The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-15

advertisement that he can get
The theater Is not educational. II
doesn't teach a lesson. 1t doesn't preach
sermon. It's mission is one of en-
tertainment, pure and simple. my
/ friends, and when II presents q story
of harlot, why, that story is told to
entertain the people that are In the
audience and not to elevate the souls
OF the people that are there. II Is not
to point out the pit for the unwarv
feet, which they might fall into
Many time a play tells the story
OF woman and the traffic in her low
ers. who goes to see the play. 1t
isn't the men and women who 20 to
seek and gain lesson, men and wo-
men who read a sermon from it's lines?
No, you see girls that haven't sprouted
long skirts yet press around the door
ito get in. They giggle and act silly
when they get out. and they weren't
elevated morally at all by what they
saw or heard.
the name. although hfe got II here
said: 81 must expressAhe utmost dis
dstn for many OF the PLAYS today"
She said, The lecture room and not
the theater is the place where such
topics should he discussed"
Ask a manager why he produces
them, and he will tell you that rs long
duce them. So II is your fault. as a
part of the public. and take supreme
delight In telling you 80
Therefore, when the Iroouots thester
burned in Chicago some years ago, the
theaters around were closed for a
month. A famous actor who was there
at that time with his company, said
that If the theaters remained closed
any length of time there. would be an
excessive amount of drinking and dis
sipation and perhaps suicide, for the
theater was a sort of safety valve for
the fellow who lives in high gear
he goes down to relax
At the close Of the month. one Of
the Chicago papers In writing an edf-
torial. made this comment: Happily,
no such dreadful things have come 20
pass as were predicted by the famous
actor one month ago. The public has
shown capacity for amusing and o.
tertaining itself in other ways, and IL
was only question OF amusement. and
that seemingly the most trivial kind,
for the day has long since gone by. In
which any considerable portion Of the
public look to the theater for instruc-
ton or Inspiration"
Crude melodrama and comedies and
sentimental and literary cIaptrsp ex-
travaranzas. which are nothing more
or less than the old IA shioned drama
they are the offerings from the aver
age stage OF today. You know 1t ,s
The spectacular that seems to attract
You take the leg shows of and most
Of them will go into bankruptcy Tina.
seems to be the thing that attracts All
over
stage Dangerous.
Another famous actress said, Com
ditions Of the theatrical world today
are such that I wouldn't advise any
girl to go upon the stage. II is dan
serous Young women should shun
the stage as they would the hubonic
plague. The conditions behind the
footlights. especially for chorus girls
and show girls, ia something horrible"
Most musical plays employ girls who
are at the mercy Of men, and half a
dozen theaters, she said, that she could
name offhand. were managed by mill
!ionaires. and their friends have the
privileges Of staying there during the
rehearsals OF the performances--and
their object is obvious A girl with a
pretty face IS soon at their mercy. And
these rich men 60 into the business for
THAT purpose. In play with an actress
for star. she was asked II she'd al
low her daughter to become an actress
She is reported to have said. 'T'd rather
see her dead
'sNow, n you are determined TO be
"and no persuasion can cause you to
stor. nv advice to you would be to
sc to New York and stop at a board
ing house whore you can secure a room
end board for about seven per. and stay
there for two weeks. and then you will
know what to expect In the way Of
grub when you. get out or the one
night stands. hitting these little hotels
ir the circuit out In Iowa" whore
came from. Then" he said. "if that
doesn't satisfy YOU. Just take n n-'ic
stroll up broadway, for a couple of
weeks and look into the faces OF about
10 roo actors and actresses looking For
engagements that most OF them never
get. And you follow that procession
rs they go from one managers office
70 another. starting out In the early
morning. fun Of hope and expectation
and returning home at night with their
hearts sad and you will witness an
awful scene"
Ninety out Of 100 who go to New
York to go on the stage. fail Some OF
them go back home. some Of them go
in other lines and some ofthem become
! nraan derelicts and driftw rod. ard In
the end. what do you get for all your
years of work and your denial of your
home. wearing yourself out In one
night stands. travelling UP ana down
tho land, away from hofnc and chill
crens oh. You win get merely pass
ing notice In a newspaper. IN some OBJ
scure corner, and 1t will say you died
in the actors home. such and such a
time and that you were once a ia
NOUS actor or actress.--and that's
your obituary for your hard work.
Now, keep in mind two things. will
your Character In the theatrical
people. and character in the theatrical
plays.
Oh. that there are noble men md
women on the stage everybody will
admit. IuSt ~ noble - you cen 0ud
~ 11n1t "a