The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-03
Theatres Get Half
Million From the
Election Throngs
Record Audiences Fired With
Enthusiasm by Bulletins
Between Acts.


the theatres, and all the plays. good.
bad or Indifferent. reported packed
houses at the special matinees and the
evening performances. In the evening
OF practically all theatres. and the big
! motion picture houses with continuous
shows, as we'll as the burlesque theatres,
put on an extra performance in order
that their patrons might remain TO know
the best or the worst till the sweet or
bitter end
II was estimated that at the double
performances In the first class theatres
alone 100000 persons were present to
have the election made moro entertain
ing. With the current high prices pre-
vaillng for holidays 1t is likely that
s25o,Go0 was poured into the Golfers OF
the big houses alone. Those who
thronged into the neighborhood houses
and lesser movie palaces In all the bor-
oughs, perhaps 5000, added as much
more to the sum spent by New York
playgoers for the privilege of taking
their election with smile
The attractions under Charles Dilling-
ham with characteristic enterprise laid
claim 10 the New York record for at
tendance during a single day at the
amusement enterprises which catered to
the bank account of single producer.
Every tabulation being official yester-
day, 1t was therefore officially announced
last night that the total number OF
patrons who endeavored to keep their
minds of the fate of the nation except
for monetary gusts of cheering during
the eight performances at the four Dill
ingham attractions was 20,984-about
equal to the total population of small
city like Ithaca. y. Y.
Throngs Hear the News.
The Hippodrome, with a seating ca
pacity of 5,697 and two audiences, who
filed every seat with patriotism. brought
1884 under the spell Of Good Times"
The three stars Of ''Hitchy -Koo," at the
New Amsterdam Theatre, were hosts TO
1000 potential presidents and president
esses. Fred Stone in Top Top" at the
Globe, helped $500 to remember that
they could still laugh even IL they had
fulfilled their obligation TO the nation.
while Joseph Cawthorn in The Half
Moon" at the Liberty. gave first aid to
5000 of the electorate. All these Dill
ingham productions had the returns re-
layed to them from a special wire at
tie Hippodrome.
Such houses as the shubert. where
THE Greenwich Village Follies'' are
cavorting; the Winter Garden, the
Ecoth. the Casino and the Century had
sold out in advance, despite the fact
that they seemed likely to play 10 big
counter attraction known az the highly
effervescent election crowds OF Broad
way
One of the interesting features which
",
annals centred about the women per-
formers. who starred at the polls for
the first time. Actors have been fire.
quently referred to as a distinct species
who seem to take an interest In little
outside the price Of grease paint and
their salaries. However, two thriving
Republican leagues for actors and an
association for Democratic players that
drew a little publicity, II not much sup
port, controverted that statement this
year.
Women Do Their Part.
The women in the profession did their
share in having the Thespians assume
tho role of righteous citizenship. xt
IL Offices OF the Shuberts il was esti-
mated that more than 10 per cent. u
the women engaged by them In New
York had voted and didn't seem to mind
being seen doing II. They had been
urged to do this very strongly by A.
Jolson. playing in "Sfubad" In st. Louis,
who, as president of the Harding-Coo-
l'dge Theatrical League. sent hundreds
of kilograms TO feminine players urgin;
them on 10 the polls, and for once In htJ
life he seemed serious.
Women in the various companies, in
decd. seemed more Interested In the cleo.
ticn than the male actors, to whom an
election was an old story of collecting
bets. During each intermission at the
theatres the actresses--and even the
chorus girls--waited eagerly for the re-
turns, and when the news was TO their
liking they picked up their cues TO ap
plaud like old hands. They could even
BE- heard above the spectators at times.
Among the novel means OF breaking
the good tidings was that adopted ut the
Capitol where il had been arranged 10
give the loud talking telephone a try
out for the purpose, with the fateful
words doomed out at twenty minute In
tervals from a newspaper office. An
extra midnight performance was given
there, az at the Rivoll, Rialto, Criterion.
Strand and Columbia theatres. where
the crowds did not seem to mind walt
ing UP to hear everything so. long as
their minds were elevated by the
flickers.
Az inc AtUlLi9 DAAthhAt Niie htNo
filtered In over n wireless telephone
system, to the accompaniment OF ham
mering on the tables from the numerous
patrons who for once knocked their
own favorite candidates.
AT the Zlegfeid roof Florenz Zlcgfeld.
Jr., had been compelled to have an extra
space made by special force Of car
renters for extra tables occupied by all
those who wanted 20 sit UP with the
rev President. even IL Broadway was
supposed 10 be dry. II was about as
dry as the weather outside. which was
half drizzle at times and a downpour
at sthera
Because OF the interest taken in the
election by the women tho curtain I'm,
1T some of the houses had TO be delayed
owing TO the fact that some of the newly
enfranchised voters did not seem to
.ealize that there would be hundreds
more voting who might retard them.
At the Broadhurst Theatre, for instance
Miss Helen Wolcott, appearing in 1.-THE
Guest of Honor" arrived just In time 10
fear the call boy announcing the over
ture. having been held up by the rush
-.