The sun., 1914-08-19
CIRCUS ACTS BARRED
AT SUNDAY CONCERTS
City and Managers Agree on
Standard That Eliminates
Much Ta,,.-..
MODERN STEPS APPROVED
Ban Also Lifted on Tabloid
Drama, Most Singing and
MonOlOgues.
MODERN STEPS APPROVED

Just what sunday theatregoers are 10
see this season for their Sunday night
has been practically de-
cided through an agreement between the
theatre managers, the Police Department.
the bureau OF licenses and the Sunday
Law and order League. The entertain
ments to make UP the Sunday concert
will be greatly curtalIed. but there still
will be sufficient latitude for a pleasing
bill
Following activity OF the clergy in
Brooklyn who objected to the class OF
entertainment offered on Sunday nights
at Ebbets Field by Marcus Loew, the
police were stirred to renewed activity
and several complaints were made against
various managers. T0bn there followed a
conference between George V. Bell. Com
missioner OF Licenses. and Charles A.
Bird. representing the Shuberts; Maurice
Goodman and J. J. Maloney. for the Keith
and United Booking once interests;
Loney Haskell, for the Hammersteins
Nate Il. Splngold. for William Morris
Nicholas schenck. for Marcus hoew and
William Fox.
A committee consisting of Mr.. Good
man. who is general opunsel for the United
Booking Ofiices, and a representative OF
William Fox was appointed to make ar
rangements with Mr.. Bell and the Police
Commissioner so that the managers would
know just where they stood during the
N'"iHb ecaooh, WhUi pidcaSohy opchs
next week.
Many Acts Are Barred.
Under date OF July 2s. the managers
having agreed on the subject hotioe wss
sent to Police Commissioner Woods and
License Commissioners Bell that the vari-.
Gus managers were willing to eliminate
the following acts from their Sunday
night bills:
Horizontal har aces. Cat acts.
swinging ring acts. Monkey acte.
Tnmbling acts Coniortion acts.
Wire acts Jugeling acts.
Irapeze acts. Bicycle-Acts
Balancing acts Motorcycle acts.
Aerial acts. shooting acts
Gymnastic acts. Wild West acta
Athletic scts Circus acts
Wood chipping acts. Buck and wing dancins.
Dog acts. Wooden shoe dancing
Equestrian acts Weight lifting acts
Acts requiring tights. Teeth suspension ac'a
This list leaves practically nothing but
so-called talking or musical acts such -
monoogues, sketches, musical, instrv-
mental and vocal acts, and also ballroom
and soft shoe dancing, all being con-
sidesed of quiet and refined character.
The sketches would permit OF such acts
as offered by Sarah Bernhard, Ethel
Barrymore and other we'll known stars
who occasionally appear in vaudeville.
while the ballroom and soft shoe dancing
would keep such performers as the
Castles, Adelaide and Hughes. Joan Saw
| yer and innumerable other modern dane
ing acts within police approval.
Plan Now In Eject.
The plan submitted by the managers,
| II was said yesterday, has met with the
approval OF Mr.. Woods and Mr.. Bell and
practically went into effect last Sunday
| night SO few OF the vaudeville and
| other theatres which give Sunday night
concerts have opened for the season that
little notice was taken OF the curtailment
| Of the bill. II was said that not single
violation OF the laws. as they relate TO
| Sunday performances. was reported on
Monday by the police who visited the
theatres officially.
In submitting their proposition to the
| authorities the managers wrote that N
the amusement loving public OF New
| York were willing TO accept an entertain
ment with less variety the managers
would be only too glad TO offer such n
show, as II would cost them less money,
but to be confined to a fewer number r
acts than those left under the proposed
| arrangement would be tantamount "a
closing the theatres entirely on Sunday
TO over a million people.
Regarding the men who had made
the complaints the managers said that
they were the same men who had been
making similar complaints for about ten
years, and some or tnem Tor twenty yeatr
They represent the smallest minority
OF the public" sad the managers. They
not only ask for the strict enforcement
OF the law but threaten the city ofhcials
with the dire consequences OF their fail.
ure TO enforce T. strictly. They are well
intentioned gentlemen, but are unac'
quainted with the cty. with popular ne
cessities and public opinion"
The managers argued further that the,
u,ar. ap,i,Iad m 1iheral confederation he
cause owing 10 the large cost of the
atricai talent he Sunday show was Z
positive financial necessity.