The Irish standard., 1914-04-25
CATHOLIC THEAT:
R|CAL PRODUCTIONS
Catholics of New York City Organ
iZe Movement for Production
of Proper Plays Under Cath
olic Auspices
Aim to Produce Plays With Moral
and Religious Tone Which
Have been Neglected
Jews Come in Control of Theater
Because of Backing of Own
People---Catholics can
Do the Same

The one important event of Catho-
lie interest in New York in the month
of May, will be the production of the
wonderful Biblical play, "The shep.
herd King" by the Emmett Corrigan
Theatre, Madison avenue and Twenty
seventh street, for two weeks, begin.
ming May 4. The play will be given
under the auspices and for the bene-
fit of the United Catholic Works of
which His Eminence Cardinal Far
ley is president, and which has his
personal interest at all times.
That the United Catholic Works
should undertake to produce so great
and elaborate play shows the enter
prise of the organization and the con.
fidence 1t has in receiving the support
of the Catholic people of the city.
That 1t will receive this support was
made evident at the first meeting held
following the announcement to make
the production. All the Catholic fra.
ternal and social organizations sent
delegates who not only promised their
support, but either ordered the house
outright for certain night or took
away with them large block Of tick
cts. ..
Miss Catherine McCann representing
the Association of Public School
Teachers, took with her block of
1000 seats giving her note for their
value which was $2,5OO The Fedora
tion of German Catholic Societies took
the entire theatre for a night. The
Knights of Columbus took another
and the Ancient Order of Hibernians,
another. The Holy Name Society said
they would occupy the theatre two
nights; the Daughters of Isabella, the
Ladies' Catholic Legion and other so.
cieties of women each took a night.
When a check was made at the close
of the meeting it was found that the
entire output of seats for the first
week had been subscribed for
The United Catholic Works includes
81 charitable social, philanthropic
and educational organizations in New
York City. 1t was established two
years ago by Cardinal Farley to pro-
vide money to aid those works that
might meet deficit during the year.
and to give assistance to new organ.
izations that gave evidence of prom
Use in worthy undertakings, and to
be center of intercommunication be.
tween all the organizations in it's fold
Last year $4,000 was raised to carry
on the work. The larger part of this
amount was raised through an exhibit
and sale. 1t is expected that like
amount will be realized from the pro-
duction of 'The Sheperd King" to-
gether with the private donations that
may be subscribed
In addition to raising funds for it's
work and giving the public the oppor-
tunity to witness one of the most
beautiful and interesting plays ever
presented on the stage, the United
Catholic Works, by the production, has
given an impetus to an enterprise al
ready undertaken to present to the
American people plays worthy of
their support. 1t was left to a Catho.
lie to make the venture and he has
started with the determination to win.
He is Mr.. Emmet Corrigan the we'll
known actor and producer. Mr.. Cor.
rigan has been identified with the
American stage for more than thirty
years, and he understands every
phase of the theatre from the box
fee to the top of the scenery loft. He
played in Ben Hur" and "The Prince
of India" in which plays he always
will be remembered. He will person
ally. direct the presentation Of "The
Shepherd King"
In an interview on his plans for the
future Mr.. Corrigan said: ""Our com.
pany is not going to stop when 1.-The
Shepherd King" has been produced; !;
instead we are going to undertake
even bigger things. ...
Much has been said about the
stage today, and the fact that almost
all the theatrical managers are Jews.
We will make no further comment on
the subject except to ask Why have
the Jews been successful in control.
ling our theatres?' What is the an.
swer? Why, simply this: They re-