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 Depression-Fo orecast of
Coming Amusements.

f,aughter ara tears, joy and grief-of
these are IRE vital hours of life. Work
sdoy human existence too often runs
o,orr With humdrum nonotony, with no
relief of keen laughter or weeping; for
truly snureme joys and tragedies are
rare in the span of the individual life.
rbererore, It Is we'll the huindum, the
roauIar rythm. should be broken, Il vlca-
rously. by partaking in the mimic play
~ tbe eternal comedy in all its phases
on the stage.
Drama and romance are perpetual In
their appeal to the heart of man and
vo,nan, for they are verify the leaven-
,os elements of our often drab and dreary
davs. Read novels, go to see plays
Won will live all the more keenly, work the
nore efficiently, think the more clear
Iv Get away from the everyday; rise
from the rut of mechanical working and
eating aud thinking and be refreshed with
the merrmcnt or sadness of the move!
ana tho play. From Shakesr care to Gus
Tnomas Sophocles to Bernard Shaw, Ar
istonhanes to George M. Cohan, humanity
has laughed and wept, and escaped the
tedium of life's routine, through the MINI
icry of the mime. IF your life is JOY
ous II Is we'll to enter into the temper
ing stimulation of human sorrow; If In
trouble if worried -by your own diff
cutles, 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
oppointmcnts and losses in mellowing
mlrth.
nently amusement-loving and, with New
York, enjoys the highest class dramas
and most elaborate musical comedies.
During the summer. and for the past
weeks the audiences at the theatres here
have certainly not been what the box
Offices" might desire, nor, indeed, what
a sane, well-regulatcd life. on part
of the people. should inspire. VIII the
war continue to affect the drama? VIII
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.
Eve believe the present season will be
one of the greatest in the history of the
theatre" declared George NJ. Cohan. eve
are going ahead with all of our plans,
which include many new productions. In
fact, we are conducting our business as If
no war existed Reaction from depress-
rg war news will bring the public into
the playhouses in greater numbers than
ever"
1t is significant to note that during
the month of August ten new plays
were produced in New York, equaling
last years record. OF 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 signih-
cantly, increased during the past week.
and it IS evident that Philadelphans, in-
stead of broodlng upon the cabed 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 Continental cataclysm,
but after all, as Tom Moore said, it's
better at n play"