Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-11-03
SIGHTING jokes on
NEW CASTLE BARRED
w. L. DockStader, Owner of
The Garrick, Says They
Will Not Be Permitted
in His Theatre
ALLEMANN, PLAYHOUSE
MANAGER, ALSO ACTS

In recent years it has been the prae-
tice Of many actors appearing in Wal
mington theatres to give local point to
their wit by making sighting refer
ences to the city of New Castle. Such
references are always embarrassing and.
times, exceedingly annoying TO New
Castle men, women and children who
chance TO be in the audiences.
That fact having been called 10 the
attention of William j.. Dockstader,
owner and manager of the Garrick The
atre, the leading vaudeville house not
only in the city of Wilmington but
also in the entire Delmarvia Peninsula,
he announced last evening that he will
give instructions that in future no such
sighting illusions shall be made by
anyone from the stage of his theatre.
81 have many friends in New Castle,
Mr.. Dockstader said. 81 would not
knowingly do anything to offend them,
or permit anything of that sort to be
done in my house. There are many
splendid men and women in that com
nunity and any business man in Viii
mington who fails to respect them and
value their friendship makes serl-
Gus mistake. Many actors, of course,
carry with them jokes for local apph-
cation at the expense of some cont
munity contiguous to the one in which
they may appear. When they land IN
a town it is their practice to ask some
one what neighboring town should he
made the butt of their jokes. The
name Of that town then is inserted in
their lines. ] appreciate that in this
city New Castle has come in for more
than its fair share and. having been
informed that persons there resent it,
have given orders that all such joeul1r
and offensive references Il, that town
be cut out. Even if the feeling of re-
sentiment were entertained by only one
New Castle person, / would place a
much higher value upon that persons
Friendship and goodwill than | would
upon the point of any joke that is con
tanned in the lines of any actor"
When the matter was called to the
attention of Louis Allemann, resident
manager Of The Playhouse, he was
equally emphatic in declaring that the
feelings of New castle residents should
be respected in all things theatrical.
81 have no recollection of any such
references to New Castle having been
made in The Playhouse" he said. Ger
tainly you may rely upon it that moth
ing Of the sort shall occur here in fu-
ture. In fact, am willing to go even
farther than that and to issue an order
that no sighting illusions shall be
made to any Delaware town, no mat.
ter how large or how small such com
munity may be. AS / view it, we ar,
/ all at work here to do everything We
can for the upbuilding and the welfare
not only of the city of Wilmington bp
also of every section of the Delmarvii
Peninsula from the Pennsylvania Stat
/ line TO Cape Charles, Va. To enjo!
! the respect of others, we must respec
ourselves and resent anything an'
everything that does violence to tina
self-respect. Experience has shown tina
communities are much like individuals
Persistent sighting allusion to a MAJ
or woman will ruin any character il
public regard, no matter how splendid
that character may be. In other words
public reiteration begets public belief
So it is with cities, towns and Villages
many of which have suffered untol'
injury in the public mind as resul
| of sighting illusions long persisted in
by newspapers, public speakers and &C
| tors.
81 agree fully with Mr.. Dockstade
that the friendship Of the people o
New Castle is well worth having, no
only by a theatrical. manager but ais
bv any business man. Certainly l neve
shall become party to having that o
any other Delaware town or village in
| iured by sighting reference to It iron
! The Playhouse stage In fact, / thin
it would be infinitely better for the Pen
insula and its towns if everyone woul
make it a point TO speak well of then
at all times"