Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-03
SATURDAY. pEcEMnER 3, 1891.
WHAT or ruE pRAMAt

WHAT OF lNt nHANAi
The management ~ -nc Playhouse,
our wcll.aupointcd aud handsome the
atic that is slill devoted to the pur-
ionva ut what h called the legitimate
drama, II now engaged IN an expert
mvut uf catering to the tastes and /
arsncs of those IN cur community |
who have love of good theatrical |
rttfutmancca. SOME nnc attractions /
have hccn buokcd. and Il the patron
aEv proves sufficient wc may look for |
ward tn FUN season of real dra-
maiic enjoy nWnt. similar To those with
which wtlminetonRns of the past
wvre familiar And white the attrac-
tiunH ot the motion pictures. now so
Frlendldly developed. will continue
o. have their admirers. there is rca-
SON io believe that the spoken drama
s,ill has hold upon uur people, and
that they will welcome It's best ex-
puncnts appropriately staged at The
Playhouse.
n h plainly apparent that a change
has come over the theatrical palate
~ our community and probably this
II largely the experience Of other
communities, nut In our city the con-
trust with years aEo II probably more
marked ana painful than In any other
cnS oi wilmingion's size and popu-
ntlon For Wilmington was for
many wears city whore hirh-clas.
dramatic attractions were plentiful
ana literally patronizcd.
n n now nearly half a century
since our rather humptiously STYLED
Grand opera House" In the Masonic
Trmph was thruwn open 10 the pub
llc. The half.ccntury anniversary will
fsll during the coming Christmas
week, For fully three decades the
ppcra House was devoted 10 the
drama, and ~ attractions included
the best that were available season
after SEASON with what pleasure
many ~ our older citizens will recall
the occasions when they could enjoy
the best plays, hy the hes, actors. here
W Wilmington, without being COM
pcilcd 20 SO to Philadelphia or any
other ~ the large cities.
i.ecatcd on the main line of travel
hr,ween New York and Washington.
Wilmington was the favorite stand
for brief oneagoments with all the
hos, companies. ON the Opera House
stage have appeared the Booths. Law
renee BanRtt. ". l.. Davenport. Jo-
scph Jefferson. William ]. Florence.
jemes W. Wallack Mrs. Caroline
hichlnrs- Bernard Mrs. John Drew,
Fanny Davenport. ModJexka. Char
loitc Cushman. Mrs. ID. II. Bowers
Madame jauncschck. Charlotte Thomp-
son, and many other leaders in the
highest circles OF dramatic art The
splendid attractions of Augustin DAILY
with his best companies. invariably
included Wilmington In their cir.
cults. And all tho lesser lights tina,
po~scsscd merit and an the orrani.
Nations that added variety and zest to
stage presentations were NJ the com.
mand of our people here az home. And
They patronlzcd them to the point Of
rront
!, seems undeniable by contrast
that the dramatic taste Of the peopl,
has undergone a decided change. Also
y I. true that to very material ex.
ten, the drama has ceased 20 develo,
actors like unto those of the splendi,
pasi who thrilled thousands. seasor
after season, with their rendition o
the masterpieces of the stage. Tn,
rlaywriehts no longer create IN,
stage productions which In thos
dsys were regarded as masterpieces
There can be no doubt that In
marvellous development Of the movinl
picture screen. with its faithful re
production OF the best. with the par
ticipatlon Of the leading actors OF th
day IN their flm productions, is al
mos, entirely the cause OF this revolu
iion IN dramatic taste.And II must b
snid that the moving picture is ad
mirably doinr its part IN providm
popular entertainment. and at price
that hrinr the best screen attraction
within the reach ~ an.
There have been manifest indica
'lons IN recent timcs, however, Of
revival 10 interest in the spoke
drema. Tho New York city theatre