Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-19
THEATRICAL PLANS
UNAFFECTED BY THE
EUROPEAN WAR
Audiences, Hopefully In
creasing, Indicate Passing
of Depression-Forecasto of
Coming Amusements.

Laughter ard tears, Joy and grief-ot
+bese are the vital hours Of life. Work.
adav human existence too often runs
along with humdrum monotony. with no
r.,lef of keen laughter or weeping; for
truly supreme joys and tragedies are
rare I'm the span Of the individual life.
rhorefore. it is well the humdum, the
,es,i,ar rythm. should bo broken, If vica-
rlously, by partakinE in the mimic play
NJ the eternal comedy in all its phases
on the stage.
Drama and romance are perpetual In
thcIr appeal to the heart of man and
woman. for they are verify the leaven-
inr elements of our often drab and dreary
davs. Read novels, go to SEQ plays
Won will live all the more kecnly. work the
more efficiently, think the more clear
ly. Get away from tho everyday; rise
from the rut of mechanical working and
c,ting aud thinking and be refreshed with
,hn tnerrlueflt or sadness of the novel
and tho play. From Shakespeare to Gus
THOMAS Sophocles to Bernard Shaw, Ar
;stnnhanes TO George NJ. Cohan, humanity
has laughed and wept, and escaped the
tcdium of lfe's routine, through the MINI
Gus, It is well to enter into the temper
ing stimulation of human sorrow; If In
trouble. If worried by your own diff
culties. you can further study the prob
lens of social life, domestic life and
business life on the stage; if you arc IN
sorrow, you can then submerge your dis
appointments and losses in melowlng
mlrth.
Philadelphia has always been pre-emi-
nently amusement-lovlng and, with New
York enjoys the highest class dramas
aud most elaborate musical comedies.
During the summer, and for the past
weeks the audiences at the theatres here
have certainly not been what the box
Offices might desire. nor, indeed, what
q sane, well-regulated life, on part
of the people, should inspire. VIII the
war continue to affect the drama? VIII
it keep people from the theatre?
OPINIONS OFF PRODUCERS.
During the Civil War" said John
Mason the other day, "the theatres were
crowded. People wanted to forget their
sorrows and the horrors of war. believe
that, presently, when the first shock Of
the European catastrophe is over, the
theatres will FILL"
This Is the hopeful opinion of managers
who, despite the temporary depression in
business, are steadily booking notable at
fractions for the local theatres.
"We believe the present season will be
one of the greatest in the history Of the
theatre" declared George NJ Cohan. 1--WE
are going ahead with all of our plans,
which include many new productions. In
fact We are conducting our business as If
no war existed. Reaction from depress-
ing war news will bring the public into
the Dlayhouses in greater numbers than
ever"
1t is significant to note that during
the month of August ten new plays
were produced in New York. equaling
last years record. OF the ten, but three
have failed, Twenty plays were produc-
ed or revived in Manhattan during Sep
tember, 1918. For September. 1914, four
teen New York productions have already
been announced, and 1t is said that by
October lust years record will have been
broken.
As an indication of the passing of the
war depression. the size of audiences at
tho theatres here slightly, but signih- |
ranty increased during the past week, |
and it is evident that Philadelphans, in |
stead Of broodng upon tho cabed hor- |
Tors and the wars effect upon business, |
VIII wisely brighten aud seek desired |
aud wholesome diversion IN the coming |
nlys one may "be good at a fight" or |
ho carried away hy the horrifyinG con- |
temptation of a Continental cataclysm, |
lnt after ALL as Tom Moore said its |
pattor ut a PLAY"