Life, 1915-12-09 · page 37 of 48
Life — December 9, 1915 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains editorial commentary on theatrical criticism alongside period advertising. The main text criticizes theatrical managers' suppression of honest drama critics. It references **James S. Metcalfe**, a Life critic, who was denied theatre admission for negative reviews. The editorial notes a court decision upheld theatre owners' right to exclude critics, and predicts similar cases will follow (mentioning a New York Times drama critic's recent expulsion). The piece argues that most theatrical criticism has become merely promotional "news-reporting" rather than honest evaluation, because managers punish critical papers by withdrawing advertisements. The editorial calls for courts and newspapers to defend independent criticism as a matter of constitutional principle and professional integrity. The left sidebar is a National Defense League advertisement (likely WWI-era, given the patriotic framing), while the right features a Whitman's Chocolates Christmas advertisement—typical period magazine content unrelated to the editorial matter.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
om book fed. foc addressed of nse Battling for Honest and Independent Criticism (Reprinted from an editorial in the Sacramento Bee.) The brilliant| and internationally- known critic of Lire wrote of the con- tinuous efforts of theatrical managers to crush legitimate and honest criticism by taking their advertisements away from newspapers that dared to tell the truth about certain shows, and by re- fusing admittance to their critics. It is surprising to any man of com- mon intelligence who knows the first principles of elementary law, or has studied at all the Constitution, to find that any court anywhere could decide that a public theatre is a private house, and that the owner of such theatre has the right to refuse admittance to any person, no matter what his reason, But that was, in plain English, the decision of the higher court of New York when the Theatrical Trust re- fused admittance to James S. Metcalfe, because he dared to denounce some of their rotten and salacious plays. ‘A test case probably will come be- fore the New Vor courts because of the recent expulsion from certain New York theatres of the New York Times dramatic critic. Even courts change and reform, itis to be hoped that this time the w York courts will stand for jus- tice, for fair play, for the spirit of the Constitution, and particularly for the common law itself—something that was not done in the original decision against James S. Metcalfe. It is notorious everywhere that the- atrical criticism in the larger cities has become nothing more than adulatory news-reporting, Only here and there can a newspaper be found which tells anywhere near the truth, Most of them have kindly words to say of everything, and many of them Every true American believes in a proper National Defense But: Merely believing is not sufficient— Action is essential to success— Every one must do his part— DO YOURS TO-DAY— The National Security League is conducting a Nation-wide Cam- Paign for Adequate National De- fense and solicits the co-operation of every true citizen. You can help if you will. Write for information to National Headquarters 31 PINE STREET NEW YORK use the matter the press agent for their “ criticis This is the kind of criticism the New York theatrical managers have been demanding of recent years, This is the kind of theatrical criticism they have been receiving from most of the news- papers. his is the kind of criticism against which James S. Metcalfe has always battled. It is the kind of criticism which every decent, self-respecting, in- dependent newspaper should combat, if there is to be hereafter any honesty in the newspaper discussion of the CHRISTMAS TREE Sweetest products:of the soil from the far comers’ of the earth are gathered under the tree in the pack- ages of Whitman's that make The Day complete. Every Deputy Santa Claus should know: the nearby store that is the Whitman agency, where these “gifty” packages are offered in shapes, sizes dl danger every purse, © SAMPLER—S:, $2, $e box. LIBRARY PACKAGE—six end —$2. SUPER EXTRA CHOCO. wa ea Segoe feeb Ce pecich patellar ts where el bed etgraratiinpr cae Gift Poe STEPHEN F. WHITMAN & SON, Inc. Philadelphia, US. A. Makers of Whimen's Inntantancous Chocolate, Coose and Merrimalow Whip merits or demerits of those who live by acting; if there is to be any standard of excellence. And it is getting worse and worse all the time. It is high time now that the decent and the independent press of the coun- try should stand with the James S. Metcalfes and cr of his calibre to fight not only against mediocrity sail- ing under false colors and against in- capacity boomed by greedy managers to pluck the pockets of the American people, but also against vile indecency wearing the mask of art comicbooks.com