The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-21

They represent contending camps in
the theatrical business and what they
have to say might be of value If they'd
tell the entire truth and use the space
the papers devote to them for the pub
lie good instead of for bluffs, which
mean simply so much more advertis-
ing for their respective selves. Klaw
says the whole evil can be cured if the
New York Legislature will only pass
his bill. which makes il illegal to sell
a ticket anywhere except at the box
office of the theater issuing it. This is
sheer bluff. because Mr.. Klaw and the
rest of the world know that such a law
would be unconstitutional Mr.. Brady
replies with an offer to deposit 5000
against Sir. Klaw's 5000. the total to
be given to charity in case either of
the theatrical factions is found to be
supplying tickets for any of their
theaters to the cut-rate agencies. This
is also bluff. because of the difficulty
of making out a case. and because the
entire question is not one of cut rates,
but of the imposition on the public
arising from the managers selling out
their seats to the spectators at ad-
vanced prices when any of their thea
ters happen to produce something
which the public really wants to see.
The whole question is one of human
every one wants to see 1t, and wants
to see II right away. The supply is
limited. as theaters, not being made of
rubber. do not stretch. and the demand
exceeds the supply. The human nature
Of the public. or some members of the
public. makes a competition based on
the greed to see the thing every one
else wants to see. This is met by the
human nature OF the manager with his
Draad he ha
when he has the opportunity. In be-
tween comes the human nature OF the
speculator. with his greed for money.
and he exercises his wits to be the
middleman in the transaction between
the greedy public and the greedy
manager.
To destroy or curb the human ma
ture of the managers and spectators
in wanting to make all they can when
they have the chance Is out Of the
question. 1t Is almost as impossible
to curb the human nature of the pub
lie when II comes to getting the good
places to see anything it wants to see.
Until the public can school itself into
patience about seeing the latest sue
cesses. and by that self-restraint de-
stroy the competition for which it is
responsible. 1t is absurd to talk about
putting the sale OF theater tickets on
= SSSso satisfy ouc
Chatter.
The Rented Earl turned out to be
. puny infant that lived only q week.
Mr.. Lawrance DOrsay's personality
was not sufficiently nourishing to keep
II alive.
Mr.. Charles Klein Is now claiming
through . London press agent that he
Is the real creator Of the characters of
Potash and Perlmutter on the ground
that he suggeseed to Mr.. Montague
Glass the idea OF the stories in which
those famous cloak and suit merchants
figure. He also claims the authorship
Of the play. although the general impress
sion has been that It was the result of
the attempt Of q number Of stage writer's
to put the stories into some kind Of dra-
matte form. Mr.. Klein putting on the fin
ishing touches.
The entente cordiale il not confined
10 the governments and armies Of the
lilies. In Paris only . per cent of the
usual number Of musical and theatre
al people have employment. SO last
week q number of Partisan actors and |
fingers from the Theater Francois, the
Opera ComiQue and other leading COM
,anies journeysd to London to parttci-