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

laughter and tears, joy and grief-of
these are the vital hours of life Work.
,dsv human existence too often runs
lang with humdrum monotony, with no
,,,t.f Of keen laughter or weeping; for
,ru,v supreme joys and tragedies are
.,re in the span of the individual life,
rhsrefore, it is well the humdum, the
. ..or,ar rvthm, should bo broken, If vica-
,louaIy. by partaking in the mimic play
80 the eternal comedy In all its phases
on the stage. ., j..
Drana and romance are perpetual IN
. .La,r anpesl to the heart of man and
wornan, for they are verify the leaven-
;ng elements of our often drab and dreary
days. Read novels, go to see plays
,,on will live all the more keenly, work the
ynore effcently, think the more clear
,v Get away from the everyday rise
tron, the rut of mechanical working and
eating and thinking and be refreshed with
al. rnerriment or sadness OF the novei
ana the play. From Shakespeare to Gus
THOMAS. Sophocles to Bernard Shaw, ar
. istonhanes to George M. Cohan, humanity
ias laughed and wept, and escaped the
,sdium Of life's routine, through the MINI
tory of the mime. IF your life is JOY
aus, It is we'll to enter into the temper
ING stimulation Of human sorrow; II in
trouble. If worried by your own diff
cultles, you can further study the prob
lens of social life, domestic life and
business life on the stage; II you are IN
sorrow YOU can then submerge your dis
snpointments and losses in mellowing
mirth.
Philadelphia has always been pre-emi-
nsntly amusement-lovlng and, with New
York, enjoys the highest class dramas
and most elaborate musical comedies.
. IL nd fnr
weeks, the audiences at the theatres here
have certainly not been what the box
offices" might desire nor indeed, what
a sane, well-regulated life, on part
Of the people, should inspire. Will the
war continue to affect the drama? Will
It keep people from the theatre?
OPINIONS OF 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. I 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.
1--WE believe the present season will be
one Of the greatest In the history Of the
theatre declared George NJ. conan. we
are going ahead with all of our plans,
which include many new productions. In
fact, we are conducting our business as II
no war existed. Reaction from depress-
iRs war news will bring the public into
the payhouscs in greater numbers than
ever"
It is significant to note that during
sths month of August ten new plays
were produced in New York, equaling
last years record. or 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 it is said that by
October last years record will have been
broken.
As an indication Of the passing OF the
war depression, the size OF audiences at
the theatres here slightly, but slgnh-
Csntly, increased during the past week,
and it is evident that Philadelphians, in
stead of brooding upon the cabled hor-
rors and the wars effect upon business,
will wisely brighten and seek a desired
and wholesome diversion in the coming
plays, one may "be good at fight or
be carried away by the horrifying con-
temptation of a Continental cataclysm,
but after all, as Tom Moore said, Its
better at a play"