The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-24
NEW YORK PEOPLE
 LIKE AMUSEMENT
More Theatres Than Paris
 and London Combined
EARLY EXPERIENCES
William Hanlon Tells of tSrenuous Days in St. Petersburg-Detec- tive Play "The Trap to Be
 Presented This Spring
By JAMES GRANT THURsroN


 New York. M'rch 2s.-tSpecial.)-N Workers are cer' ftnly an amusement lov- ing people and 1t may also be said that there is no lack of kind hearted persons ready, willing and able to zee that they are amused. of course for a proper con- sideration.
 The fiat statement for example that New York has more theatres that Paris and London combined seems incredible but the facts bear out the assertion and the great majority If not all of these play houses are financially successful.
 There are today in greater New York 7s theatres of the first class By this mean theatres which produce only the best plays, cater to tthe higheh priced audiences. In addition to this there are fully as many more requiring first class theatre licenses but which give the cheap CT kind of drama at lower prices. This does not indicate all the places open to the amusements-seekin public Since last June the fire department, has granted 224 permits for the operation of | public places of imusement including ] concert halls and opera houses. and the 1dy OI DuISdu OI DCtDSeS ndS TttO1dS | which indicate that there are in existence
 today upwards of 5000 establishments for l the exclusive exhibition of motion pie | lures in the greater city.
 | Within the last year there have been
 more theatre sites purchased outright or leased for long terms than in any previous year, more than a dozen new playhouses now being in process of con stuction in various parts of the city. Tho fntltip1ipatinp nf of ba moderate price kind is taken to mean by some that cheap cost amusement is what the public wants nowadays. One of the well known theatrical managers however, is of the opinion that the out side or smaller theatres will have but slight, if any effect upon first class houses. One of the reasons he advanced for this was that 1t was the play which drew the crowds, and the best play would always be booked first for Broad way houses. as the better class theatres are styled.
 Another reason advanced was that the patronage of leading resorts was prinei- pally obtained from visitors. neighboring hotels and clubs, who naturally want the show place near the other attractions of the theatre district which other parts of the town do not possess. Thus, second class and cheaper theatres are not re- garded by the big managers at least publicly, in the light of competitors.
 The theatre from the. viewpoint of an assest of the city is quite an item in the way of tax revenue as, In round figures, real estate utilized probably represents investments of more than S3000o0, 600. But with the citys interest In view that Is not ell, for, in addition to paying taxes 1 on their equipment rents, theatre owners | haze to pay for license to do business. These licenses costvs500 per anffun. For merely,s when one wanted to expiriment
 the worth of location, he could get a 1 license for three months at an outlay of | S250 but since the law was changed last year. one wishing "try-out has got to pay as much for one month, and license for two months costs as much as one holding good for one year. I am going to express an opinion to whether or not New York Is over theatred. If it Is some of the houses will have to shut up shop. If they can all make money it is pretty good indication that they are needed
 William Hanlon of the famous Hanlons was telling recently of some of his early experiences.
 We were in St. Petersburg" says MT. Hanlon. and 1t was time for the great