El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-03-04
Theatrical Business Pros
porous; Winter Garden
Show Is Very Modest.

y TEW YORK, March 4.-Here is an
N other prosperity tale, one OF the
= many heard in New York this
winter.
''The Road" is hungering for Broad
way successes-and can't get EN- Whyi
Because they are all staying right in
New York Why should they take to
the fearful road with travelling ex-
penses and all that. when they are set
tied in cosy Broadway quarters for in
definite runs?
Theater magnates OF other large cities,
like st. Louis, San Francisco, or Pitts
burg, who were dubious and cautious
the last few winters, are now bidding
eagerly and exerting all their moral
suasion to tempt some new shows to
their houses.
These cities are hungering for good
shows-manags and theater goer unite
to lift up their voices in long bowls
of famine, artistic famine
The shows which are on tour are
finding easy money. E. H Sothern's
local managers. for instance. report he
is receiving a series of OvatiOns.
One of my infOrmants, prominent
man in the theatrical world, said
falling off in the receipts Of some Of
the Broadway successes would he al
most welcome. 1t was a strange thing
to say He explained, Then we could
give the road towns what they want
pie here who take in every new show
any way, the old stand-bys. or first
righters, aren't seeing many.
-
It is an interesting commentary on
THE Earth" the newspaper drama
written seven years ago by James Ber-
nard Pagan, that the great British pub
1Fehar q nhvTfCfrctU q To affaElr
is now much more powerful than then
and probably could have a cabinet posi-
ton, would he take it.
Is such the realitive effectiveness Of
press and stage?
Not for lack of a hearing did THE
Earth" fail to injure the man whose
name leaps to the lips of all those who
have even a slight knowledge Of Brit
ish journalism. The play made quite a
stir in London. Lena Ashwen and Ohio
Stuart played the leading roles Mr..
Pagan himself took a part In the Brit
ish tour. 1t was presented in several
continental capitals and even has been
seen once or twice this side of the At
lantio.
Now, seven years later, II reaches
Broadway as part Of the repertory
which Miss Grace George at the begin
ming of the season promised would be
tried in the Playhouse. She made some
financial sacrifice to carry out her pros
pectus for THE Earth" breaks on a
successful run of Major Barbara"
which. however, will be seen again
later.
1t is the fashion to say we have no
successful newspaper plays. That is
because the criticism of plays is largely
in the hands. OF newspaper men pro-
test against this trite and hackneyed
saying. The newspaper world is re-
Elected as clearly-and as dimly-On the
n fE tina world Of romance
Of war, or Of business
Take business woman to see "Our
Mrs. McChesney." or an Italian opera
singer to see Twin Beds and observe
carefully whether they are any better
with the presentation of thier
lives and emotions than the narrow
minded hard working newspaper man
Is with the Interpretation of his.
Here is the story Of The Earth"
Sir Felix Janion is the founder and
Foremost among them is the daily
Earth" This Janion has invented pub
lie policies. II has created cabinet
and cast them down. He is
painted as a rowdy, shameless car.
n tremendous will and not one high |
deal To gain his ends he tramples
)ther rivals and wrecks human lives
md skaters human hopes.
The plot concerns short and desper-
ite fight waged by Janion against Den
- AADfNAAcAs OAACE Ills II lSAAL 20
low a member Of the British cabinet. /
rrevena is father to a bill aimed at |
he trusts-the wages bill. To prevent |
ne introduction of that measure jan |
on does not hesitate to spy on him IN |
his private life. He finds that he IS |
in an affair" with Lady Kill |
one, the neglected wife of an impe- |
,unious Irish peer.
=. Armed with this knowledge and con-
1dent OF his ability to ride rough-shod /
,yer everyone, the masterful owner OF
The Earth" fancies he has vanquished /
us adversary. So sure is he that ne
announces the withdrawal Of the Dill
n his paper.
But, just for once. a woman's bill de- I
eats his own. Rather than permit her
-dmlrer. Trevna, to give up the meas
ire which embodies all his dreams,
-ady killone announces her intention
o expose herself and incidentally 20
expose lannon's methods in a statement
o big press association.
L know when L am beaten, says
ne great journalist. II will publish