TUK OMAHA St'KDAV BEK: .1ANUAHY 11, 1914.
11 B
imma ireivtim-
n i least one manager reads this
I A. I department of- The- IJor- for
I sjj I from him has been received a
icucr hi come icnKm mreier
ontc to the sugnettion, made
last Sunday that tho producers
try tho experiment of Bending out good,
but not high-priced companies, for tho
purpose of presenting some of tho higher
KM do of drama at popular prices. At his
own request his name is withheld, but
some of his statements are of Interest,
as presenting the manager's side of; the
question, and, because of their bearing
on the broader aspects, and these may
be quoted without any violation of con
; fldence. On the main point, this manager
says:
''There Is no question In my mind, if
they would put out, as you. say, some of
the old standard plays, with a competent
cast at ft top price, they would do. Some
business; but tho troublo'.ls whcV they
were putting out thcso.'sort of shows the
city houses ever tho country demanded
so mucK of tho receipts that the com
panies were forced to cut down thlr
cast and production In order to live. In
other words, tho city popular priced
houses killed tho goose that laid the
golden egg, Then came along tho
picture houses and cheap vaudeville, and
that with the depression over the country
has made It almost Impossible for n
legitimate thenter to live. The companies
are demanding from E to 10 per cent moro
(of tho gross receipts) than formerly, and
printing, bill posting, stago hands, music
and everything elso lias gono up, and the
consequence Is that more shows have'
closed this season than have staid out.
Teople are becoming more critical every
year and harder to please. Managers
must put moro money into their shows
and costumes, salaries of actors have
, doubled, traveling musicians' and stage
hands' scales are something awful,' and
; the railroads demand a ticket for every
performer nnd money for every pound
. of excess baggage, will not check frames,
trunks nor bundles; theaters have multi
piled all over the country, and if wo fire
ever going to see any real money in the
show business there will have to bo some
sort of a reorganization of the entire
. business."
These extracts fairly stato tho chief
perplexities the manager is confronted
i with, in his effort to mako both ends
meet in the operation of his theater, and
i deserve much in the way of consideration,
; even If tho statements be not novel. It
isn't good form to say, "I told you bo,"
but the reader will pardon the reference
here for this once. Fully twelve years
ago this department of endeavor sot forth
(the fact that theaters were growing faster
than audiences, but tho building of thea
ters went steadily on. Other featuies of
the situation have been dealt with from
' time to time, and warning given against
the coming of a day of settlement. whch
day is about at hand. It was because of
, this The Bee last week gave over some
space to elaborating a suggestion whereby
a portion of tho theater's lost patronago
and prtotige might be won back, and
why it Is again giving consideration to
the topic.
In answer to the assertion that "people
are becoming more critical every year,
and harder to please:" The managers
ought to welcome tills as a sign of tho
intelligent Interest taken by the public
the theater, and should give It such
uttontlon as would prove to the public
that Its intellect ual attitude Is appreci- J
aica. jnsieau 01 aoing.tms tne managers
have made the mistake of presenting tho
same old things In the same old way.
with the result that the public has turned
to th9 movies, where at least novelty In
situation Is offered. Not a week goes by
but one or another of the big producers
announces that some one of his produc
tions la a perennial, and that the people
never grow tired of It; points to a big
list of takings at the box office- to sup
port his statement, and confident In his
own saplency, takes little heed of the
request for a change. Then, all of a
sudden, he finds the public is not In the
mood to keep "the old favorite" forever
afloat, and tho "movies" get the blame
fur "killing the show business."
City house managers may have had
Thutvtm. he Musician fcV 7 ! dHBHHLW
something to do with tho decline ol
standard drama at popular prices, but
they did not do it all; tho producing
managers must accept something of re
sponsibility for leading the public to seek
Its entertainment elsewhere. Cheap and
sloppy melodrama, presented, by mediocre
actors. Illuminated by tawdry scenery
and offering only mawkish mush, was
set forth season after season at tho
popular priced theaters, until the patrons
of those pla'ces Were more than surfeltnd
with the rubbish. Clean, .wholesome, rea
sonable drama was not to bo had. The
popular price producers seemod Imbuod
with the Idea, that the folks who paid
CO or 75 cnts for a seal .were not to bo
treated as rational, reasoning being, but
as "low-brows" In fact, the distinction
came to bo current among the managers
and was so expressed. One "author,."
whose "thrillers" had tremendous vogue
for a time, said to the present writer a
matter of ten years ago, while ho was
debating tho subject, "Xou can't give It
to 'em too raw." And ho practiced his
belief to tho utmost; no such thrillers
as he prepared for the stage were seen
before or since. The last reference to him
In public print that Is now recalled was
In connection with publicity for moving
pictures. Ills public turned away from
his "raw" thrillers, and he followed It
to the moving picture theater.
As to the cost of printing, bill posting,
stage hands, musicians, railroad fare, nnd
tho like, it is submitted that burlesque
houses, the cheap vaudeville houses, and
others of the kind have to pay the same
charges aa the first-class theaters.
What Is here contended for Is that a
very largo proportion of the public would
prefer to see a standard drama presented
by a small company to seeing a grotesque
mixture of nonsense and buffoonery pre
sented by a more numerous but utterly
incompetent aggregation of mlBfits, such
as generally makes up tho "popular
prlco musical comedy" company. If it
wore serviceable as supporting the argu
ment, the titles of many good plays that
have not been seen In Omaha or Nebraska
might be given, any or all of which'
would be welcome If It were possible at a
price wtlhln tho reach of tho people. It
would be necessary to outfit a company
to present one of these plays with a col
lection of top-prlccd actors. One of tho
most successful companies ever sent on
tour In the United States was the Im
por'tod company that played "Bunty
Pulls the Strings" at tho Brandcls last
season, and It Is no disparagement to the
histrionic ability of that organization to
say that It followed In Omaha a com
pany, the single star of which drew a
larger salary than the entire weekly pay
roll of the ''Bunty" company.
Every mall brings to the desk of tho
dramatic editor of any western news
paper announcements of new plays, of
new companies, and new successes, few
of which are ever seen outside of New
York or Chicago, productions going to
the storehouse or the scrap pile at tho
end of the metropolitan run, while the
"producers" save tho mark outfit com
panies to drag through the "tall grass"
plays that have been repeated over and
over to the same patrons until each of
the patient sitters out In front knows as
well as tho man with the prompt book
what Is coming next. And these people
have lost their patience; they no longer
go to tho theater for their amusement,
simply because the thoater does not offer
what appeals to them. The "show busi
ness" must be reorganized, If It Is to
continue, and the manager who first sets
about to get his business in line with the
Intelligence of the country, who will offer
modern drama at prices the publ'o can
afford lo puv. Is the man who Is going
to reap the big reward for bis enterprises
and when he has made the start and
proven the plan a success, he will find
Plenty of followers, for the professional
showman Is an Imitative cuss.
While Henry Miller was In Omaha last
week he took occasion to deny that he
Intended retiring from the stage to de
vote himself to producing plays and man
aping companlos; also to deny that ho
hai declared that all actors are overpaid.
Clvluv his version of the simple state
Pa-6 Whpte. - Gyefy
ments that had been twisted entirely from
their orlglnat meanings In order that a
sensational turn might be given them. Ho
did say in Denver that If his plans carry
he might not again be seen In the west
as an actor, for he Is developing a big
scheme that will take all his time In Now
York if It works out us he hopes.
It Is one In which all friends of tho the
ater will bo much Interested, but for the
present Mr. Miller Is keeping the details
a secret, as he has no desire to anticipate
hla own actions. In connection with the
salaries paid players, he did say that
some nctors have an exaggerated notion
of their own value to a producer nnd
cited some Instances of recent experience.
Tho names ho referred to are those of
men who nro very llttlo known, even
among the profession, but who ask for
their services figures that would not
seem amiss In connection with names
that actually draw patronage to tho the
ater. One who was asked to take part
In a play Mr. Miller' Is producing, a man
whoso ability Is not questioned, but whose
nnme means nothing to tho public, sot
hls'.flguro at 7 per week, and another,
oven less prominent, asked JOOO, It Is
against these that Mr. Miller directs his
charge that actors are demanding more
than they are worth for playing. Incl
dentally, Mr. Miller, gave his unqualified
endorsement to The Bee's suggestion that
managers give tho public decent drama
at popular prices.
James K. HackotwUl appear at the
Brandcls this evening for an engagement
of one performance In "The drain of
Dust." A slight outline of the play Indi
cates Its possibilities. Frederick Norman
is a young New York lawyer, who has
rapidly rlson to the head of his profes
sion, In those things dealing with cor
porations and combinations. Ho knows
how to draw a plan that will take millions
from the public and deposit them safely
and legally In the coffers of the "trusti"
and "intercuts." He Is engaged to Jose
phine Burroughs, a belle of the season,
although the date of the wedJIng Is not
definitely announced. The father of his
fiancee, Isaac Burroughs, Is a power In
the world of finance, and the law firm
with which Norman Is connected looks
after his legal affairs. In the office of
Norman there is a demure little type
writer, Dorothy Hallowell by name, that
he proceeds to fall In love with. Dorothy
doesn't love Norman and tells him so.
Yet for tho love of the typewriter Nor
man breaks with Josephine, resigns from
his law firm and starts to take upon him
self the burden of a war with Isaaa Bur
roughs for tho mastery of certain cor
porations. In the meantime he marries
Dorothy, and for many months is pur
sued by the demon of ill-luck until he Is
on his last legs. Then, to crown It all,
Dorothy leaves him. At the crucial mo
ment success returns to him and through
a legal battle with Burroughs he regains
his former position In the financial world,
lu the cast that Mr, Hackett has asso
ciated himself with Is Beatrice Beckley.
Knufw Trentlnl In "The Firefly." which
; has been proclaimed ths tilgee.it suocesn
I that has ever emanated from tha offices
of Arthur Hammersteln, will play an en
gagement at the Brandels theater'of three
night and Wednesday matinee, commenc
ing on Monday nvenlng, January 12. j
The play Is full of exquisite haunting
music, heautlful colors and splendid com- j
... ) ' iHln uun nf imit.tial I
Its jay tunes. Is thoroughly entrancing in
that much of It is made up of wonderful
dreamy waits: strains trnt are too pleas
ant for una'vslr Il'idolph Frlml, the
Bohemian composer who owes his chance
Dalles Romans
-iAt ihc Empress -
for fame to Arthur Hammersteln, Is re
sponsible for the score. "The Firefly"
thoroughly fits Trontinl and nothing In
"Naughty Marietta" gave her half tho
chanco cither to sing of act thnt she has
now. Sha appears as a 'little street singer,
then a tramp boy, next In a smart
Tommy Atkins suit and finally In real
prima donna clothes. Tho piece Is not
without Its cpmlo songs, chief among
them being "Call Mo Uncle," sung by
Melville Stewnrt, and "Something," well
sung and danced by Hetty Bunnell and
John Hlnes. Osonr Flnmau gets the most
nut of the many good lines allotted to
him.
8 nco Kcllnr retired full of honors, nnd
wealth, Thurcton, that pleasant, graceful,
easy young man with the thoughtful face
and slim, rnpablo hands, has dropped into
bis place and will appear at the Brandcls
for three days, starting Thursday, Janu
ary 15, with Bnturduy matlneo.
Thurston linn qualities that Kellar
lacked. Ho has youth, ease, a slim grace
fulness, a charming Ingratiating manner,
a quick wit which enables him to keep
the rapid flro of conversation brimming
with humor and punctuated with laugh
ter. It Is Hi It gift of entertainment that
makes Thurston so delightful.
Keeping abreast of the times and seek
Ing to always, have that of the best. Mr,
Thurston has Invented and arranged for
this season's program many now special
features. What he consldora ono of his
greatest triumphs Is tho perfection of the
remarkablo illusion. "The Daylight
Ghosts," a mystical phantom playlet of
spookland. Second In comparison to this
Is "The Pek'ng Palnnquln," a Chinese
mystery of oriental splindnr; chief among
his other new mysteries arc "The Hhadow
People," 'The Bangkok Bungalow," "The
Chair of Asia'' nnd "The Hlamcsn Cabi
net." Mr. Thurston ran always be de-
ponded upon for an added attraction of
moro than ordinary Interest, this season
It Is tho Monte Myrp troupe of Italian
pantomtmlsts.
Osi-ar Straus oporu, "The Chocolate
Soldier." which the Whitney Opura com
pany will present at the Brandcls thea
ter for two performances Sunday and
Monday, January IS and 19, has dupli
cated the success which attended, "Arms
and the Man," the famous comedy-satire
by George Bernard Shaw, from which
me riory oi -1 im Liiocoiaio foiaier' is
derived. It represents tho high-water
mark of Straus' career. In his handB
muslo Is a language as easily understood
as spoken words, and every Bong from
his mind has Wen acknowledge! a mas
terpiece. One need but tq montlon. "My
Hero," "The Uottor Song," "The Tale
of a Coat," "Sympathy," "Never Was
There Such a Lover," and others of
equal beauty to prove that In "Tho
Chocolate Soldier" Straus has written a
light opera that will last for generations.
Prominent In the cast are Alma Stets
ler, as Nadlna; Lottie Collins, as Maseha;
Lucille Saunders, as Aurella; Walter Hal
lack,' as Lieutenant Bumerll; Francis J.
Hoylc, as Matsakroff, and others are
George Tallman nnd Sylvian Langlols.
For the first time this season the Or
phcum will this week offer a double
headline feuture Kqually prominent upon
the bill Is the minimi comedy to be pre
sented by Chip and Marble and the
sketeh to be contributed by Clara Mor
ton. J-ast season ftim Chip nnd Mary
Marble were sen here n tho qunint
one-act musi. M comedy, "A Hit of Olc
Ulam." ThN time they will personate
amusing Iutn tlntrm ttrs In their nor
piece by Herbert I1M1 Wlnstew. The
Iml of 0,vUr. ' Well desired ft the
medium tor tlsra Morton's vcrsatilttv
the skit called "Finding the Family-' also
affords her opportunity for three musl
Cftl numbers, each one of which Is snld
to he, distinctive. She Is assisted by
Frank Sheen. 'The Klnn'a Jester" Is to
be offered bjr tW. Wynn. Bipported by
a company of three players. In this of.
ferlns; Frank Wunderlce la the monarch
with a perpetual Krouch. The. whole
kingdom Is searched for a man who can
bring n smile, to the king's countenance.
If the Jeater falls, It means the Inflic
tion of the death penalty, tt Is easy to
see what fun Mr. Wynn, as the Jester,
would sot out of that situation. A one
act ploy, "The Coal,-" by Unth Comfort
M'tchell, Is to be offered by Maude
O'Pelle. supported by four players. Two
vaudevllln entertainers, new to Omaha,
are Cameron and O'Connor. Their if
fer'ne la raid to be. exceptionally d.
verting. Known ns tho cowboy Caruso,
Hill l'rultt, who comes from the Sun
Jllver country of Montuna, has n 'natural ,
voice with n ranse of nearly three oc
taves. Whedmnnihlp of an unusual sort
Is to be Offered by the Hetimnri trio
Concludlns the entertainment will be an
other apoelal motion picture. "The Snnkc '
vllle Now Doctor."
Your old friend "Pat" White will be
with us once more at the popular Oayety ,
luiuim-iii'iiii, iviiu inc usual mniinec inn
afternoon. The management of the "nig
Jubilee" has surrounded "Pat" White I
with tho best cast he has over hail j
Among them may bo mentioned that well
known black face comedian tlolph Phil
lips, the duie funmaker; Tom O'Ncil, tho,
clever nctor and slnjer; Harvey Brooks
and the two cabaret singers, James Mf-
Inrrney and llert Jones. Anna (Iralit, ;
Marjorio .iacK, winnlc Ciawford nnd
I.aura Houston. The chorus contains
over a score of really pretty specimen!
of the pony or broiler class, while tho
stately show girls are seen In nil tne
glory of handsome gown. The perform
once Is as funny as can be and ns clean
ns a whistle. Starting tomorrow there
will be a ladles' dlmo matinee dally nil
week.
Ilex Adums and Hthol Adainson w!U
appear ut the Km press this week In a
realistic sketch called "XlrJ.Mmwka." Itsi
sceno Is laid In the back if of one ofl
the cheaper saloons of Nnw Vork and
carries n well chosen cast and special'
scenery. Tho "Minstrel Four," a quartet1
of harmonists and comedians, who havo
bunt up an cnvlablo reputation on tho
vaudeville stuge, will be an added at
traction. Mannln, the wire wonder, In a
series of sensational feats, and Dallas
nomnns. "Thut Texas Ohl," will com
plete the vaudeville offering for tho
week A feature photoplay and a number
of comedy pictures, and also an educa
tional picture nre shown In connection
with every performance Four shows nro
given dally, making n continuous per
formance from noon until 11 o'clock.
City Dads Will Call
Executive Session to
Create New Board
Following a conference with city offi
cials T. P. Sturgess and Mrs, Paul Oolscli.
mann of tho social service board an
nounced thnt the city commissioners
would call an executive . conforenco to
consider tho bourd's suggestions that an
ordinance be pnns'cd creating a public
welfare board.
"I have not had limn to take up tho
report for caroful consideration," said
Mayor Dahlman, "hut we'll get busy on
It soon." The report was referred to tho
mayor's department.
Mr. Sturgess said;
"We nro greatly Interested In tho sug
gestion wo made that a commission bo
appointed to study social and economic
conditions und make remedial sugges
tions to tho city council.
"Whether or not the work done In Kan
sas City and other places can be npplled
to conditions In Omaha Is a question, Wo
want -to study local conditions carefully
and find out exactly what Is nocded.
That Is why we recommended the ap
pointment of a commission to do this
work."
In the report of Its year's work to the
council tho social service board said It
was necessary, to sreuro thorough re
forms, to have experts devote consider
able time to a study of conditions and
recommend measures they believed would
tend to Improve social life In tho city.
MAJOR HARTMANN IS
VISITING OMAHA FRIENDS
Major C. K. llarttnann, former post
commander at Fort Omaha, la back In
Omaha greeting his many friends here,
"I am Just here on an inspection," says
the major, "for, although I am now
stationed at Chicago, fort Omaha is still
under my Jurisdiction. Yes, of course,
wo are all Interested In Mexico. What do
1 think of It? Well, now, don't you know,
we army officers aro subject to u re
cently Issued order forbidding us to dis
cuss such question out loud?'
While here Major llarttnann will re
establish hln daughter In school nt
Iirownell Hall, on her return fiom a
visit to her parents during tho holidays.
WHERE TO KEEP PRISONERS
BECOMING A BIG PROBLEM
An order from tho county Jail officials
to thoso of the city lockup bus been re
ceived, itattng thut owlnK to a caie of
smallpox no more prisoners would be
accepted from the police department until
fumigation had been thoroughly accom
plished, Tho city Jail Is already well
filled, nnd ns to where tho prisoners will
be stowed Is a question that Is taxing
tho heads of the department.
HARTE SLATED FOR HEAD
OF THE COUNTY BOARD
A. C. Harte, chairman of the committee
on roads ut the Hoard or County Com
missioners, Is said to te slated for
chairman of the board for next year to
succeed Henry McDonald. Tho 1913
board has passed out of existence. A
new chairman and heads of committees
will take up their duties February 1.
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Wcok StnriliiK January 11.
Sam Chip and
Mary Marble
la tho Flcturs-Book Flayltt,
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Written By
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The Boy With ths Tunny Hat
Ed Wyon and Company
in
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In ft ,Btt and. Entertaining Act
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AUDITORIUM TOMORROW NIGHT
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WEEK OF JAN. 11TH
REX ADAMS In
"NIGHT HAWKS"
Rsallstlo Underworld Sketch.
WIRE WOITDEB
' THE
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Harmonists and Comsdlans.
DALLAS ROMANS
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Clara Morton
Of tne Tonr Morton, la
"Findiii The
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Assisted by TranSt Shotn
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In
"THE OOAT"
a ous-Act Comedy by Ruth Comfort
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Erom ths Boston symphony
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Ralph Smilley
Osllo Virtuoso.
Special Orpbeum .Photo rlay,
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