New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-29
David SeIasco Talks.


uayid Belasco. who last November was
quoted as predicting dark future foF
theatrical interests in New York. was en-
uhstc in his agreement with Mr.. Woods :
views
EVERYTHING he says is absolutely so,
declared Mr.. Belasco. The city is so
oyercrowdcd with theatres that managers
are unable 10 supply them with proper
plays and proper casts. And they are
cbaveing s. for something not worth 81
cents 10 see.
What ] cannot understand is how so
mauy managers can get Wall street men
70 finance their theatrical enterprises
often they accomplish il through deceit
and sometimes even through blaekmaH
II is astonishing how successful these
methods OF money getting are
The overcrowdine Of the field makes
Ultimate success practically impossible
ror even If plays are successful there is
not a large enough audience to support
ibs,n all At the beginning OF this sea
.on. for instance. a good many OF the
p!ays offered were so-called successes
They were good productions. The| hdu
been we'll prepared on the road duIihe
the end OF last season. But they did not
succeed financially. The outlook for next
season is much worse than the outlook
asst year was for this. There are no
,lavs being prepared on the road now for
tre.euiation here next season. And In all
the capitals Of Europe combined there
have not been three successes TINS year
90 that American managers going abroad
In the spring will have lean pickings for
next year.
Every one is at present hoping that
some surprises VIII turn up. A rumor
is going around. TOO. j hear, that next
season viii be one OF revivals Of the
classics In answer to that say tha'
/ there are no classics. We have some
standard plays like The School for Scan
cal which has been revived TO death'
The only way 10 make success OF the
i old PLAYS. including those Of Shakespeare
1 and such plays as She Stoops 10 con
1 per' Love Chase etc, is for the gov
4 eminent TO endow a theatre In winch 10
asy them. because the public will not
ntronize them freely enough to pay "A
4 manager for IeViNlnS tHeIi'
srouoht up with Great Actors.
Il myself. would De delighted TO revive
them again, as ] did in years past !
was brought Up with the great actors
and actresses who played only Shake
speare and the plays OF the so-caiieu
Yellow Book And ] know all that bach-
ground well. The young people OF to-udy
forget that / have produced all the oiu
Pays And now that l own my own
theatre here hope some day TO 90 the"l
again merely for the pleasure oi the oo'
Ing
Just row ! am too much occupleu
and worried over trying 10 find ma'eiidi
for next year 10 have time even 10 eat OF
sleep. II Is almost impossible 10 ma
play good enough TO produce
1T Is not only New York. mind YOU
that IS Electrically oyercro~ded. Every
town and hamlet in the United o'a'es
ererAowing with anusements ana moving
picture shows And all that does 'he
K drama no goodd.
Managers. instead Of being sohd men
With theatrical ability, are TOO often men
Without money but with the 'Sift OF gap.
They ind people who arc wiliinS 10 oach
them And there are any number OF rlch
men who are willing TO back anythihs'
lsricUlarly pretty Young women WHO
~nt know how TO act.
Ia the American theatrical IRE 'he'e
q too much kindling and not e"ouB"
sood ai1 coal"
William s. Brady delivered as suons
'punch" in his agreement WIN MI
Woods as Nj Woods did in his own state
msnt lie said
Yes, think a theatrical panic IS hkei5
70 Come panic OF lneXperiencc. III VIII
asye its beginning with the butchers'
socers. suspendcr merchants ana poo'-
usek kings who have been breaking
"sir necks 10 burst into the moving pct
'e business These people appear 10
aase gone stark, staring mad. wherever
mere Is a vacant lot /, seeVs 10 be the
''h'on for the delicaiossen men, sh'c-
y"Aers and cheescmongsrs In the neigh
Fnood to begin figuring how 10 turn u
scconnt FOR moving picture exhio'-
'A' there are lunatics IN The rcgu'a'
FEeai business aIso--ths men WI"
missing all over Europe Offering i"p'
~ ncAutes Tor uDtrcd plays ana our
.s''s one another for The next "orh
A'y Amecican author VINO has n'a"c
"'esas o. roo; the managers VINO sN'