The broad ax., 1912-01-06
THEATRICAL REVIEWS AND
THEATRES.

The closing of the past year has
been very disastrous one for thea
tres and theatrical enterprises IN gen
eral many thousand of dollars were
invested in large productions, that
were put on the road. expecting to
reap harvest for the hackers and
promoters. but alas so many fell by
the wayside. That the long procession
of. travelling companies dwindled
down to only those who could stand
the heavy strain on their bank rolls.
This had a demoralizing effect on the
one and two night stand managers.
who were forced to see their house
dark night after night and in some
cases weeks. All such towns and small
cities have their picture houses and
the scarcity of the usual road shows
has been a great help to the picture
houses. All over the small circuits
many shows have completely stranded.
Actors have been left here and there
without funds to reach their homes.
Companies that were sent out by re-
putable managers, were given the us
ual two weeks notice and the cos
tunes and scenery were shipped to
headquarters and the shows closed.
Among the Colored enterprises it
has been worse according to the per
centages. ! can't give the names Of
all the small companies that have
stranded, but throughout the South
and West. there has been many.
Among the prominent one to close
or strand was the Jolly John Laskins
Royal Coon Co.. who had been toss
ing about for many weeks until Mr..
Voeckel, Manager of the Black Patti
Co. came TO their rescue and now
they are doing we'll in the south, as
soon as Mr.. Voeckel took charge OF
the Larkin Show, he Immediately
gave the members of his Dandie Dixie
Minstrels their two weeks notice and
closed them following soon after
came the closing OF the Down in
Dixie Minstrels which was owned by
Barton and Wiswell IN the closing
OF these two large organizations, 1t
left the entire South and West open
to Black Patti. Jolly John Laskias,
an under the Voeckel management.
The Tut Whitney Smart Set num-
Der two company. under the manage
ment OF Barton and Wis~ell, is also
in the South doing well. Mr.. s. n.
Dudley is a part owner of the No. z
Smart Set N the passing OF Pat Chap-
pelIe it removed n strong opposition.
from tfIe SOzth, as his RHbbhs Foot
company was out under Canvass Tor
the past II yeers and had made an
entiable rep1tation and large for
tune for the owner with all such TAed-
iocre shows remaining IN DIE South,
we have only one first class show 70
boast Of ard thHt Is, Mr.. S. II. Dud-
ley Supported by the ever poPuixr
Smart Set 50 far this is the best
show Mr.. DudIey has ever had. IN
fact no other Colored shows, such IS
Ernest Hogan, Williams and Walker,
Cole and johnson has ever furnished
as much comedy rs IS dispensed at
the Pharmacy of s. II. Dudley Is
DR.. Beans from Boston, the comedy
Dialogues osersAadows al the beadti-
fu1 music ard dances.
TOE question Of Colored Theatres
are stili N uuAGdry. ever since 1908,
NrAen the Iase isinensed r. Il. MottS.
founded and opened the FIRST COlOred
Theatre in TINS country. he has had
many isnitzsors, both by White and
Cosored competitors, both Of which
went as far Is TO steal his trade mark
the name 'Pekin," qzite a number Of
die virite owners in the South who
operate theatres for Negroes took the
name -PekiA" Is an allureaaenf TO the
Negroes well knowing that when the
word Pekin vas mentioned that Il
vas an inyitatioa for them 70 come
in. how many Negroes eN'h theatres.
that have aamed them PeLih. Here