El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-02-28


only playing three nights in the two
cities in the time allotted for the
week. Reference to the wheel viii
readily show that the various com.
panies take a zigzag course instead
o. travelling around a circle. From
the Columbia theater in Manhattan
for instance, the company goes to the
star IN Brooklyn, to the Empire in
Brooklyn, back to the Peoples in the
BOwery, to Hurtig & Seamon's new
house in 125th street, to tire Empire in
HObOken, to the Empire or Casino in
Philadelphia, and then back to the
Murray Hill in New York In a SUBJ
sequent visit to Philadelphia the COM
pany will play at the theaIer skipped
on the first visit
Every member Of each company car
ries a copy of the wheel. By placing
the name of his company opposite
the name of the city where he is
playing he is able to tell just where
he will be during any week in the
season and if he wishes to commune
cate with any friends on the circuit
he can readily locate them for that or
any other week. And he also knows
that he will have "a weeks vacation
after he plays Omaha before he opens
again in Minneapolis.
NO. other theatrical Institution could
perfect such d system, explained
Samuel A Scribner, the general man
ager of the Columbia Amusement COM
pany. Here we have a certain num-
Der of companies and a certain num-
Der of theaterS. The entire year s
work is figured out weeks in advance
We play for a definite time in each
city.
'Klaw & Erlanger Of the syndicate
and the ShubertS, the independents,
although they. are now more or less
closely associated, cannot arrange
their bookings so far in advance. A
show may be a failure and be taken
OH; or 1t may be such a success that
Ii plays far beyond the time originally
allotted to 1t in a certain theater and
50 upsets the schedule. The same APP
plies to the vaudeville bookings by
the United Booking offices and the
other big vaudeville circuits. With US
the season starts and runs without
a change until our season of 43 weeks
is over"
BurlesQue as it is given to dav is
not so well known by the theater-
gCer as is musical comedy as the lat
ter is now given in the larger cities,
although they closely resemble each
other. The day of vulgarity slap
stick and hOrseplay of the old bur
lesque is gone. True, there remains
the large chorus of girls in short
skirts and fleshings, but that feature
is not more pronounced than in any
modern musical play.
When the Columbia Amusement COM
pany last winter absorbed the then
only Othe existing burIesQue wheel
the Empire circuit, announcement was
made that hencefOrth burlesQue shows
and the theaters throughout the coun-
try IN which they were presented by
the Columbia Amusement company
would be conducted in strict accor-
dance with the best standards main
tanned BY the recognized high class
arrangements. This policy has since
been carried out
By a system as perfect as clockwork
all Of these shows start the season on
the same date, usually the last week in |
August and they follow one another !
with undertaking regularity from city !
to city. or around the Wheel as it |
is called.
Before the merger was effected that 1
gave the Columbia Amusement com
pany control Of the burlesuue business !
in this country there was a certain 4
of prejudice against these j
shows and some Of the public re- /
Trained from patronizing them. But it /
Is only fair to record the fact that an |
evolution has occurred that has |
placed burlesque among the meritOr- /
iOus worthy theatrical offerings. A 1
censor committee consisting of three 4
officers Of the Columbia Amusement /
makes a tour Of inspection I
Of all the shows and theaters soon
after the opening Of the season and /
orders such changes as it deems neces-
sary IN furtherance of the fixed deter
to rid burlesque Of any sug-
gestion Of offensive dialog or scenes,
The individual owner Of the show is
allowed p days in which to comply
with the directions given, at the end /
Of which time another visit is made to
his show, and if he has failed to make I
the changes the committee arbitrarily
goes ahead. and reconstructs the per-
Torrance according to the original
orders issued. Nowadays, however,
this committee is rarely called upon to
take such drastic action because it is
understood by the separate
and by the performers
that they cannot "get by with any |
thing in speech or action that could
offend.
But it is in the systematic working I
IF the circuit that most interest cen
-ers. When a company starts the sea- 1
son it must play around the wheel
There is no such thing as closing the
season on any account. If a perfOr-
nance lacks attractiveness it must
continue right along and be worked
over until it has been whipped into an
acceptable condition.
There are about twenty five hun
lred performers engaged in Columbia
1Urlesque, including the chorus girls
md all the companies require two
sixty foot baggage cars to transport
heir scenery and effects from city to
sity. No theater is required to furnish
my detail Of these productions. Every
hing used in the production is in
,luded in its equipment, even to chairs
md tables and brio q, brac and the par
lphernalia used for lighting effects.
And these details are worked out
with just as much attention in the
lUrlesuue of today as in the most pre-
ensiOus production of musical comedy. !
Rigid discipline is enforced in the |
handling Of these shows, and no per-
-ormer is alloH-Nd 30 disregard the I
'ules set down Scr his or her deport-
nent on or Off She stage.
All Of this machinery by which this