Putnam patriot., 1923-05-11
Jake Ans~ers "I'heatresoer"

respondent very much in the dark on his darky show. As question of accuracy. we must state that .Shuifle Along" played here for only one night, although it is barely possible that the two hours which he spent in the theatre seemed like three days. We hope it wasn't that bad.
 We wish to gosh that he were cor rect in his statement that we sold out completely for three days at metro politan prices. Had we been able to accomplish this feat, this writer would have been able to purchase an automobile, instead of having Al Putnam doll up the old tin can once more. lAdv. for ALI
 Shrinking Management
 The writer, speaking for Smith and Albert, can by no possible stretch of imagination ever be called timid, modest, shrinking violet. Yet this is one time, when he hesitates to rush into print, even to answer Theatre goer." Several years ago. Jake was accused of writing the challenging letters for both John kaletchitz and the late Al Lundstrom, in an effort to procure publicity for their unfortu- nate wrestling match Jake has usu ally been credited with the authorship for any and all kinds of publicity which could not be tagged upon any one else. He has already been told that he wrote the letter which ap- peared in this column last week. For the sake of Jake's precocious young scion, we hope the editor will absolve him from blame, and permit him to emerge from his dugout of unusual and unnatural bashfulness.
 We can only point to the facts in regard to "Shuffie Along" The local was presented by the same company which was forced to put on midnight performances in Boston. during the preceding two weeks. in order to accommodate the demand for tickets And this was a return engagement. at that. It play ed Worcester for five days, and very few shows this season went into that city for more than three days. It Will play Providence for q whole week, and its itinerary includes all the large cities of New England. The personn- el of the troupe has remained intact throughout the trip, and it Is the only show to make consistent profit n this territory this season.
 As to "Shufiie Along"
 Putnam people may have been dis appointed in "Shuffle Along because they expected different type of entertainment. The play had ereet- ed sensation in New York, bat me- tropolitan tastes, very often, do not appeal to the rest of the country. "Broken Blossoms" is the classic ex- ample, in motion pictures, of this vari- ance in taste between the large cities and the rest of the United States. This picture, when first released, was hailed as an artistic masterpiece. and played te enarmens audiences ii tsie big town theatres. When sent out for general release it proved to be dismal disappointment, and splendid box office flop. However, had We failed to play Broken Blossoms, or also Shuttle Along" we would have received beautiful banning for our perfidity in failing to book 1t.
 We wish to go on record by stat ing that we have played every road attraction this season, which We could possibly get, with the exception Of two or three which We knew would positively prove disappointing to the audiences. Should anyone doubt this statement we will gladly throw open our correspondence files, for yerifcation. Road shows cannot afford to make one night stands today. Years ago Putnam saw many of the best Tor $l.50 and S2.00. Don't forget, by the way that "Shuffle Along" prifes were the lowest of any which have played here this season.l In those days. railroad tickets sold at the rate of two cents per mile, and theatrical parties received special reductions from that rate. Railroad rates, today. cost twice as much, because there are no special rates allowed for show troupers. Other expenses have in creased in the same proportion. Yet no show could come into town today, demand s3 or s4 yer seat, and play to a profitable engagement here. Be cause of these handicaps, there IS virtual scarcity of road shows, and the slfIatttH ifdh itdAtg bt'eAtN "a-A 'ts ing to the small town snowman.
 Change In Theatre
 The big stars themselves have also some share of this change in theatrical affairs. The big ones show less and less inclination to en- dure the hardships of road travelling, and display more and more desire to remain in New York in comfortable quarters where they can spend eon- genial evening after the nights work is done. Those who deign to go out Into the Sticks" demand such ex- orbitant guarantees or percentages, that we cannot possibly play them. RodoIph Valentines manager called us up yesterday and wanted to come in for May 10. He demanded s2,000 guarantee in order that the langorT- ous shiek might tell you what brand of facial cream he uses to preserve ms handsome complexion. This $ the first time that Jake ever became so dumfounded that he couldn't think of anything to say. We have TOO seats, outside of the gallery. Figure it out for yourself. This was the high water mark for guarantees. but
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