The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-10-27

begin their lives as entertainers Win
any Idea OF spreading themselves gem
might also be gathered as a funda-
mental fact and truth that the gather
ing OF such a gatheration would be
wholly and entirely correct. They
found that they could amuse them
selves. They invited their friends In
to be amused. And they learned IN
that way that quite lot OF people
could thus be amused.
Tried To Get Stable.
They tried to get n stable and make
IL over into theatcr. but the author
ties interviewed because there wasn't
q fire-cscapc attached to the stable.
n didn't have but one exit. which was
the whole OF its front, part Of its side,
and space where part OF the roof had
been, and II didn't have n lot OF things
the rules and regulations OF the city
Of New York made and provided for
theaters. Hence. they had to give up
the idea and move three miles north
TO East Fifty-seventh street just of
THIRD avenue. where the Bandbox
Theater had been located. and had
languished as negotiable theatrical
asset FOR Its owner.
They gave their first performances In
the Bandbox Theater in February. 1915.
They announced they would give two
performances per week-bccause the ac-
toiS anu hctIcSSeS 9ad lhclI reBulhT
Jobs to attend to other times. And II
/ was IN the Bandbox Theater they ac-
quired the carpenter.
lie was n regular union stage car
penter who drew pay at tho union
| scale-somc SIS per week or there
abouts. That was some $3.50 more
than the leading man Of one of the
first PLAYS got, because he had to buy
new pair OF patent leather pumps
\ for the first performance that set ais
private purse back $3.50
The first bill at the Bandbox Thea
ter included "Eugcnically Speaking" by
Edward Goodman-it was an oversight
not to hQve stated before this that
| Goodman could be Il lawyer or n stage
director or II playwright ar moment s
Inottce-"Iiconscd." by Basil Lawrence.
and Interior" by Maurice Macterlinck.
Then there was also pantomimc called
Another Interior
Bill Simply TO Amuse.
The bill was built. like all the Wash
ington Square rlu. crs' bills have been
| since, purely to amousc and entertain.
| "Iiccnsed'' IL the story of an crilng
girl and pastor who took her In.
Eugenically Speaking" Is delicious
bit of satire. Interior" IL a beautiful
little tragedy. and Another Interior is
| one of the most ludcrously amusing
| things of the season.
There were real critics at this first
performance. There happened, by ac-
| cident. TO be nothing doing in the reg
ular theatcrs ON that particular opening
| night, and all tho 40. 1 New York
critics came to scofr. They sat perfectly
| stu during the first play as they saw
u group of very earnest " ineNperi-
| enced, actors and actresses actually pro-
| tcct the real spirit of an honest-to-good-
ness play over the footllghts! And then
these critics forgot and applauded!
| The Players didn't care about the
1 a. N.4r Nn.4A tl,tlt nal
| people who are earnestly doing some.
| thing. like TO he earnestly congratula ted
about II, which the critics were kind
| enough to do In their papers the next
] went right along through the season
1 charging ~ cents the first year. for al
the seats In tho house ana collecting nc
salaries and pasting no stars Oh dressing
| room doors.
They produced three bills during the
first season. They did fairly good
business-receivlng subscribers enough
| to pay expenses and encourage them 70
lease the Bandbox for last season.
| Last Heason they produced twenty
plays in four bills. with u play at the
end of the season for subscribers only
| which ran for one full evening. They
| improved In acting. and they attracted
| to their work "A large number of artists
people who were on the stage regularly
or who would like to be or had a lean
ing therefor.
Dancer Came In.
Lydia Lopokova. the Russian dancer
was one of the former. She voluntarily
relinquished her high priced engage.
ments to take part In the Washington
Square Players productions. And fol
this she received $50 per week.
Oh, yes-the second season II was
found necessary to raise the price OF
seats and to pay the actors and ac
tresses. They all got so per week be
cause II was found they could live OF
that. and whatever else they could picl
up at their regular trades, as II wa,
found necessary to give performance.
every night. the same as regular the
aters do. to get money enough to pa,
running expenses.
That Is, all of them got $50 excep
Henry King, the stage carpenter. TIL,
union still made him take his $35 oil
thereabouts-which he did with con
siderable regret because Henry had be
come an actor as well as a stage car
penter. He acted "A character part II
THE Clod," and he did II so well tina
the critics inquired where. on Broad
>. way, that exquisite character acto
|had come FROM"
They didn't know. of course. tina