The Washington herald., 1912-08-11
Neus of Thedters

That washingtonisns are not the
only folk who have been handed gold
bricks by promoters selling stock for
the building Of theaters ID attested by
the note Of warning which IL being
sounded all over the country.
w. A. Kinney. former manager Of
Johns Hopkins Theater. In Louisville.
KY. made a statement In recent is
sue Of the Detroit Times which should
open the eyes Of people who have
money to invest, and make them less
creduious OF the aliuring representa-
tions OF the promoter.
'.Theater owners all over the ooun-
try have Just passed season that put
q dent in the profits of several good
years. and yet, In a field already over
crowded. we hear of projects for more
playhouses." declares Mr.. Kinney.
To prove his assertion he recites his
own experience as follows:
In running a theater In Louisville
which seats 5000 people. we have lost
IN about fourteen months. $4,000 In
one of the big vaudeville agencies
Everything looked rosy at first. and
some associates and myself were In
duced to go into the business. but It
has been a sad experience. The pro-
moter can make very rosy picture of
profits on paper; he can present ng-
ures that are convincing TO those who
view the matter only from the OUT
side"
Certain Washington gentlemen who
needed the siren voice Of the promoter
of stock In the Imperial Theater in
spring, will agree with Mr.. Kinney
that his statement IL not true Of Louis
Vile alone.
The belief in the success OF theaters
erected by stock companies. to be run
by folk unacquainted with the busi-
ness. seems to be spreading over the
country IN the form OF an epidemic
which invariably ends in a financial
tragedy.
The Imperial Theater, which opened in
Washington last spring. was q financial
failure. In Indianapolis there are at pres
ent two new theaters on the market seek
ing lessees. In Cincinnati there are three
or four more for rent.
Speaking of Louisville. Mr.. Kinney says:
There are four theaters in which vaude-
vile has been tried and found a losing
venture. The Hopkins Is the latest of
these experiments. The house Is now on
the market for rent.
THE Cleveland Hippodrome public stock
proposition. was a great lesson to the So
called theater investors. Over 5000. 900
wss collected. most of this having been
subscribed by the public. and up to the
present time (the theater having been
hut Eve arrl fhA Gfr n H.
ers have never realized cent on their
investment"
In the face of the lamentable experience
of business men with promoters selling
stock for the building of theaters in al
most every city Of any size in the coun-
try. these same promoters still find the
men with money TO invest easy to con-
vince with string of hot air when
they go forth to extract money from them
for a new theatrical venture.
Successful showmen neither need nor
want the peoples money. IL MesTs.
Klaw & Erlanger, the Lieblers, Mr..
Keith, or any other OF the large pro-
ducers saw there was an opening for a
new theater In any city in the country
they would not only have the money to
build the new playhouse, but would have
the attractions with which to book 1t,
which would make its success doubly
probable.
I presume there Is not a city in Amer
lea which has not been turned over again
and again In the mind Of every producer
OF theatrical attractions In the country
with an eve to a new theater. II the
men who know the business from A to 2,
who have the money and the attractions
as well as the experience, find no room
for a new theater, how is 1t that the busi-
ness man will accept a promoters hot
air" statements as facts, and without so
much as a practical investigation sink his
money IN the building Of a new theater?
This business is the greatest game in
the world the most alluring, and the one
in which the everyday business man has
the least common sense.
J. c. MANI.