Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-09-13
Oscar Hammerstein's Proposal and
Its Basis.

Basis for the proposal made by os-
car Hammerstein, that those commu-
mites of the United States annually
desiring TO hear grand opera for a
season shall assist him in the election
of a chain of opera houses across ana
up and down the country, is that the
great majority of American cities have
not now the facilities requisite to the
proper presentation of the works OF
the great composers. This manager
says, for instance that there are hard
" two theatres alike in construction
in this country, either in size of seat
ing capacity or size of stage, and the
result. he claims. has often been IAN
unjust Indictment of the producer OF
attractions" To send a production of
large pretensions ION the road he
declares, is next to impossible because
of the variations in obstruction of the
houses in which they must be present.
ed. One town has theater with an
unremunerative seating capacity and
a large stage; another has an
adequate auditorium and small
stage. THE result" says Mr. Ham
merstein, lis a cheapening and artis-
tic diminution of the attraction, un-
like the one originally shown on the
metropolitan stage"
There is weight in this Few COM
munities in the country are now with
out theater buildings of Il ereditable
character Many of these bear the til
tie of opera houses, but this is mis-
leading. They are SO constructed that
they can accommodate dramatic pro-
auctions of all kinds; this is their
orr in the
main, suitable for the production of
opera. In many of the larger cities,
before opera can be produced in
houses capable of staging the produce
tions and seating the number neces-
sary to financial success, numerous
and costly alterations must be made.
It frequently happens, too, that lat the
very time when the presentation OF
grand opera in those cities is other
wise possible, and might be profitable.
the only houses suitable for the pro-
auctions are engaged fer other pur-
poses
II is, of course. impossible to say
how Mr.. Hammerstein's appeal for To-
cal assistance will be received. Ex-
eept in rare instances, the task of pro-
yiding public amusement, particularly
of dramatic or musical character,
has always been left entirely to pri
vato enterprise in the United States.
This is not the case in many European
countries, of course. Some western
cities OF the United States have lately
been venturing upon the experiment
Of establishing municipal theaters.
Even though some of these may be
successful, that will not disprove the
American dissemination toward pat
ernalism. Mr.. Hammerstein, il is true,
does not ask for public aid; he is.
however, appealing To public senti-
ment and public enterprise, and it will
be interesting TO observe with what
result If, as he maintains, such
chain of opera houses can be made TO
pay, satisfactory proof of this is
really all that private enterprise is
waiting for. There is capital in readi-
ness for q chain of opera houses in
this country as certainly as there is
fer chain of mercantile establish
ments OF acclaim of grain elevators,
whenever capital is assured of fair
return on the investment. Perhaps it
is best that privatesenterprise should
continue TO shoulder the responsibility
for the business side of amusements.
Christian Science Monitor.