Life, 1905-02-02 · page 23 of 40
Life — February 2, 1905 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page documents Life magazine's editorial victory in a battle against the **Theatrical Trust** (Klaw & Erlanger), a monopolistic organization controlling American theater distribution. The reader letters praise Life's criticism and support for theater critic **Mr. Metcalfe**, whom the Trust attempted to exclude from venues. The cartoon (top right) illustrates the satire's subject: a wealthy young woman from Gloucester who spent lavishly on a supposedly impoverished Englishman ("Deep-Dyed Impoverished"). The caption implies she was financially exploited—he "gouged" her through romantic deception, spending her dollars on luxuries while claiming poverty. The cartoon's relevance here appears tangential—likely illustrating themes of trust and deception that parallel the Theatrical Trust's manipulative practices. Both involve the exploitation of naive parties by organized schemes. The letters represent Life readers celebrating the magazine's anti-monopoly stance and calling for broader public support against entertainment industry gatekeeping.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
-LIFE- 137 From Our Readers. HE little diticulty between Lue and the Theatrical Trust has brow, to us a mass of commendation from those who read this journal. From the letters we have received we are able to use only a few extracts, but the following will show th trend of opi © gene} nion : A SUGGESTION, ‘Allow me to congratulate you on your recent ‘up and at ‘em’ again with renewed vigor and more power to your egal victory. Now helpful pen.” THERE ARE, *T simply want to say that you're all right, I'm so glad to see one man who can say what he thinks about the Association and their products, I wish there were more like you.” heatrical Managers' WE'VE DOUBLED ON THEM, “To be barred by 47 is indeed an honor, Had it been by only one, I should have been sad indeed to think they held you ia such light esteem, but as the whole bunch are in full cry after you, good luck to you!" WE HOVE so, TOO, “ Itis my hope and belief that you will bear yourself sob inst you will be re vely and ed tothe last wisely that the step just taken aj day of their lives, by the men who have the amusement lovers of Amcrica by the throat.” A BIG JOR FOR THE RLACK SUH, * An entire stranger to you personally, but an appreciative reader sor many ye rs of your unbiased criticisms, tenders his congratula- stand you have taken, M. less and may your ceasctess hammering finally weld the insensate tions upon your shadow never grow mass into some semblance of common decency,” THIS 1S FOR THE PUBLIC TO Do, + By putting Klaw and Erlanger out of business yo recompense a family who have suffered for years at the hands of th ed, Our every wish for your success in your attack will greatly above-mentio: against them, STRIKE UP Til Mf atres because the Thea’ BAND, 's bei “Apropos of Mr. Met refused admission to the New York al Syndicate do not like his criticisms, I suppose we will next hear that he is not allowed entrance stomabile races, horse shows and even matrimony on account of Jaw. If not, why not? Poor Mr, Metcalfe! He a funeral march, *You can’t play sto him.” to jokes on mothers-i has my sympathy. Death, and rd, is all that remai in my back MILWAUKEE SUFFERS, TOO, are glad that you beat out K. & E.,and every man and all want tosend you a vote of thanks. The afore- of the matin’e won said firm does not treat the Western people right in the matter of back.” entertainments and we rejoice at thei getting something OF OUR OPINION. ‘Good boy! A purveyor of public entertainments cannot legally exclude any orderly pe 1 a performance when presenting mn fre The writer is not an per voucher entitling him to admis e citizen who ad ¢¢ for a job, but simply an obs ur independence.” BRIEF BUT TELLING. *Tenclose five dollars as a subscription to Lire to back up the * objectionable person’ in his tilt with the Trust.” A: WEALTHY: YOUNC-WOMAN: FROM: GLOUCESTER: FELL-IN-LOVE-WITH:A: DEEP: DYED-*IMPOVCES TER> ana FROM A DISTINGUISHED LAWYER, * Railroads, hotels, etc, have to pay heavily for so treating men like Mr, Metcalfe ; why should the ‘Syndicate * fare any better? The ‘syndicate! is so stingy, and pays brains, upon the board or behind the pen, so little that they will finally be defeated by their owa greed.” A LOGICAL CONCLUSION “The ¢ mmunit certainly owes you a debt of gratitude for your persistent and justifiable criticism of the Theatrical Trust and Ican only wish that those of your readers who appreciate your work would tell you so, ‘The imbecile efforts to prevent Mr. Metealfe’s a to the Trust theatres show how hard they were hit and that they are mission, not invulnerable to criticism.” BUT THIS Is A CIVILIZED ComMUNIE “Threats of assiult by Klaw & Co. on you entitle you to a t first blow ‘¢ them some lead.” license to carry a tun.’ Do so ani From Our Contemporaries. tative of HE question of barring the reputabl represe amusement is naturally a publication from places « of interest to the press. It has elicited columns of comment awh f as being of interest to Live's readers, we make the following few extracts NOT TWO DOLLAKS, HUT TWO DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS. s will > any ppose ars to have a nice and about two d ce-keeping ¢ nding 5 “The chances are that the Constituti suflice to get Mr, Metcalfe or any other pea ol theatre, managers to the contrary notwithst what could Mr. Metcalfe do? MMe app conception of the range of non-libelous comment anda lancet pene= but s otherwise comicbooks.com