The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-12-31
by L, MARTIN

n is depressing TO go to a show
in Germany these days. Most
Of the theatres and movie houses
seem to be half empty. Only rich
Germans and foreign tourists can
afford the admission prices; they
are out Of the question for most
German workers.
What a contrast when you reach
the Soviet Union! Here all the
amusement places are always
crowded with all the workers they
viii hold. Admission prices are
fairly high for tourists and high
paid specialists, but not for work
ers. Factories take up whole
blocks of tickets, and their workers
can get the best seats in the house
at bargain prices.
A THEATRE GARDEN
Let's go to the theatre i'll the
Leningrad Sad Otdikha, which
means Garden of Rest" Theater
crowds don't suggest rest in the
United States. But this theatre
garden really seems to live up to
its name. It is a little park in
which are two or three theatre
houses, for stage plays, vaudeville
and moving pictures. The Yaude-
vile theatre is an open-air one.
1t has a roof to protect the audi
ence from showers, but is open on
three sides to the summer air. Be
tween acts at the show houses the
audience stroll about under the
trees or patronize the lunch rooms
and open-air beer garden.
There is none Of the hectic rush
of Broadway here. The workers
are cut for an evenings relaxa-
ton and a restful good time. Sure
of their jobs, safeguarded by So
cia1 insurance against sickness, old
age. accidents and the other event.
ualities that may at any time
reduce an American worker to beg
gary. these Soviet workers enjoy a
feeling of security that we can
never know under capitalism. Per-
laps that is why there is such an
air of leisurely enjoyment here, so
different from the atmosphere OF
most American amusement places.
TE1ERE is an operetta showing in
I the indoor theatre this evening.
1t is vel produced and acted, al
though the production is some
what along the conventional lines
Of an English OF American operet-
Ia. But the resennblanceS make
the differences all the more strik-
ing. For here is a show absolutely
devoid OF the capitalist propaganda
which American audiences have
been trained to swallow almost I'M
noticed in all their entertainment.
The theme deals with France
and Germany in the World War.
But there is no pandering to ma
tional patriotisIns, no glorification
Of imperialist war. Money is not
made to appear the main end in
life. Workers are not made to ap-
GEAR as inferior characters or the
buffoons of the piece. Princes and
lords. rnillionaires and other para
sites are not held UP as heroes.
In this operetta, on the contrary
the hero and heroine are workers.
The pretensions to superiority OF
CAPITALISTS and their hangers-on
are held UP to ridicule. And the
only thing glorified about the war
fs the spirit OF revolutionary dis
gust it aroused in class-consclous
French and German workers alike
WALL NEWSPAPER
OUTSIDE THEATRE
Outside the theatre is wall
newspaper. where workers may
write any criticisms or suggestions
about the show that occur to them
And writer's, producers and every
one else connected with the the
atre pay close attention to these
reactions of their worker audi
ences. If answers or explanations
are called for, they appear side by
side with the complaint. The crit
cisrns we see on the board are Of
all kinds. One wants to know why
shows can't start at Z instead Of
8. Another doesn't like the end
ing of the play, thinks it artiti-
eial. And 50 on.
cOVIET workers don't have t
, travel downtown to see all the
best shows. Many Of them are
brsught to them right in their fac
tory neighborhcods.
The workers Of the famous Putt
low factory in Leningrad, for In
stance. have a House Of Culture
OF their own. 1t is a huge modern
clubhouse, with library, gymrla'
SUM rooms for every kind Of so
cial activity and an auditorium
that seats $500. An American
theatre occupying as much spac'
would pack in twice as many seats
regardless OF how rotten the posi-
ton of the cheaper seats might be
But this auditorium is laid OUT nl
workers for workers. along spaci'
Gus lines, and every seat is good.
To this workers clubhouse, ane
TO Others like it, the Moscow Ar
Theatre and other first-class show
come first Of all. The first-nighter'
of the Soviet Union are not stuf'
fed-shirt snobs Of thigh society
as in the United States, but work
ers right from the factory bench
It's their approval or disapprova
that makes or breaks a show II
the Soviet Union.
NEW FACES AT OPERA
See the first-night crowd at thu
opening Of the fall grand oper;
season in the big Opera Hous'