New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-10
nv WILLIAM A. BRADY.

"
BOUT Two years ago there were
\ more than a few Of US who felt
notion pictures had dealt the
body blow. Then last year the
''~S soc. covered. and now it is entering
ubat promises to be one Of the
.-rressful seasons it has ever
nv So we feel quite confident for
.-ssert that the theatre will not die
~ ~ hands from motion pictures, at
y ate And / might add that, after
- -. thirty years experience as
.sr.er have seldom felt as optimis-
IN. theatrical conditions as l do
=. now. Also, as the managing di-
= If one Of the great motion pict-
.or,orations. feel l can say with
..o-;.v that films also are as much
/, demand as ever.
rss American public. in its eager
-. FOR amusement, has brosdened It's
IS 20 include both screen plays and
- rlavs-not all kinds, but va
- Of each. And the producer Of
- vbe, shrewd enough to sense the
~. tendencies, can prosper. 1t re-
-. only for the theatrical manager
80 the state Of mind Of those people
10 are coming back TO the playhouse.
- sr.urs Of the American theatre
-, on what kind Of drama be-
..n., standard in this transition
V. avn Judgment and lay it down
r,s. its worth-is that the sort OF
~ -. Known as red-blooded will be
a-.;..,t on our stage for some time
IRE The greatest war in history
=. ,.irred the world 10 every corner.
Eco, neutral countries are rocking
-, natriotism. The spirit Of conflict
is in the sir'
r., N. theatre has been in need
- new life for some time. A shakeup
-, due. Il happened when pictures
s.rsme so popular all at once, and
800. aocked over 20 them. Every
80 found fault with the theatre.
Tbsrs was q tremendous amount of
undertaking. Managers, impressed by
-. falling of in box Office receipts and
lied BIZ all this criticism, began to
Lean out their old supplies and put in
new stock.
And meantime TO the theatre have
,o~s wandering back a picture
.,s;ne5r public, accustomed to a climax
and several thrills in every reel. These
,soole strayed away from the theatre
because they missed something, and
they went 70 the picture houses be
es,ss they found that something there.
What was IL? Good old-fashioned dra-
matte action. Now, Why are they COM
i-r hack 10 the theatre? Because they
can find that action there again. It's
d, me new plays Drama has come
hack. and with 70 has come the public.
L.. ne make myself clear. About
I've Years ago-and for years before
hst-vhen we were having continuous
good times ia the theatre, we had all
kinds Of plays trying for favor. A
great many Of those plays were i'm
po-sd. There were so many different
theatres open and being opened that IL
,oos al the plays We could get 20 fill
hsn. and, since American playwrights
.sld not turn out enough, a great
-ary plays came in from Europe.
Hose we're the seasons when We had
So Many English teacup comedies. We
bad innumerab,e adaptations Of French
ni German farces Il was good for US.
suppose, 20 learn what kind Of plays
hey rad on the other side, but we got
or il The public made up is mind
ta. Il could ind something better for
g,s.,aiameat than shopworn plays
r,a the DIANA gone out Of them.
I've always been. and still am. be-
h'7sr in the play Of vigorous action
Vow we're getting such plays, and we'll