THEATRES AND PATRIOTISM

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2916, 31 October 1916, Page 9

THEATRES AND PATRIOTISM

MANAGER'S ATTITUDE

A DEFENCE AND AN IDEA

(By "Sylvius.")

There havo beon occasions lately— say, during tho past twelve mouths— when managers or theatrical companies and picture theatro proprietors have beon approached by quite well-meaning peoplo with tho suggestion that thoy should give up tho whole or a part of the receipts on this or that evening; for the bonofit of this or that patriotic fund. It is ( on record that only recently a suggestion of the kind'was made in all good faith to some local picture theatroproprietors, who replied! that they would bo only too glad to do so if other business people would do tho same—warehouses, shops, professional men, etc. Who is to say that such an answer was not perfectly justifiable? Pioturo theatres and theatrical companies are every bit as legitimate a business as, say, tho sale of high-class drapery, picturo3, artvare, motor-oars, jewellery, etc.—thoy havo goods to sell (and' expensive goods they are too, at times), .and tho theatre is their shop. They invito people to come and buy, even as do tho butchers, the bakers, and other traders; In Christchurch a few weoks ago Mr. Allan Wilkie was approached oy a certain set of professional gentlemen to give a night's takings to a futfd they woro interested in. He said he would if each member of the profession represented by the deputation would give up a day's fees. Needless to say, there was nothing doing. This later-day attitude on. the part of theatrioal managements has caused scones of imEgnation on tho part of some peoplo concerned. Why? No profession, as a profession, has been more, generous than the theatrical profession since the War broke out, none have been less selfish or moro sympathetic. Think or- tho hundreds of thousands of times managers 'have allowed their theatres to bo used for patriotic money-raising; havo loaned their most attractive "goods" to achieve the maximum result; have given matinees and! free entertainments to soldiers (returned and in camp); have actually visited the trenches to oheer the mbn up. .Think of Fred Niblo's fine effort in Wellington; and Hugh 3. Ward's Children's Hospital; of' tho patriotic tour-of the Plimmor-Hall Comedy Company.' But to ask a manager to give up a night's receipts is tantamount to. 1 asking the proprietor of ft warehouse or universal storo to give up his day's takings. By the way, what an enormous sum would bo realised if evory company, shopkeeper, trader, tradesman, clerk, and labourer wore to give up oho day's earnings— say for Red Cross work. 'There is a big idea for the whole of New Zealand —the warehouse to give up a full day's actual receipts, the shops and factories likewise, the doctors ■ their fees, the theatrical companies their receipts. If such a scheme could be brought about New Zealand's name would ring throughout the world. And why should the people—that is everybody—that is everybody—not give up one day's monetary return to help thoso who are fighting and dying for us? This would havo to he a voluntary movement, "but those who failed to fall in with' such a scheme would doubtless lose a deal moro eventually than if they had l not come in. Having fixed on ,the month, tho (late would have to bo drawn by ballot and rigidly adhered to. I coinmend the idea to the highest authorities, not for one moment excusing its apparent extravagance, but with the firm belief that there are many Sommes to bo fought yet before victory is ours.