The New York herald., 1921-02-27
Did You Hear------!?
About the Impossible Loss of Interest in the New Thea
tres, the Belief of Old Timers in Theatre
Traditions and the Latest About More
or Less Famous Players
or Less Famous Players.

The great increase in the number of
city theatres Is a result of the pros
perity that prevailed during the last
two years of the war and any tenn
porary slump in the business of amuse-
ments did not discourage the man
ayers who had started to build. But
what of a possible and continued
slump in the public demand to be
amused? Suppose for example that
the public during a long period took
it into its important head just to sit
tight and not go to the plays? Wha,
would happen then to all the new
playhouses that must be put up in ac-
cordance with existing contracts?
Lee Shubert plans six theatres and
two of them will be open by May. The
Ambassador is now in use. Six others
will be built within year. Sam Har-
ris, Marc Klaw and Walter Jordan
are some of the other theatre builders
who will soon be in possession of their
playhouses. Then there are other less
well known managers who are deter-
mined that they must have their own
homes for their enterprises.
No slump Is Possible.
Lee Shubert told the reporter OF THx
NEW YORK HERALD before he went to
Florida the other day that he could fore
see no time In which the number Of
theatres would exceed the metropolitan
demand
you see. Of the four new playhouses
we are building" Mr.. Shubert said,
'some will not be open for a year This
Is true of the uptown theatres at Fifty
ninth and Sixty-eighth streets. Then
some Of these theatres will be used fer
vaudeville along with others already In
existence that we have designed for that
purpose. There can be no serious slump
in the business of the theatres in the
future Whenever depression comes II
will be no more than temporary. The
theatrical business reflects, Of course. the
state of the country's prosperity. Men
who are putting up the New York the
atres at the present time believe in the
coming prosperity OF this country. and
in my opinion they will not be disap-
pointed Nothing worse than tempo
rary decline In the business Of amuse-
ments can happen"
Mr.. Shubert has always been the most
optimistic Of theatre builders. and tho
activities of his firm in that direction
have never diminished. II is said that
his holdings in the West Side theatre
blocks are now equal TO those OF the
Astor estate, from which much of this
property Is acquired.
Famous Players, More or Less.
Alice Gentle. who sang in opera with
Oscar Hammerstein and was in the com
pany at the METROPOLITAN Opera House
when La Forza del Destlno" was re-
vivcd. has been appearing successfully
as an actress in California recently.
Edward sheldon. the playwright. who
has been living in the West for three
years. has again returned TO New York
II. O. L." made from 2 film called
"The Cheat" by its author Hector Turn
bull. was produced three years ago at
the Belmont Theatre by W. A. Brady
with Mary Nash and Jose Ruben in the
leading roles Before that Fanny Ward
had mado great success OF the cinema.
Now the piece has been produced as an
ora under the title Of Forfeiture" at
ua opera Comique in Paris, with music
bv the late Camille Erlauger
Rudolf Christians who died IN the