The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-05-07


lage treasurer has refused TO pay.
Another clash with the attorne
occurred over the bill of L. H. Bus
for repairs. The corporation couI
sci claimed that inasmuch as MI
Buss was a member Of the board h
could make no contract for the vi
lage and that the bill was not lega
Mr.. Buss stated that he had been
member of the board for severa
years and that this was the first tim
that any of his bills for similar worl
had been questioned. The clerk wa
instructed to draw an order for tn,
bill
At the close of the meeting the CO
poration counsel stated that he still
had some work to do in connection
with the amendments to the village
charter and bylaws but that wher
this was completed that he SHOULD
not, because of the strained relations
attend any more meetings of the
| board unless so requested.
The following petition was read:
To the President and Trustees of the
Village of Bennington:
We, the undersigned, have investi
gated the entertainments now being
presented in connection with the
moving picture shows at Library
threaten and believe that the type
of vaudeville which is there offered
is harmful and demoralizing in.
fluence TO the young of this communi.
ty. We further believe that at the
prices charged at this tl.eater few
vaudeville attractions can be profit.
ably furnished that are not immoral
and inferior
We therefore respectfully petition
your Board that an ordinance be
passed, or E n order be issued by your
President prohibiting the giving of
any vaudevi lie act, excepting songs
by singers not costume, in con.
nection with any moving picture
show in the village, or at any public
show or entertainment at which the
price of admission is less than
twenty-five cents. +. H. Pope, Mrs.
William W. Burke. Mrs. Merrill Hitch
cock, Mrs. Robert +. Healy, Mrs. Ed
ward Smith. Mrs. Henry S. Bingham.
Mrs. Harry S. Moses, Mrs. Annette
Hollister, Mrs. A. Buel Sibley. Mrs.
John Purcell, Mrs Elizabeth Holman.
Mrs. Elizabeth Belrose, Mrs. Laura
B. Cole, Mrs. II. p. Woodman, Mrs.
c. Il. Galusha, Mrs. H. NJ. Richie.
Mrs. S. X. Wilcox, Mrs. S. A. Patter.
son, Miss Helena l.. Norton, Mrs. A.
M. Torrance, Mrs. Carrie Hawks.
Mrs. w. A. Austin, Mrs. p L. Dow,
Mrs. j. o. Burt Mrs. F. d. Carver.
Miss Nellie Barron, Mrs Z. L. Sib-
ley, Miss Stasia Coleman, Mrs. VIM.
Harwood, Miss Martha Sibley Mrs
j. M. Ayres. Mrs. f. B. Huling. Mrs
Theo. A. Carpenter, Mrs. Chas. r.
Farnum, Miss Martha r. Pratt, Miss
Hazel Mcleod, Miss Florence S.
Ward.
The petition was accompanied by
the following report OF the vaude-
vile investigating committee:
AT meeting of the board of CEN
sors held March 18th II was voted
TO have Representatives of the board
attend the first performance after
each change in the vaudeville at the
Library theatre. Censors were ap.
pointed who attended the first week
BY cooperation with the manage
ment the board was to receive com.
plimentary tickets and criticize for
yulgarity. There was no criticism
for the afternoon performai ce but re
ports we're heard of questionable eve.
ming entertainments.
lie board reported to the man.
agement which promised that moth.
ing but what the censors had seen
was put on the stage. The censor.
who had attended Friday afternoon
went again on Saturday and found n
soloist costume had been changed
Tor very immodest one. and the
song of the evening was vulgar. beth
the manager and the board then de.
cided different policy must be
used.
The following Monday a meeting
or the officers and those who had cen.
sored for the first week was called
a representative of the Young Mems
association was also present and
ADVISED us our first step should be
the securing of definite facts as to
what actually was being presented at
the theatre. Thus il became neces
sary to visit each entertainment for
a set period and each Objectionable
feature noted whether in costume.
song, motion or joke For the past
three weeks representatives have at.
tended twice daily with only few ex.
captions.
"Of the total sixteen acts six were
not criticised and were as follows.
One trained dog act, a one legged
acrobat, one acrobat and three sing.
ing acts. two of which were without
FANCY costume. The following acts
nave been criticised: A domestic
scene in which the wife wishes her
husband would get drunk like other
men. He overhears her and comes
nome drunk supposedly He orders her
around with revolver. and in the
end proves that he was only pretend.
ing. A second criticism during the
iirst week was of an Egyptian dance
IN which the dancer whirled i'm flesh
colored tights thus making the dance
suggestive.
During the second week a stout
soloist wore a closely fitted gown
which was open to the knee. There
was also a singing act in which two
girls wore black tights without
skirts. They wore trunks which
were gathered in about eight inches
below the waist The Friday per.
iormanee was the worst that has
been given. The possibility of its
being accidental has been put aside.
TOT two men we're on the stage and
they left at the same time. and the
iault was not remedied. One mans
trousers were unstitched while the
others we're open. The fault was
partly remedied in the evening. II
did not appear the second day.
On Monday OF the second weak a