davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1914-10-18
Current Week One Of Exceptional Interest in Local
The Producer and the Price
He Asks for Theater Tickets
1t Has Been to Meet the Exactions of Critical and In
satiable Public that Managers Have Been Forced Into
Costly and Elaborate Productions Lower Scale Of
Prices Would Mean Deterioration Of Present Standard
By JULIA CHANDLER MANI.

As might something of hornets
nest when temeit Sunday Whngous
nappaton productions demonstrated the
small attendance of The Secret" Following
typical many either etOrnehef or by during
the week:
Editor Washington Julia Chandler Manz review of last weeks
The Herald today she reads the theatrical
acting because they did attend the plays at two
lack of appreciation but lack OF
not to
these houses have been atheatergoer
for more than half century did
The when had but theater
for orchestra circle
price From three FIVE the
for the Of those
Now they S. Even during the
money plentiful Washington than today these prices
asking frequently paid little cents and
would leave the Office and
vaudeville The motion picture teater however is the
reduction of the regular theaters The
will so that
viii do the future take his
for than would for
thea. Many what atWsrd called
gallery the theater called the orchestra 1t
MANY OF that of the teater Owing
been unable take to the
the galleries and the gods
did attend theste without
advertised ladies would be admitted with
a personally known the
prediction
of its reporters firmly convinced
As well OF the prominent
more conditions that exist Washington exist else
where On recent visited several of the theate and
other hand the Strand large
full crowds extended half
way down tickets The s. ea and the
heWanW full
$500 VOWS Respectfully, -
'n''eo Oh rows 0 A L MUDD
The Washington herald., 1914-10-18

gowns alone cost the producer 5000. And
this was but a single item of the tre-
mendous cost Of the presentation, as the
cast was an all-star one, commanding
large salaries, and the mounting was
as expensive as 1t was artistic.
In such productions as have been made
by Sothern and Marlowe, Sir Johnston
Forbes-Robertson, William Fayersham,
and in many Of the big spectacular
dramas $4,000 has scarcely been adequate
to cover the cost
OF these spectacular pieces which in
Volve tremendous expense We will have
a notable example this week at the Be
lasco Theater when Omar, the Tent
maker" will be seen for the first time
in Washington. This Persian love. tale
which has been staged by Richard Wal
ton Tully, its author, and wilfred Buck
land, who for ten years served as art
director for David Belasco, is an epoch
making achievement from a pictorial
standpoint, establishing a high-water
mark for lavish and picturesque stage
adornment in this country. 1t presents
a succession of magnificent Oriental pic
lures. Mr.. Tully having reproduced with
remarkable fidelity the fascinating charm
and allurement Of old Persia.
In staging Omar a definite light
ming scheme was evolved and assiduously
clung to. Every one Of the many and
massive settings is suffused in subdued
tones. For the moonlight scene In the
rose-bowered garden Mr.. BuckIand has
introduced an entirely new stimulation Of
moonlight-one that is considered almost
a perfect counterfeit. Two of the set
tings call for the colorful lightings of
sunset, and several electrical effects
have been invented by Mr.. Buckland to
visualize an intricate dream-scene de-
vised by Mr.. Tully.
Prior to the arrival of scenery and
properties for this production Mr.. L.
Stoddard Taylor, manager Of the Be-
lasco, received q printed plot describ-
ing the number of exrta men to be en-
gagged before the production reaches
Washington, including men to take In and
put the show together. and electricians
and operators in the property depart
ment, aggregating forty-two. Accom-
panying this plot is a blue print of
each scene presented in Omar" fur
nishing the most minute details for set
ting the stage, which must be adhered
to in the strictest sense.
Nine cars are required to bring the
production Of Omar, the Tentmaker {"
to Washington. four Of which are de-
voted TO the scenery. and this produc-
ton is just one OF many which is build
ed on. so elaborate a scale that not only
must the public pay s. for orch Ostra
seats but hll practically every One Of
them, as well as those at cheaper prices.
II Mr.. Tully is to come out even" In
the financial end of his production.
And who is to blame for all this Ella
boration and cost?
Come, let's be fair for once to the
producer, and ADMIT that 1t is only to
meet the ever-increasing exactions Of a
critical and Unsuitable public that he
searches every known land for novel;
ties for his reyues, employs expensive
designers for the creation Of his sar-
torial displays in the production Of musi-
cal comedies AND dramas. pays enormous
salaries TO artists who have won public
approval, and mounts, his productions
The Washington herald., 1914-10-18
Co.mn.=NnudexiIIc.

The Cosmos promises a galaxy of
novelties for the first half of this week,
headed by Nan Aker and company, in an
Offering Of ventriIoquy entitled "A. B. &
o. Station in Operation" Barlow's Cir
Gus. with its troupe Of trick horses, train
ed dogs and other animals will be nov
city for the children, appealing as well to
the interest Of older folks. The Red
Raven Trio will present what is known
as a comic "hokem' sketch. Too Much
Mrs. Jones'" the Great SanteIle will give
an exhibition OF posing and teats Of
strength: Warren and Brockway will be
seen in a cork skit that is said to be a
corker and the Blanchard Players will
present the comedy sketch, Her First
Case" The first half Of the week the
famous Hearst-Selis News Pictorial will
head a collection of photoplays. Thurs
day, at the matinees the bill will be
ch changed.
Rossini's "Semiramide" overture, Bid
goods descriptive "A Motor Ride Tits
'Serenade." with duet for flute and cello.
selections from II Pagiiacci'' and from
Ofenbach's Tales Of Hoffman" Engel-
mans reverie. Lights are Low" a Sousa
march and other orhestral selections will
be featured at the Cosmos concerts today
under the direction OF Arthur Maxwell. In
addition to a pleasing program OF other
entertainment
The Washington herald., 1914-10-18
eUY BATES PoSTaz OMAR the TeNTt91KERs
HeArco
SeArco

popular actor from the Pacific Coast
Doris OLSON. in the title role; Frank Syl-
vester, as the harmless lunatic; Grace
Barbour. Albert Sackett, Henry Miller,
jr., Walter Regan, George Abbott,
Thomas Tracey. Frederick Wallace. Ali
son Skinner. Alice Wilson. and Daisy
Adamy are among others in the company.
The story Of the play is interesting
Helen Steele. the misleading lady" is
keen to play the title role In some anna
teur theatricals. and has been promised
by the author the position of leading lady
IL she will so work on the affections of one
John Craigen as to cause him to propose
marriage to her. Now Mr. Craigen hap
pens to be a very practical man, who has
faced all sorts of danger, unfiinchingly.
but has not had much experience. with
women. He is in dead earnest when he
does propose, and on discovering that he
has been made the victim Of a trick he
upbraids her. giving her some wholesome
advice on women in general and herself
in particular. She resents the bold state
ments and advises Craigen TO follow the
example of the cave men and seize a
girl. carry her away to his stronghold
and tame her. The words are scarcely out
of her mouth when Craigen abducts her
and takes her to his hunting lodge in the
mountains.
The next two acts tell Of the tanning
process, which is ultimately successful
after some very exciting episodes.
The Washington herald., 1914-10-18
Garden-Feature Films.

The Blazing Sea" will be shown today
at Moore's Garden Theater. II tells
story Of love and adventure on the high
seas, and is performed by a company
headed by Gene Gauntier. Supplementary
attractions include Keystone comedies,
and picturing of happenings within the
war zone OF Europe There will also be
q brief concert by the Garden Symphony
Orchestra under the direction Of Prof.
Harry Click.
George KleIne's hLm production. The
Lion OF Venice - will be the principal at
traction on Monday and Tuesday. The
scenario of the picture is based largely.
upon Sir Walter Scotts story Of the same
title
The Sky Monster will be the main
feature on Wednesday and Thursday. ~
monster Zeppelin airship plays an i'm
portant part in the production, and many,
leading players of the Universal Film
Company enact the important roles. On
Friday will be seen a INSTALLATION Of
Capt Marshall's comedy drama. Next
in Command" The Broken Promise
will be the principal attraction on Satur-
day. As a special added attraction Lit
tie Mary Pickford will be seen In special
single reel productions on Tuesday and
Friday. The daily program will also
include recent Keystone farce comedies,
timely views OF recent happenings within
the war zone Of Europe, and other film at
fractions.
The Washington herald., 1914-10-18
strapd-Feature FiIm..

THE Hypnotic Violinist'' will be seen
at Moore's Strand Theater today, acted
by the Playgoers' Film Company. that
includes Carlyle Blackwell. August Phil
lips, Lauretta TayIoe, and other stars.
Supplementary features include views OF
the war situation in Europe. a recent
Keystone comedy. and other film attrac-
tions. There will also be an abbreviated
concert by the Strand Symphony Orches-
ira of soloists.
On Monday. Tuesday. and Wednesday
will be a filmization OF Charles Dickens
The Mystery of Edwin brood with
Tom Terriss, the noted creator of Dick
ems character in the name part.
The Land of the Lost will be the
chief feature on Thursday. The leading
role is in the hands of Arthur Donaldson.
hitherto identified with the productions
of Henry W. Savage. The headline at
traction on Friday and Saturday will be
The Spy" an adaptation from James
Fennimore Cooper's famous novel The
enacting cast includes the foremost play
es of the Universal Film Company. The
daily program will be further augmented
by views Of recent happenings and Dat
ties Of the European war, Keystone com
edies, and other film productions.
The Washington herald., 1914-10-18
COIumbia ia-Chauncey oIcOtt, in
''The Heart of Paddy whack.

While Chauncey Olcott's new comedy,
by Rachel Crothers in which he comes
to the Columbia this week. Is a romance
of old Ireland advance reports credit il
with being different from the usual run
of Celtic plays. What 1t lacks in red
coated British soldiers and evictions,
hard-hearted landlords and other con-
ventions of the old-style Irish drama, 1t
makes up in a story of a bachelors ro-
nance set amidst the picturesque sur
roundings OF the Emerald Isle in 1880.
Rachel Crothers' former work in THE
Three Of U.s. and "A Mans World" con-
WINGED Henry Miller that she was the
author who could best give Mr.. Olcott a
vehicle which would show the actor at
his best, and reports say that Miss
Crothers' comedy is delightful play in
which Irish sentiment and humor give
establishment to a story OF strong ap-
peal to the heart Mr.. Olcott plays the
part Of a mlddle-aged Irish gentleman
whose ward returns after a schooling in
Dublin, and soon awakens in HIM dreams
that he feels he must crush Seeking to
find her a younger mate hf finds also
that the girl has a mind of her own, and
this opens up a situation which is said
to be rich in sentiment.
Henry Miller, who directs the Olcott
tours, promises an elaborate production,
the scenes being a series OF pictures of
Ireland at time when bell-crowned
hats, long coats, poke bonnets and full
skirts for women were the fashion Of
the day.
Surrounding the actor-singer will be a
notable company, one member of which,
Edith Luckett. Washington girl. plays
the leading role. Among others in the
cast are Charles Werner. Fleming Ward.
waiter cagliEAps Richard ouilter. siepA-
The Washington herald., 1914-10-18
CasinO-.EaudevIIIe.

A roIlicking revelry of songs. dances.
snappy dialogue and entertaining comedS
is promised for the offering OF the IA
nous Four Mimics at the Casino Theater'
The act Is a sprightly one and comes
Iauded well in the advance notices. An
other novelty will be the bear wrestling
and dancing offering by the Big Jim
company in its unique act Port and DE
Lacey will sing and chatter merrily in a
sidewalk comedy: Baby Gladyce, cleYer
little Juvenile actress, will appear in her
comedy specialties that have won her
much applause in popular vaudeville and
Lev. Palmore Will appear In a unique pre-
sentation of unusual juggling, with a
comedy background. At each perform
ance a selected series of photoplays will
be shown and the bill will be changed
Thursday. beginning at the natinees
Today from to 1890 D. m. a series of
concerts will feature a fine
orchestral program in addition to- vocal
ard other offerings. The added attrac-
tons for the week wfii include the FUR
niture store" with some fine gifts to
lucky patrons, tcmoyroWrnsknt; the ccun-
The Washington herald., 1914-10-18
aELEN. VAN BUR EN-,
G3yeEy

comedy entitled "In Dreamy Mexico"
written and produced by Joseph X. Wat
son. The piece was especially written to
exploit the talents of Joseph K Watson
and Murray J. Simons, who will head the
production. The pair will be remembered
as 'Brushky" and ''Rushky," characters
drawn from life and which they have
made famous all over the country. In
the new piece they will be seen as He
brews who have many adventures They
are business men, dudes, generals and
bull fighters in turn and their escapades
are carried through a series of scenes.
Supporting Watson and Simons in the
cast are Helen Van Buren, Fay Odell.
Irving Hay, Howard Hall. Phil Smith,
Arthur Brooks, and Ed. Weldon. Be
tween the first and second acts there is
an olio OF vaudeville acts including Jo-
seph K. Watson and company. Helen
Van Buren,. and the Temple Quartz. Fri
day night will be country store night at
which performance the management has
selected for distribution many gifts for
the lucky ones.
The Washington herald., 1914-10-18
PoII.-"The Master Mind,

POITS-sThe Master Mind.''
The Master Mind a drama OF mys-
terry, in which Edmund Breese played
for six months at the Harris Theater.
New York, will be the offering of the
Poll Players this week.
This drama has for its central char
acter a man who decides cold -bloodedIy
to be a criminal in order to avenge the
death OF his brother. who has been
hanged for murder. The object of the
Master Minds vengeance is the district
attorney, and how this revenge is plan
ned shows the diabolical cunning of the
avenger. young girl falls into the
hands Of the criminal. He protects her
and sends her to Europe where she re-
ceives an excellent education. Then she
is brought back to America and a
scheme is perfected whereby this girl is
introduced to the district attorney. As
has been planned, the official falls des-
perately in love with the young woman.
and she becomes his wife. Now comes
the revenge of the criminal. Just at the
moment when the official is about to be
nominated for governor. the Master
Mind who has secured Q position in the
officials household as a butler, exposes
the girls past and threatens to publish
the news broadcast. thus destroying the
officials public career. But just when
the Master Mind Is ready to taste the
sweet fruits of his long-sought revenge.
his love, as a father or guardian, for the
girl gains the mastery of his meaner
nature. and in the end there Is a happy
and romantic climax.
Carl Brickert will have unusual acting
opportunities in the role of the Master
Mind. while Jane Morgan will be seen as
Lucine, the girl who is ur"A as trap for
the district attorney.
The Washington herald., 1914-10-18

with a laVishness which takes no ques-
ton OF cost into consideration.
Should Mr.. Mudd's prediction that "the
motion picture theater will compel a re-
duction of prices at the regular the
aters" ever become a reality the same
hour will, of a necessity. witness the
beginning of the deterioration OF dra-
matte production in its every phase,
for II is a matter OF certainty that the
standard now demanded by, and given
the theatergoer cannot coexist with any
material reduction in the present price Of
theater seats
The Washington herald., 1914-10-18

This protest, like many others recefveo''
berrars the point of my original com
rnent. which did not include the folk
who are not financially able to pay S
for a theater seat, but rather those
who, to quote the editorial. ENJOY the
theater and are fortunate enough TO
have the price Of seats.
It was not the matter Of difference
in cost that packed the Belasco Theater
throughout the engagement OF the NC
Intyre and Heath conglomeration and
gave meager audiences to Birds OF
Prey and THE Secret" for all three
attractions were presented in theaters
whose scale Of prices runs the same
a fact which shuts US up to the con-
clusion that the deplorable selection
made by the majority of Washingtonians
was a matter Of taste rather than OF
finances.
The Washington herald., 1914-10-18
CALENDAR OF THE WEEK.

BeIaseO-Guy Bates Post, In
GOmar, the Tentmaker.1
National SsThe Misleading
Lady,
COlumbia-Chaunee OIeOtt, In
'The Heart of Paddy whaek.,
P0IPs-HThe Master MInd.-
b. f. KeIth's High Glass
Vaudeville.
Gayety-The- Happy widOwa.o
COsmos-VaudeVfII
Casino-VRudeV1Ile
The Washington herald., 1914-10-18

Leaving the productions under discus
sion, and the cause Of their attendance
or nonattendance entirely out Of the
question, and shifting the argument over
TO the ground of Mr. Mudd's letter, there
is much to be said in defense OF the
producer and manager in the matter OF
81 prices for meritorious attractions.
1t is perfectly true that we saw the
old-time players, whose fame yet re-
mains with US, and did not pay 2 for
the privilege, but that was in day
gone by when playerfOlk did not COM
mand the salaries of today, and the pub
lie had not been educated TO demand a
production which means a fortune gone
if 1t registers a failure.
The salary of the elder Booth never
climbed higher than 500 per week,
whereas. were he with US today he could
ask, and get, 5000. Nor is this a salary
so unusual as to create wonder. 1t Is
Just the neat little sum which Gaby
Deslys is paid weekly for a few min
utes' daily energy which embraces
neither art nor ability, but the French
Lady Of the Lilies" has managed to so
manipulate the matter Of her publicity
as TO catch the fancy Of the morbidly
curious, and sensation seekers, and so,
like a score of other stage folk who
would not be worth their salt If they
had to depend upon any actual gift of
histrionisn, she is able to name her own
figures in the matter of salary, and
the astute producer whose finger is ever
on the pulse of the public finds himself
fortunate in managing her tour.
Aside from the enormous increase In
the matter of stage salaries the cost of
production has jumped to such proper
tions that even the 81 charge is not
always sufficient to assure the financial
- -.T111 q
musical show Lew Fields found that he
could not make money in his production
of The Midnight Sons" for instance,
even If the entertainment drew con-
tinuously packed houses The salaries
of the company aggregated such an
enormous amount, and the cost Of the
production was so great that even loyal
patronage was not sufhcient TO make II
a paying proposition.
Consider again the sets which pro-
ducers build for the drama of today
as compared with those Of even twenty
i've years ago, and the enormous diff
ference in cost Had some one sug-
gested to a manager in the days when
We paid 81 for an orchestra seat that
he employ Circassian walnut in mount
ing one scene and solid oak in an
other, he would doubtless have thought
that his adviser had suddenly taken
leave of his senses. Yet such costly ma
terial Is a common enough sight on the
stage today. II you remember the re-
markable mounting given THE Gam
blers," for instance, or had occasion to
examine the genuineness of the expensive
materials used, you already have some
conception Of the fortunes laid out in
giving a play such a degree of artistic
and elaborate presentation as is given
today.
And once more we must remember the
Eumptuous sartorial effects accomplish
ed to meet the exactions of the present
generation in the matter OF things the
atricaL
In David Belasco's production Of
Years Of Discretion" Efhe shannon's
The Washington herald., 1914-10-18
D. F. Keith's-HfEh-CIas Vaude-
vile.

Sylvester Schaffer will receive his
Washington introduction at the B. F.
Keith Theater this week. Schaffer's Of
fering lasts an hour and he gives al
least a dozen separate features. Sur
rounding Schaffer will be an array OF at
fractions affording contrast and balance,
chief of which is Ruth Roye. termed
"The Princess Royal of Ragtime." Other
features will be wellington Cross and
Lois Josephine, late OF "Oh, 1 Say" and
"The Passing Show of 19l3;" Franklyn
Ardell, supported by Ann WsrdeIl, In
THE Suffragette:" VIII Rawls and Ella
Won Kaufman, Gertrude Holmes and
Robert Buchanan, the Carbery brothers,
and the Hearst-Selig news pictorial To-
day there will be the usual concerts.
when the program viii present Nora
Bayes, James and Bonnie Tornton, Joe
jackson, Allan Dinehart and company.
Frank Wood and Bunee Wyde Vera
Berliner. Lucy Gillette and company,
Bert Crosman and Helen Stuart, and the
other popular regular additions.
The Washington herald., 1914-10-18
EATON TO LECTURE
FOR DRAMA LEAGUE

The Washington center of the Drama
League and the Washington Society Of
the Fine Arts announce a lecture on No
vember y by Walter Prichard Eaton, en-
titled THE American Drama-An Infant
Industry; with Some Reflections on the
Place Of the Theater in a Democracy"
The lecture will be given at Woodward
Lothrop's auditorium at As in the
afternoon.
Walter Prichard Eaton is well known
to all lovers Of the theater as one OF
the foremost young writer's on the sub
tect in America A brilliant and radical
thinker, he Is also a ready and engaging
speaker. better known in this respect in
other Eastern cities and in Chicago than
in Washington. Everywhere, however, his
name is familiar to magazine readers, not
only through his regular contributions Of
comment the theaters. but his short
stories and sketches OF various kinds. His
books, The American Stage Of Today
and "At the New Theater and Others,
are familiar to all who follow the doings
Of the stage and dramatic art.
AS the title indicates, Mr. Eaton 5
Washington lecture will deal with the
social aspects Of the present-day theater.
Tickets for this lecture may be obtain.
ed from the local Secretary Of the Drama
League Miss Ethel NJ. Smith, 2S52 On
tario road northwest -