The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-17
No Room for Propaganda.

Propaganda plays have also met with
little favor. The Dawn OF Ireland"
stayed only one week at the Lexington
Theatre and ''The Americans IN
France" had a very short run at the
Comedy.
The stamp of merit given by another
locality has been no guarantee that a
play viii succeed here. This has been
true OF plays imported from London.
Paddy. the Next Best Thing" failed
to draw although it Is nearing the end
of a years run In London. A. H. Woods
acknowledges that Happy Go Lucky"
is not catching on as It should. although
II had commendatory notices and fin
ished twelve months In London as
"Tilly of Bloomsbury"
Likewise New York Judgment is be-
ing taken at a discount by the rest OF
the country. Miss Theda Bara in The
Blue Flame" was n dismal failure here.
on tour she has been a big success.
Such has been the case with Miss Mar
jorie Rambeau in THE Sign on the
Door" over which New York was not
enthusiastic. on the other hand Bar
ney Bernard. i'm His Honor Abe Pot
ash" despite fair drawing power here
and the previous success of the Potash
and Perlmutter' trade mark, has found
the going very slow on the road. The
company for THE Acquittal." which
was well received here. was disbanded
by Sam II. Harris after two unpromis-
ing weeks in San Francisco and was
brought all the way back to New York
instead OF rtsking further loss by play
ing intermediate cities.
Sam Harris can recoup himself from
Little Old New York" and Welcome
stranger" now in Manhattan. The man
ager Is lucky this season who has one
outstanding hit to pay for his failure.
Failures Balance Successes.
Mr.. Harris's former partner. George
NJ Cohan, has won in MARY" big
success on the road, with which to bal
ance an early season failure in Genius
and the Crowd"
Another reason pointed out for the
stump in the amusement field Is the
wave of reform which appears to have
followed In the wake of prohibition all
over the country. Spicy shows no longer
catch the crowd. Joe Weber closed the
tour of Little Blue Devil for this
reason Many town authorities, particu-
larry in New England and New York.
have lately closed carnivals and circuses
Of low grade because of offensive feat
ures.
David Belasco said yesterday that
THE New YORK HERALp's exclusive sum-
mary OF theatre prices and conditions
In New York and in other American
cities was significantly vital.
IF there Is depression In the the
atrical business" said Mr.. Belasco, "it
may be attributed to overcharging. both
on Broadway and elsewhere. l have
kept faith with the public and have
steadfastly refused to increase my
prices. I know OF no slump. Outside
OF New York l am told both by man
ayers and actors the situation is very
bad. But there also / have not been
affected by the prevailing conditions.
Never have I found audiences on the
road so responsive. And It Is unfair
TO other cities to blame them for the
depression. Theatregoers throughout
this country are pathetically anxious for
good entertainment. They don't get
enough Of IT,
The cut rate method OF doing BUSH
ness makes Il possible for n moderate
success or failure to exist for a time
In New York and then go on tour on
the record of it's New York engagement.
Failure is the result. You can't fool
the public in other cities any easier
than in New York. Boston. Philadelphia.
Chicago, ST. Louis and the many great
communities are wise. Why should
theatregoers there pay SO and $3.50 for
an attraction which sells for 81 and
agencies?"
Marc Klaw denied that the withdrawal
OF Ben Hur." for the first time in
twenty years. would be permanent. He
stated the spectacle was not withdrawn
because OF bad road conditions. and
will positively be produced before the
season Is over.