The Washington times., 1917-09-16

fashioned burlesque. In the mean
time, theaters similar to the CO.
lumbia in respect of prominent To-
cations, beauty OF buildings and
perfection Of interior decorations
and Of scrupulously careful man
agement, have sprung up in prac-
tically all of the large cities OF
America, and the undoubted change
not only in the character of the
performances but In the merit Of the
productions has resulted in q COM
plete change in the character of
the attendance. Ladies' and chill
dren are conspicuous by their pres
ence at the daily matinees in all OF
those theaters and men OF conse-
quence and standing, with their
wives and families, in the various
communities have become regular
patrons. These conditions actually
exist today. There IL absolutely
no doubt OF this. Any person who
is not familiar with this fact has
simply not kept abreast of the
times 50 far a. theatrical business
Is concerned.
B1rIeaa1e Builds stars.
1t is a weIl-known fact that many Of
the most important stars Of the legiti-
mate and vaudeville. branches Of the
business made their start in burlesque
and it is equally certain that there
are at presenk appearing in burlesque
many of the future great stars.
1t Is simply another case OF history
repeating itself. In the multitude Of
names Of worldwide celebrity that
have graduated from the ranks Of
burletque those that come readily to
mind are Weber and Fields. Sam Ber-
nard. Francis Wilson. Nat Goodwin.
Lillian Russell, Emma Carus. Sophie
Tucker. Dorothy Jardon, Leon Enrol.
Tom Lewis, Courtney Sisters. Dixon
and Doyle. Fred Stone. Don. Barclay,
Hallen and Fuller, walter c. Kelly,
James 6. Morton: David Warnsld. Nat
wills, Crane Wilbur. Eddie Foy.
Charles E. Evans, william Meehan,
Lew Heafn. Joseph E. Howard, Billy
Barry, Bert Baker, Clarice Vance,
william H. Crane. Peter +. Daley.
Henry E. Dixey, William Collier. Fay
Templeton. Louis Mann. John 7. Kelly.
Watson .Sisterk Eddie Cantor, Bert
Leslie. BILLY h Van. Bobby North.
Russell Brothers. Ethel Levey,T Willie
Weston, Fannie Brice, Beaumont Sis
ters. and numerous others
obJeetionabIs Features Illuminated.
The advancement Of burlesque is
shown quite a. much in the character
and in the general conduct Of the
theAters as In the 'elimination o. objec-
tionabIe features. Another good point
Is the fact that up 70 three or four
years ago a censor committee con-
staltly Travelled, all over the country
to Inspect the shows and order the
elimination Of anything even slightly
offensive. This censor committee has
been done away with. because there
is no more necessity for It Nowadays
burlesQue productions frequently cost
as high as twenty or even twenty-five
thousand dollars, as against the out
side limit Of four. five. or six thousand
dollars, eight or ten years ago. Also,
1t Is an absolute fact that the scenery,
costumes, electrical effects and other
details OF these productions are the
work Of precisely the same people that
furnish the same things for the big
two-dollar productions
The Columbia Amusement Company
has built, or Is the lessee of at least
twenty-five theaters that are incor-
porated in its circuit. that are as dnely
located, as handsomely furnished and
appointed. and as carefully and cleanly
managed as any two-dollar houses In
America What theater-goers of New
York see in the Columbia Theater In
respect Of shows and Of house manage
nent and up-keep, theater-goers OF all
the other large cities Of the country
see in the burlesque houses Of the
Columbia Amusement Company, To-
Gated at those points. and this goes for
the Gayety Theater In Washington, Of
which Mr.. Jarboe is manager, and for
other houses that present burlesque.
C. F. ZITTEL.