immense horde
OF the never was and never will be
get the business down onto sane
basis; when salaries are only on {
par with merit; when the booking
agencies and theatrical promoters o
extortion are willing to accept mod
crate profit; then managers OF SINAI
town opera houses will be able to &c
plenty OF good attractions at price
which people can pay and will gladl
pay, and there will be no troubl
about the size of audiences.
The business has brought Its pre-
sent troubles on itself by its selfs
greed and the moving picture house
are getting the job OF furnishing tn
public with amusement at living pr
ces. Being responsible for its ow
difficulties those who control the bus
mess can bring about reform Q