The Washington herald., 1915-01-10

Following close on the heels of the
Liebler catastrophe came the announce
ment, some ten days ago, that Harrison
Grey Fiske, one of the aufest, most gen
erous, and ambitious of producing man
ayers, had been forced to the wall. Mr..
FIske, who has been the builder and eX-
ploiter of a half score Of the most de-
serving plays-elaborately, Ornately and
sumptuOusly staEed-fOund himself with
accumulated debts of almost $4,000: and
with several such Improbable ventures
upon his hands that he was compelled
tu close out his belongings and ask the
aid Of the courts in the adjustment OF
his affairs.
. The final scene Of Mr.. Fiske's distress
came some ten days ago in Now York
when tho Playhouse doors were closed
and Mile Lydia IIoupakOva. and the
company surrounding her in the presen-
tatiOn Of Just Herself" at this theater,
found themselves suddenly divested Of
employment. Critics praised the artistry
NJ Mr. Fiske's production, and lauded his
new star. but the public would have
nOmc of either. and so II was that Mr..
Fiske-like George c. Tyler and others
Of high and artistic purpose was forced
10 pay the penalty. adding further reason
for the most wise decision reached last
week by the Shuberts and Klaw and
Erlanger.
The public was violently resentful
when some weeks ago. William A. Brady
asserted that the return Of financial
prosperity to the theater could only be
achieved through giving theatergoers
crook plays. or prurient, unclean trash.
declaring that pa irons of the theater do
not want-and will not patrOnize with
sufficient libcralty-thOsc elaborate and
artistic productions that should make the
theater an institution worth our serious
consideration.
Defenders Of public taste were furious.
They said that Rrady's statement was
ridirulou> They ranted arid they rRved
about it, hut just tho Same they went
right ON doing every thing within their
power to prove his assertion true. for
right now Life a crook play under Mr..
Rrady's own admission. is being splCn-
didly supported in New York, and the
Song uf Songs" charged with being the
most indecent thing that has held the
boards in the history Of the thcatcT.
promises TO break all New York records
in tho matter or box Office receipts and
endurance runs. while tho producers Of
such splendid spcCtarIes as 'Kismet,'
N'.Thc Garden Of Allah. Joseph and His
brethren" and. NOR recently. The
Ga~dou of Paradise. have gone into
bankruptcy.
m~Utary OH the taste Of the American
peopl" in the selection OF their amuse-
nenl? 7 think not.
But. To return to the subject Of the
Shubcrt-Nlaw and Erlangcr combine
tfrou which I have somewhat diEressedl
4 and its effect upon the theatrical stua-
tion Of America.
One Of the first STEPS which will he
taken almost Immediately by tho con-
solidsted firms will he the aboishment of
many Of the iirst-Class thCaters through
out the country as showhuuses for ''Icgi-
innate attractions. Many cities which
have had n Klaw and Granger house. as
well as a thCater tCnanted by the Shu-
bert shows, will he reduced TO a single
thCater for their now combined inter-
ests. and rivalry will. Of course, cease to
exist between these hitherto warning fac
lions That this policy will extend to
Washington is inevitable, although
thus far the theater TO be affected here
has not been announced, nor have we
anything more certain than speculation
upon which to so in determining its fu-
ture fate It is a pretty safe guess.
however TO conclude that the playhouse
here which closes its doors to productions
will be tenanted by either a permanent
. stock company or else be given over to
film productions.
Just how soon the history-making
- changes which have recently occurred in
the theatrical world will effect change
Of policy in any one OF the leading local
'theaters Il Is impossible to say And
sc of some productions. both new and
old, which give hope OF something more