La Junta tribune., 1913-08-02
ONLY MUNICIPAL rHsArsa
Regular stock Company pre~s, Only
Plan to Make Munieipai Ven
ture . 9veeooa

only municipal the2ter In the Unit
ed States. II was started a an e1-
pertinent, and as relief from the
yretched road shows which were be-
ing sent In there, but 10 successful
has been the experiment that the
municipal theater is an established
institution.
About twenty years ago u theater
costing about 100000 was given the
city of Northampton by one OF its
residents. T. Il. II. Lyman. Since
that time the house has shared all
the woes and difficulties Of theaters
IN small towns which do not lie on
the road taken by the better pro-
ductions
Each year the city leased the the
\ ter TO a manager. who procured what
attractions he could. One night 1t
might be a thrilling mclodrama Of
the cheapest type. and the next ii
might be Sotheru and Marlowc. and
the next night the house would
be dark The general effect was
a miKtur. OF the best and the
worst. with the worst getting the
best Of the argument. and ,he mana
ger and the city were running in
debt
A number Of the residents believ-
I'd that the clty's theater should not
be q drain upon the municipal trea-
sury. 4 year ago they sought the
advice OF Prot. George Baker. OF
Harvard. who is regarded as an au-
thority on things dramatic. At his
suggestion Henry Miller. the actor.
was called into consultation TO dis
cuss the adysability OF having one
company. owned. managed and direct
ed by the city, TO play Tor the
city whatever and whenever 1t de-
sired Bertram Harrison. an exper-
sic Bonstelle. for many years mana
ger OF her own stock company In
Buffalo and Detroit. were asked to
be the directors OF the new enter
prise. They chose a good company,
and on October 7th the Northampton
Players opened the season with old
Heidelberg"
The men who were responsible for
the new scheme put up the money
TO tide the company over certain
number Of weeks. II at the end
OF that time the cnserpslss gave
promise Of being self supporting the
city should assume all responsibili-
,y; II In debt. the company should
be disbanded. At the end OF the
sixth week the credit side Of the
company's ledger loomod up larger
than the debit. aud since that time
the balance In the tro. gury at the
end OF each week has been growing
steadily.
All this was accomplished not with
out difficulty. The old inhabitants
viewed With horror the city's go
Ing into III. theatrical buslncss. 9th.
ers. the mill hands. factory workers.
and shop keepers. declared that
the stuff the city you'd pro.
duce would b. too high-brow: the
faculty and students OF smith Col.
lege. on the other hand believed
that a stock company would play
only stale and worn out dramas. But
all thcs. factions have b,en won
over to the civic thcaior. aud ey.
eryone Is an enthusiast supporter
For twenty-five. fifty and seventy- I'VE
cents Northampton sees plays for
which broadway ls paying SEQ.
The attendance at the new thea.
ter has grown week by geek. and
Northampton has got the habit ol
going To IN" ,heai.r n. residents
are certain of seeing a eood play
acted by competent cast. and do
not run the risk OF seeing an indif
ferent road show played by mediocre
actors They don't car. No much
what they see now: they are inter.
es'ed in how their company plays,
The two from, rows every Friday
night are occupied by the members
OF AN honorary sorority Al Smith
College; the top gallery is practical
ly sold out every Saturday nisht Ia
the employees Of one OF the big fac
tories. and every "Wednesday after
noon a number OF gray hair~d 10
men occupy an entire ruv Every
emo speaks Of the ac,ors 10 THE
boys and girls" and are A. much In.
'ere.t"d In them personally a. they
are thcatrically.
The street car COMPANY pjsces