Life — February 13, 1908 — page 13: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

in any respect, a representative American institution, Recent developments also confirm L1re’s statement made a long time ago that, in its inception, the New Theatre enterprise was simply the culmination of a real estate speculation unloaded on a num- ber of rich Americans by filching its ideas from the now extinct National Art Theatre Society. New blood, and new moncy perhaps, seem to have been infused into the New ‘Theatre organization, and assurance has been given in the public prints that it will come into actual existence in another two or three years. Its promoters are still chary of making any definite announcements of just what it expects to accomplish or what means it expects to employ. _Pessimists predict that not very long after its opening it will pass under the control of the Theatri- cal Trust, and will, perhaps, be used for vaudeville at popular prices. Lire wishes the New Theatre a more glorious career. The legitimate drama in "LIFE: America is moribund under the present commercial control and in the present con- dition of popular taste. Artificial means are needed to resuscitate it. Even if that am- bition is included in the plans of the New ‘Theatre organization, it remains to be seen whether it will have the financial power or the proper guidance to realize so lofty and admirable a purpose. It would be better that it should not undertake the mission at all than with inadequate means material and artistic. At all events, the New Theatre is to be congratulated on having escaped from the control of the Conried element, * * N THE distant future there is a chance for the theatre in America. The Theatri- cal Trust has no second generation. No sons stand ready to inherit the more or less honorable mantles of Messrs. Klaw and Erlanger, Al Hayman, Daniel Frohman, et al. If young Americans would go into the theatrical business, learning its not very AT THE WHITE HOUSE difficult rudiments as they would those of any other business, it might be possible, in reasonable time, to restore the American theatre to American control. It is easy to understand why, in present conditions, young Americans of reputable bringing up find it undesirable, if not almost impossible, to choose theatrical manage- ment as a life calling. But, if the break 179 could once be made, it is fair to presume that American brains, pluck and methods could win out in this as well as in any other pursuit. It is a lucrative business, and with changed conditions could be made an agreeable one. It is largely speculative, but no more so than many others in which care- ful and conservative courses of action insure large returns. It is conducted on practically a cash basis. It gives opportunity for, and to-day sadly needs, education and culture in the make-up of those who engage in it. It may seem absurd, as things are, to suggest to young Americans of the better class that the theatrical business affords opportunities for a successful and remuner- ¢ career, but plucky young Americans ntered less promising fields and won names, fame and fortunes for themselves. If they don't start to learn the business pretty soon, who are to be the theatrical managers of the next generation? ss ‘Some men and women who now sit in the Broad- way playhouses could not speak English in 1881.— The Sun. LITE a number of them couldn’t speak anything. Metcalfe. Academy of Music—Last week of Mr. Belasco’s "Girl of the Golden West.” The mining days of early California graphically depicted by Blanche Bates and excellent company. A stor—" Irene Wycherley," by good cast, with Miss Viola Allen as the star. Unusually interesting prob- Jem play by Mr. Anthony P. Wharton. Belasco—* The Warrens of Virginia,” with Char- ote Walker and good company. Very well staged, and interesting war play. Bijou—Mme. Nazimova in “The Comet." Prob- lem play, and not for the young person nor particu- larly inviting in theme or presentation. Casino—"The Top 0° th’ World.’ travaganza. Criteron—" Miss Hook of Holland.” Musical piece imported from London. Diverting and daintily done. Daly's—Olga Nethersole in repertory Empire—Maude Adams in “The Jesters." Com- edy in verse from the French. Lightweight but agree- ably done. Hackat—" The Witching Hour.” A most interest ing play, excellently presented by company headed by Mr. Joha Mason and Mr. Russ Whytale Herald Square—"The Girl Behind the Counter.” Mr. Lew Fields and good company in musical farce, Good of its kind. Hippodrome—Compound bill including “The Bat tle of Port Arthur” and ballet? Four Seasons.” Thrilling and gorgeous. Lincoln Square—"The World Against Her."" Lyric—Mr. E. A. Sothern in “Lord Dundreary."* An old impersonation revived without losing any of its laughter-making power. Mojestic—Williams and Walker in Land.” See opposite. Manhattan Opera House—Grand Opera under the direction of Mr. Oscar Hammerstein Stuyvesant—Mr. David Warfield and well-chosen cast in Mr. Belasco’s A Grand Army Man.” Ameri- can small-town life faithfully depicted. Weber's Music Hall—"The Merry Widow” in burlesque. Weber fun set to the familiar tunes of Lehar. West End—Dramatic change of bill, Amusing ex “ Bandanna attractions with weekly comicbooks.com