The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-26
Theatres Packed
as Never Before
on Thanksgiving
Managers Reap Reward by Re-
framing From Abnormal
Increase in Prices.

All the theatres gave holiday matlnees
yesterday. and these performances. as
well as those in the evening, were
thronged with pleasure seekers "as
never before" according to the man
ayers. Some shows were sold out three
weeks in advance. Though business this
year has not been so generally pros
porous as it was last season. the attrac-
tons, paradoxically enough, played to
bigger receipts yesterday than they did
the preceding Thanksgiving.
That was because most of the houses
raised their prices last year TO unprec-
edented holiday figures. with the result
that many patrons stayed away or went
to the movies. Again, at Christmas last
year most of the theatres raised their
prices and suffered a falling off in at
tendance.
This year the managers took O leaf
from experience and the great majority
Of them charged about the same price as
on Saturday night. The increased at
tendance over last year attested the wis
dom of this move. Some of the agencies
of course. charged fancy prices, running
as high as 50.
Lee Shubert, who directs more than
twenty Broadway theatres. said ne an
ticipated the greatest patronage and
financial returns for the last three days
Of this week. beginning with Thanks
giving Eve. that the theatre has ever
known.
One of the theatrical events Of the
day was the visit of the Keith Trou-
badours to Blackwell's Island Percy c.
Williams inaugurated the annual holi-
day visit to the Prisoners on the island
and when b. L. Keith took over the
Williams circuit the custom was con-
tinued by the Keith Troubadours, or
ganized by L. r. Albee, who arranged
for the visit yesterday.
Forty players in twenty acts went to
the island in the morning and gave two
simultaneous performances in the two
main halls from 10 4. NJ. till p. NJ
Candy and cigars were distributed to
the prisoners as a gift from Mr.. Albee.
Afterward the players ate their
Thanksgiving dinner with Warden
Schleth. They were headed by Harry
Cooper. who hasn't missed one of the
twenty entertainments so far John j
Maloney was in personal charge of the
performance.
Charles Dillingham;, whose attractions
in New York laid claim to record with
an attendance of 20,729 during the day
gave two OF his stars. Doyle and Dixon
particular cause to be thankful by Civ
Ing them long term contract.
Raymond Hitchcock, OF "Hitchy- Koo'
at the New Amsterdam, expressed pro-
found thanks that the ghost at the
Hitchcock town house has had the deli
cacy to Feop his name off the payroll"
Julia sSanderson played Lady Bounti-
full by entertaining twenty-four crippled
children to q turkey dinner. afterward
taking them to the Hippodrome matinee
In automobiles loaned by Messrs. Hitch
cock, Stone and Cawthorn.
At the Booth Theatre MIR. and Mrs
William Faversham gave a special din
ner for the extra people in THE Prince
and the Pauper." To the same house
which had two children crammed into
each seat in some sections Eddie Cantor
led twenty youngsters in drive on the
matinee.
Henry HUH, after his performance in
when We Are Young at the Proad-
hulst Theatre, gave midnight supper
dance al the Hotel Astor in honor OF
Constance and Faira Binney and Wini-
fred Lehman.