The Washington herald., 1919-07-06
~ POTASH AND PERLMUTTER
AT THE PEACE. CONFERENCE

II see where a minister said the
other day he couldn't understand why
IL was that fellers in the theayter
business goes to work and puts on the
kind OF shows which they do put on.
Mswruss," Abe Potash said a few
days after the ministerial controversy
over certain phase of the Broadway
drama.
Maybe they got hopes that quite
a number of people would pay money
to see such shows. Abe" Morris sug-
gested. because so far as 1 could tell
from the few fellers in the theay-
ter business whose acquaintance 1
couldn't avoid making. Abe. they are
business men the same like other
business men. understand. and what
they are trying to do is to suit the
tastes OF their customers"
But what them ministers claims is
that them customers shouldn't ought
to have such tastes" Abe said.
That Is up to the ministers and
ness" Morris said. "Theayter man.
ayers amt equipped in the head to
give people lectures on how terrible
it is that people should like to see the
plays they like to see. because as a
general thing a feller in the theayter
business Is the same as a feller in the
garment business or grocery busi-
ness-he didn't have to pass no exam
ination to go into such a business. and
what a theayter feller don't know
about delivering sermons. Abe. il a
minister would know 1t about the
show business. understand. instead
of drawing down three thousand a
year telling people to do what they
don't want to do. understand me, he
would be looking round for a nice.
fully rented. sixteen-story apartment
house in which to invest the profits
from a show by the name we would
say. for example: Early to Bed"
But the trouble with the theayter
fellers is that they think any show
which a lot OF people would pay
money to see. Mawruss, is a good
show" Abe declared.
why shouldn't the managers think
thaty' Morris asked. IF the minis
tiers had the people trained right any
show which a lot of people would pay
money to see should ought to be a
good show"
You think the ministers could tram
people to like a good show" Abe ex-
claimed
Its human nature for people TO
like the kind OF the show they do
like. Mawruss. aud how could minis
ters. even il they would be the big
geSt tzadeekim in the world. change
human nature?"
That's what ] am trying to tell
YOU. Abe" Morris said. The theay-
ter managers simply supply n demand
which already exists. Abe. and they
are as much to blame for the condi-
tons which creates that demand as
YOU could blame a manufacturer of
heavyweight underwear for cold
winter weather"
But why should the theayter man.
a=er try to supply an unhealthy de-
mand Mawruss?" kbe asked
The demand for heavy winter un-
derweaf is also unhealthy. Abe" Nor
ris said. In America where the
houses is heated heavy underwear
would give you a cold. whereas in
Norway and Sweden the demand for
heavy underwear is healthy because
Norway and Sweden houses is like
Norway and Sweden plays. Abe. they
are constructed differently from the
American fashion. They are built
solid but there amt no light and heat
in them. and yet. Abe, the highbrows
which is kicking about the American
style Of plays. is crazy about these
here Norway and Sweden plays and
want American theayter managers to