Omaha daily bee., 1914-01-11

from him has been received a
kSE--szs& letter of some length in refer
YS4JD%St ence to the suggestion made
SAH<AA-~~ last Sunday that the producers
try the experiment of sending out good,
but not hgh-prced companies for the
purpose of presenting some of the higher
grade of drama at popular prices. At his
own request his name is withheld. but
some of his statements are of interest,
as presenting the managers side of the
question. and because of their bearing
or the broader aspects, and these may
be quoted without any violation of con-
fidence. On the main point, this manager
says:
There is no question in my mind, II
they would put out, as you. say. some of
the old standard plays, with a competent
cast at 81 top price they would do some
business; but the trouble is when they
were putting out these sort of shows the
city houses ever the country demanded
so much of the receipts that the COM
psnies were forced to cut down their
cast and production in order to live. In
other words. the city popular priced
houses killed the goose that laid the
golden egg Then came along the
picture houses and cheap vaudeville and
that with the depression over the country
has made it almost impossible for
legitimate theater to live. The companies
are demanding from to 10 per cent more
(of the gross rcceipts) than formerly. and
printing. bill posting, stage hands, music
and everything else has gone up and the
consequence is that more shows have
closed this season than have staid out.
People are becoming more critical every
year and harder 20 please Managers
must put more money into their shows
ane costumes. salaries OF actors have
doubled, travelling musicians and stage
hands scales are something awful. and
the railroads demand a ticket for every
performer and money for every pound
Of excess baggage will not check frames,
trunks nor bundles: theaters have multi
piled all over the country and IL we are
ever going to see any real money in the
show business there will have to be some
sort OF reorganization of the entire
business"
These extracts fairly state the chief
perplexities the manager is confronted
with In his effort to make both ends
meet in the operation OF his theater. and
deserve much in the way of consideration
: even II the statements be not novel II
isn't good form to say. II told you so,
but the reader will pardon the reference
here for this once. Fully twelve years
I ago this department OF endeavor set forth
the fact that theaters were growing faster
than audiences. but the building OF thea
ters went steadily on. Other features OF
the situation have been dealt with from
time to time, and warning given against
the coming of a day of settlement. which
day is about at hand. It was because of
this The Bee last week gave over some
space to celebrating a suggestion whereby
portion OF the theater's lost patronage
and prestige might be won back. and
why it is again giving consideration to
the topic.
In answer to the assertion that people
are becoming more critical every year,
and harder TO please:" The managers
ought to welcome this as a sign of the
Intelligent interest taken by the public
g. the theater. and should give II such
attention as would prove to the public
that it's intellectual attitude is approci-
ated. Instead Of doing. this the managers
have made the mistake of presenting the
same old things in the same old way.
with the result that the public has turned
TO the movies, where at least novelty I'm
situation Is offered. Not a week goes by
but one OF another OF the big producers
announces that some one of his produce
tions Is perennial, and that the people
never grow tired OF Il: points to big
list OF takings at the box office 10 sup
port his statement, and confident in his
own sapieney, takes little heed Of the
request for change. Then. all OF a
sudden. he finds the public is not in the
mood TO keep the old favorite" forever
aflOat. and the movies get the blame
for killing the show business"
City house managers may have had