The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-08-10

been born and educated. He had been
born in Kentucky and had been educated
in Cincinnati
He started out by organizing compa-
Mas in Louisville, indianapolis and Gin
cinnati. along the lines of the luSty rep
artorv companies of the continent He
has never had a Sreal stock company Tor
he has kept with him. year after year.
most of his actors. whom he has deVel-
oped from mere boys and girls with an
urge for the theater.
In training these young people to be-
come actors Stuart walker has done 1T
tie that has been sensational He IS not a
| believer in overnight discoveries. AND ne
has felt that the tvpe-system OF casting
/ which exploits personality and labels an
! actor. has been one of the most hurtful
| elements in the decline Of the American
trester. Decline Of the American
Theater" by the way is merely conces-
sion to the patter of the day. Stuart
Walker does not believe that the American
theater is or ever has been in a dying con-
dition.
Broadway is not the American theater.
And the fact that the rest of the coun-
try has repeatedly refused to accept
Broadway successes only means that the
rest of the country chooses to think for
itself drama ticslly. 1t lives otherwise as it
prefers. why not have the sort of theater
it likes?
That It has often allowed fine road
shows to starve shows no lack of appre-
citation on its part. The New York pro-
Queer, who sends out a really splendid
production is eaten up with expense and
must. perforce, charge exorbitant prices
for his seats.
Last season George c. Tyler sent out
his Macbeth" with the Gordon Craig de-
signment. and with Florence Reed, Lvn
Harding and William Farnum playing the
principal roles. Mr.. Tyler played at pop
ular prices and to good business. Mac
beth was out Twenty-Five weeks. but Mr.
Tyler made no fortune. for. his play cost
him twenty thousand dollars a week. Had
he charged in accordance with the cost he
would have done small business. AS it
was, he lived and that's ell. But there are
few producers who are idealistic enough
to do that sort Of thing
Most producers that send out sttrac-
tons as fine as Macbeth charge ac-
cordingly. and when they are not sup
ported berate the provinces" Or there
are others who bill their companies as
original New York casts and send out
second-rate actors And it has been this
practice that has "killed the road
So Stuart Walker decided to go to the
road. He took with him 3 great reputa =
| tion. He was an actor of rare charm. a
| successful playwright and director For
years he had been associated with David
Relasco. he had given the Portmanteau
| theater to the American stage. and hao
produced Lord Dunsany's plays in this
country. thus establishing that gentleman
in his own England as well. He hac
dramatized that great Bible classic. "Tht
Book of job which had enjoyed phe-
nomenal success in New York and on tour
Therefore he was prepared to give tc
the far-f1ung cities in America the best
that the theater had to offer-and at ?
price within the reach of all. He coulc
almost save enough on what 1t cost tt
move 8 show from one town to another
| 20 produce a play. 1t cost George Tyler
$4,000 every time he moved Macbeth!
Knowing the theater. believing in the
American people. and having the blessed
ability to get the best from actors anc
playwrights-the only two essentials Il
good theater-Stuart Walker has beer
amazingly successful.
So successful in fact that during the
last nine years which he has spent II
Cincinnati he has had offers from citie'
all over the country to come to then
with his truly famous company.
| Cincinnati. deeply sppreciative Of ar
In all forms of expression. has looked OF
at these overtures with increasing con
Germ. Finally she asked Stuart Walker
II he would stay in Cincinnati, if hi
theater we're put on a sound fnancia
basis and in the same class in her cul
tural life as her symphony orchestra anC
art institute.
It must be borne in mind that Stuar
Walker has always worked without 1nan
cial assistance and while his box-of1c
receipts has made it possible for him t.
pay his salaries and other bills promptly
there has always been the hazard Of I
lean season. To be relieved of the fnan
cial burden frees him for more and create
productions, and to develop playwright
and actors. the thing in which he i
vitality interested.
So Stuart Walker said YES and tn
Cincinnati Stuart Walker Company wa
formed. It is the only repertory theate
in the country and not Dependent on "
box Office And it is not subsidized. IN
company IS selling stock IN regula
business way.