The Washington times., 1914-03-08
If You Have Never Been to Burlesque Show Read
What Pleasure Julia Murdock Enjoyed at Gayety
Then Manager Peck Explained
the Censorship Board and
introduced Her to Knitting
Show Girls.

or which the Gayety Is one. And
what do YOU think is the principal
function of the organization-aslde
from its financial and booking Iela-
tions with the companies and thea-
ters? It's censorship board!
Just that and nothing else! As
strict a censorship as any poiice de-
partment ever exercised.
The Censorship Board.
Just think Of 1t. Klaw and Erlang-
er don't have any such thing. Inc
board that the Columbia Amuse-
ment Company maintains. not only
exercises supervision over the Ian
guage of the predictions, but 1t also
exercises its duties with regard 10
the quality Of he costumes and
scenery and the financial obliga-
tions Of the companies. There has
never been a failure in burlesque
since the company was first organ
lied some years ago. And there have
been very few idle burlesque people.
Profanity Is barred from the pro-
auctions The use OF damn -
perl1itted only under certain re-
And then as to the kind Of people
who make up a show. Father PecK
took me behind the scenes because
/ inquired as to how he young Ia
dies of the company busy themselves
when not on the stage.
You have heard all about the gay
burlesque actresses. There are thtr.
ty-six people in this company: And
I should say that fovr-fifths OF
them are women. And II I should
be called upon to guess, woulo
say that the company could COM
pete with a first class womans
exchange as to the quality and guam
ity Of crochet and embroidery work
turned out every week! That Is
what these giddv young women were
doing-knitting and crocheting ana
embroideringi And they seemed to
be as congenial rs the members OF
a big family. I'm told all the compa-
MES are alike in this respect.
Minimum Wage SIS.
Mr.. Robie told me his payroll
amounted to 1000 per week and that
his minimum wage was SIS. He has
one man drawing SOC. He told me
there were a lot of people in bur-
lesoue getting that much pay. And
he also tod me Of a man who made
more than $4,000 last year-a cont
eGian who Is under 4 long term con-
tract.
The burlesqus people are clanntsh.
They go on year after year MIN
the same sort of a show. Their
comedians and their chorus girls
draw salaries at about the same
rate as do the musical comedy and
legitimate comedians and girls.
The other people are paid In pro-
portion. The cheapest burlesque
show on the road this season has
payroll of S1.lJ0 per week.
There must be a lot Of women In
Washington who don't know any
more about a burlesque SHOW than
/ did That is the reason III writ.
in this In other cities tn shows
that play the Gayety here have As
many women in the audiences as
men, Here a woman. seldom goes to
such q place.
And there seems to me to be no
reason for Il. 1t Is cheap and It is
restful There Is nothing about It
that requires mental effort to un-
derstand. It is simple and direct.
There may be parts of it some-
times that some women wouldn't
fke--but that's the answer to the
vaudeville show. too.
In the language the immortal Pat
rick Henry would have used had he
ever addressed himself to the situ-
ton:
Il care not what other women
ray do, but os for ne-lm going
again! II that be treason to ira
dition-make the best Of IL"