Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-28
AMUSEMENT FIRMS
HAVE GOOD SEASON
Attendance at Theaters Re.
ported Large Despite Bust
ness Depression.

Despite vigorous complaints from
many engaged in them, the amusement
enterprises of the United States have
not suffered as severely from depression
in the last year as many Of the other
lines of business. This is shown by re-
ports made officially and confidentially
to Government agencies.
At this time of year, naturally the
emphasis is on the indoor amusements
except in the mild climate Winter re-
sort zones. Audiences at most events at
present are fully as large and enthus-
iastic as they were at this time last
of the professional and intercollegiate
hockey games, the indoor polo matches,
the wrestling and tennis contests and
the indoor swimming and basket ball
competitions.
Indoor Track Meets.
1t is asserted that the interest in in
door track athletics is more evident to-
day than ever before in the history of
sports are largely free spectacles and
the unusual Winter conditions which
have existed had repressive effect on
the sales of outdoor Winter equipment.
The real drop which has been noted is
in the attendance at boxing matches.
This is held due, however, to the lack
of color and individuality among the
boxers.
Bitter complaint has come from the
theatrical profession, yet figures show
that the ratio Of successful productions
to failure has been one TO seven. This
is better showing than has been made
in the last 10 years and successes have
been very profitable. Many of the thea
tiers devoted to stage productions are
closed, but even the people in the in
oustry have recognized for years that
the theatrical business was overthea-
tered. 1t is also overactored.
There are some 1000 actors Eat lib
erty" at the present time, according to
ayers say that there are 5000 too many
actors for the legitimate requirements Of
the business.
In the motion picture field an
other outbreak of million-d dollar produc-
lions may be expected in the next few
months. Producers will exert them
selves to offer superlative entertain
ments. The reason behind this is the
fact that revenues of the movie in
dustry in 1880 took decided drop. In
1929 these revenues Appropriated ST.
00,000,000. In 1880 the latest esti-
mates place them $250,000,000 lower.
This, motion picture men agree, did not
result from depression, but from failure
to please the public with the pre-
sensations offered The movie mag
mates are worried over this situation.
They realize that business depression
usually affects the industry in favor
able way.
Public Seeks Good Pictures.
Increased receipts show that patrons
have idle time in which to attend
movies. Moreover, the outstanding pic
lures of 1880 which did appeal to the
public made more money and scored
more definite successes than similar
pictures in the past. Consequently the
moving picture executives have come to
the belief that the public is simply
fed up" on the type of sound pictures
now offered. The talkies drew larger
audiences for time because they were
a novelty. That novelty has now worn
off and the average patron Is more
clamorous for merit in the pictures he
sees at present.
(Copyright, 1917