New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-14
WOULD OPEN THEATRES
SUNDAY OR CLOSE ALL
Charles Burnham, at Managers
Annual Dinner, Pleads for
Fair Treatment.
SAYS LAW DISCRIMINATES
Y L. Satterlee Wants Shake
speare for Children-H. w.
Savage Tells of Drama
in the East.

What the theatre managers Of New
York have done and what they are doing
,o- The theatrcgoinG public and what they
,,icbt do for the best interests Of the
theatre and for the development of dra-
matte criticism were discussed last night
AZ the ninth annual dinner Of the Asso-
citation OF Theatre Managers of Greater
New Yorl; The dinner was held in the
Hotel Plaza and was attended by seventy
five members of the association and rep
resentatves Of the press and the public.
The speaker Of the evening were Charles
Burnham president of the association /.
Herbert j. Satterlee. Henry W. Savage.
Renno'd Wolf and Arthur Brisbane.
Charles Burnham manager of Wallacks
Theatre. who was postmaster and spokes-
man of the managers, explained the work
Of the association and some OF the objects
for which its members should work
Regulation OF theatre licenses for Sunday
evening performances was among these
THE newspapers and others claim that
the public must have amusement on sun
day," Mr. Burnham declared That is
true. but il is not fair and Just that one
half OF the theatres should be allowed TO
furnish this entertainment when the other
half Is not allowed 20 do so. II the ex-
sting law restricting performances on
sundays is good one. let us insist on its
enforcement. II II is not. let us combine
atra a f,-f,, 1,N,F 70
conditions in the matter
The standpoint Of the man in the or
chestra chair was that from which Her
bert L. Satterlee discussed the efforts Of
the mana gers 10 a-nuse
We who sit out front thank the man
sgers In the main for what We receive.
You give us much that is good. including
the best acting talent in the world" Mr.
Satterlee declared. But there il one
thing think you are overlooking. That
IS the development in interest in the
theatre in the younger generation. IN
terest must first he aroused in the chill
dren. Shakespeaye's plays will meet the
requirement. ] do not believe a love OF
The drama can he perpetuated in giving
children's PLAYS for children. but II can
be IL YOU managers will combine to give
Shakespeare and the classics FOR thei"
benefit. You should jointly aid in oper
ating a theatre here where the plays az
Shakespeare would constantly be played
The Drama Of the Far East was the
subject Oh which Henry w. Savage. the
theatrical manager. spoke.
IN talking upon this topic, Nh Savage
explained the idea is 20 keep the 'turbu-
lent Savage as far from local conditions
as possible
Mr.. Savage then described the theatre
OF Japan with it's peculiarities.
Some of Us dramatic managers still
have ideals" he said, and the attitude ia
which the japanese view the art Is one
which il is desirable for rs 20 acquire.
The japanese ability in pantomirne is par
uculafly fine. even finer than anything the
peoples Of the Latin races have 10 show.
i IS worthy of the best imitation here
Rennold Wolf. introduced by tie toast
master as "a man who can write a play.
have a chance to review il and sometimes
give IL the only favorable notice il gets.
was the next. speaker. His discussion OF
-iit ii4tdIt war ~ Tilcl si't|ts
The relation of the dramatic critic TO
the theatre manager was Arthur Bris-
banes topic.
Some theatre managers seem to feel.
Mr. Brisbane declared. that they ATE Sc
veTely treated by the critics. | have never
heard critic attack a manager or actor
as severely as ! have heard managers
and actors attack the critic
TO succeed In anything. IL IS neces-
ssry 10 produce an effect. To produce an
effect is beyond the reach OF the aver
age man. II Is very easy to do 1T ~
smpooninR, and this is what the aver
are actor or manager would do with the
product Of another IL IL what some
critics do. yet you. as managers. encour-
age that treatment by fearing the man
and by putting up what he SAYS in cleo
ric lights whenever he happens 10 pat
you on the back a bit.
There should be a bstitutiOn OF care
~. truth for amusing oXaggcTation IL
en- tcism. and you, as managers. could do
4 great deal for the best interests Of the
theatre If you would recognize and en-
courage constructive uscfil and modcr-
ate criticism"