The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 7, 1904, Page 19

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1904 —————— WiTHAHE [EiAYFRS & THE Nlusic FoLK e AX, THE ACTRE TERNAL CITY, AL CITIES OF THE E. T. S, IS MYSTIFIED AT THE APATHY SHOWN THE DRAMA THAT HAS BEEN 80 TREMENDOUSLY SUCCESSFUL S IN SAN FRANCISCO TO- IN had arrived there prior arrange- would have laugh and ment artist’s punc- ut the nce se T pre € and when I tapp gh had been 3 E blast my dilatoriness. to with “The E k. Hers is not the nor the teet ter of discreet nsterhood, nor yet t nctuous, silent jellying of the well-rounded matron. It is the laugh t xurious springs like a f » soul ps and il- Jum nd cbuntenance ere it ex- pledes In 1 ng is. Its infection ched me through an inch of Ore- pine and had me grinning like an when the lady opened her parior nd courtecusly chuckied invita- ter something your friend ained, modding toward » sat in a corner and du- my grin. funny? \er corner Well, I think s0,” she replied. “We were chatting along nicely when he suddenly asked if T was much troubled dear! Ha! ha! ha!™ rtured, and the artist was she e 1 inguiged, taking —oh glared reproa No—reporte she shouted, and in t ang. I thought he & =0ing to say fleas (the artist look- ained) use several persons fleas bothered me. ctress—anf actress, h troubled by re- kles—" h as fleas?” put in and b 'ked relieved when Jaughed again. never seen a preventive of rtised,” she resumed, were such a specific on I'm sure it would find few asers among theater folk. Being erviewed is the léeast of my affiic- tions, at any e, and it may please you gentlemen to be assured that this is not an intrusion. But what do ant me to talk about—shop?” us how you are enjoying San Francisco,” 1 suggested. “] am enjoying every minute of it. San Francisco is particularly dear to me because 1 became a bride here. Maybe you remember the wedding that Easter Sundey morning seven years azo? No? Well. there was enough of 2sked idea lady i have the event printed and pictured to make it memorable to more than the two persons chiefly concerned.” “Who was the other person?” “Guy Bates Post. We were members of the Otis Skinner company, then playing at the Baldwin Theater. Our betrothal was kept very quiet, and arrived at the church—St. until we John's Episcopal—we thought that only a few of our confederates would be there to see us united. But instead found the edifick fairly packed with people, and subsequently we dis- covered that the morning papers had unearthed and exposed the conspiracy. S0 there we weré with no less distin- guished a musiclan than Clarence presiding at the organ and Mrs. ers, the veteran actfess, mother- € me, and Otis Skinner giving me vay to Mr. Post, and Mr. Eddy play- the ‘Lohengrin’, wedding march, and the throng of women fairly crush- ing my husband and me with floral of- s and congratulations. If the had been enacted yesterday it not be md¥e plainly In my vision. shouldn’t San Francisco be dear oo™ “Why, indeed?” “My husband, too, hds only the kind- liest recollections of San Francisco. We have often talked of our wedding day and the many new friends it brought us. This is my first return to the dear old city, and Mr. Post never came back. He is acting in New York and can re- main there as long as he lives, so well do the Gothamites like him.” “And what have you been doing since Yyou went away a bonnie bride?” “All kinds of dramatic work. I had spent three years with the Bkipner company playing such roles as Pauline and Poriia when my husband and other well-wishers advised me to enter a field that would afford a more diversified range of characterization. ‘You have mastered the technique,’ they said, ‘and you have proved capability to carry ro- mantic parts. Now you must branch out and get experience in more natural roles.” So I went into stock and stuck to it, mostly in Pittsburg, until I had played almost every character, from a latter-day boy to Jullet. I have been a singing soubrette, and my old women won compliments from the critigs. After the gamut had been run, so speak, 1 rested for a year in New York, visiting my husband and attending lec- tures, concerts, operas, plays and social parties. That was a well-spent twelve- month. It strengthened me physically and broadened me. intellectually. For pine years my fime had been divided between hotels and theaters and my as- soclates were stage folk, so it did ‘me we could Wk to . incalculable good in an educational way to mingle with the public and be a part of it, sharing its emotions and studying its tastes at close range.” “Yet you returned to the stage.” “Oh, I don’t dislike the stage. It is the center of all my hopes and ambi- tiong, and I couldn’t live in any other occupation despite the fact that neces- sity first drove me to it. I was in train- ing for a musical career—learning piano and voice—when my father became an invalid, and the duty of contributing to the family's support devolved.upon me. Mother had always believed I was bet- ter qualified for dramatic than musical expression, and when the bread-and- butter question confronted us it was she who persuaded Mr. Skinner to ehlist me in his company. I have never re- gretted that hour. Stage work is weari- socme at times, especially on a tour like this one of ‘The Eternal City,’ and if one were to think of nothing but its shadptvs and ignore its lights the life would be unendurable.” “What are your phases?” “One of them is constant realization of what a big art is that of acting. Another is the thought that I am steadily getting nearer ‘to the goal of my ambition. In trying moments I find solace in the reflection that through tortured patience and arduous work I am apvroaching consummation of my life desire.” “And that is?” 4 “To be a first-class artist; to be an actress whose acting is absolutely natural and comvincing. You have seen Mrs. Fiske and Duse? They are great artists. Friends who would not be so cruel as to buoy me up with false hope have said that my aspira- tion is more than possible of attain- ment; that I possess the requisite physical, intgllectual and tempera- mental. qualifications. With such an equipment, then, wouldn’t I bé un- true to myself and to all I hold dear on earth tf T did not strive to develop the best that is in me? It is remem- brance of the faith of tried and true friends that sustains me through trials that most women would bend under. My husband is my severest critic and most considerate adviser. Much of whatever art I possess is ow- ing to his watchful interest in my ad- vancement. I followed his sugges- tions while we were together, and while away from him I fashion my work as I think he would desire.” compensatory “Does your role in ‘The Eternal City’ . bring you nearer (o the goal?” “I'm glad you thought of asking that. ‘The Eternal City’ is a magnif- icent melodrama and the character I portray, Roma, is perforce placed in some rather strained situations. My effort is to make Roma anpear nat- ural always, and when you remember some of those situations you will acknowledge that my task is not an easy one. How well I succeed in maintaining her’ consistency only those who witness the performance can judge. We actors cannot see our- selves as others see us, you know.” “You succeed so well that Roma stands out a true figure in an artificial environment, like a genuine brillant in a papier mache setting.” “She does not appear incongruous, I hope?” “No; she merely accentuates the in- congruity of the sham setting.” “Thank vou,”’ said Miss Truax. “Now can you explain why San Fran- cisco takes less kindly to ‘The Eternal City’ than has any other big city we have played in?” I thought “The Eternal City” had made the proverbial “financial and artistic_hit” in San Francisco and I told her so. “If you think that,” said Migs Tru- ax, “you ought to have seen the great business and enthusiasm that reward- ed us in New York and Chicago.” “Perhaps,” 1 depleringly conjec- tured, “‘the play is too heavy a draft on our intellectual resources.” “Nothing of the sort,” was the prompt and emphatic contradiction. “I know that’San Francisca’s intellec- tuality will compare favorably with that of any city in the United States—" - “Including Boston “Excluding nothing; and I know also that ‘The Eternal City’ is not too pro- found of motive nor too complex of plot for gny ordinary intellect to com- prehend.” As for the acting, I need only state that Mr. Bangs and I ark the only members of the present com- pany who were not in the original cast. The play, as I have said, is a magnifi- cent melodrama with a superb musical accompaniment by one of the greatest modern composers. Why, then, should it find San Francisco comparatively un- appreciative?” I thought of several possible reasons before I advanced any. The location of the California Theater might have something to do with it, or tHe quality of the average offering at that play- house might be partly responsible, “We succeeded ‘The Fatal Wedding’ at the California, and I urderstand we are to be succeeded by Murray and Mack,” said Miss Truax, musingly; “but even being sandwiched like that does not fully clear up the mystery.” Then the ar chipped in. He re- marked that several years ago E. J. Morgan, now featured on the posters and ‘in the newspapers as “the main squeeze” of the Hall Caine play, had strutted with Tim Frawley to popular prices in a theater soutlr of Market street—and mightn't that fact wholly or in part solve -the problem? If the query was heard by the lady she ap- parently did not deem it entitled to consideration, for she quickly said: “It does seem queer that the syndi- cate—the shrewd, far-seeing syndicate —should have placed ‘The Eternal City’ in the California and filled in time at the Columbia with a musical comedy. In other cities the attractions that ap- peal to culture and dignity are always booked for the theater that professes to cater to culture and dignity.” Then we drifted into discussion of stars that have stayed and stars that have waned. The extinguishment of so many new stellar lights this season was charitably criticized by Miss Truax. “It has been an unprecedentedly dis- astrous season for all sorts of amuse- ment enterprises,” she said, “and the fact that several new stars have briefly o flickered and then expired is not accept- . able as proof of their inability to blaze under ordihary conditions. I believe that the basic cause of the slump in theatricals lies somewhere in Wall street, but I am not enough of a finan- cler to detect its exact location. The Chicago holocaust did not tend to avert the collapse, and overproduction of worthless attractions certainly helped it.” “Have you ever tried starring?” I asked. “Oh, dear, yes. For two consecutive weeks I played the title part of ‘Lady Godiva’ in New York, and the the- ater was packed at every perform- ance. Previously made contracts that could ngt be canceled then compelled ths house management to oust us, and we found that the play was too big a thing to bring profits on the road. It was a great spectacular pro- duction, with many historical char- acters.” “~Vas Peeping Tc : ong them?"” “He was merely suggested.” “And the lady's ride through Co- ventry town?” Miss Truax hesitated. The artist perked up and evinced professional in- terest. “] saw a picture once,” he began, “and the lady's hair was her only cov— “Much of the actucl story was sug- gested,” Miss Truax hastily exclaim- ed; “but the entire proluction was beautiful.” “It ought to go well nowadays, while the popular taste is running to the— the spectacular,” I stammered. “Oh, I don’t know about that. id Miss Truax, apparently eager to get away from Coventry. “Nobody can tell what the public does want. So far as I can judge from careful investi- tion comic opera and musical comedy lavishly produced have had their vogue, the problem play is played out, exaggerated melodrama is losing its grip and vaudeville is wilting. “Then nothing is doing wel “Nothing is doing so well as clean ccmedy and ‘atmosphere’ drama. They have scored the only enduring successes in New York this season, and if I were a playwriter they are the only things I would attemnt. Kyrle Bellew is drawing big money in ‘Raffles,’ the comedy written by Richard Harding Pavis. Success has crowned George Ade’s play, ‘The County Chairman, because it is full of homely ‘atmos- phere,’ and the same may be said of “he Virginian,’' the dramatization ot Owen Wister's sketches of the Wyom- ing cattle country. My husband is in the cast of ‘The Virginian’ and I am interested enough in the play to have found out that its charm lies in ita v characterization. They are all cow cemp characters, not drawn as the dime novelist who has never been west of the Alleghanies draws them, but as men and women whose actions are prompted by pretty much the same hu- man impulses that regulate more gen- teel’ society. They do not shoot re- volvers indiscrimipately nor whoop without provecation, but deplore un- necessary Dbloodshed and converse quietly. _In the whole drama there is not one intense situation. It is the prairie ‘atmospheré’ that crowds the theater ‘with the best class of New York’s people.” “Then you will probably revisit us as the heroine of an atmospheric drama?” “My immediate future is nét decided. I will remain with ‘The Eternal City’ until it restores me to the Atlantic Coast, and then I may either sign for a second season or try something elke. I have not relincuished hope of reviv- ing ‘Lady Godiva.’ The play was writ- ten for me by a New York critic and we are corresponding as to the feasibil-’/ ity of diminishing its cost of production without impairing its dramatic worth. So it is not beyond the range of pos- sibility that I may come back to San Francisco as a star.” The artist looked gratified. “Here's hoping that you will come back soon,” I said to Miss Truax. “Here's hoping with you,” said Miss Truax to me. JAMES C. CRAWFORD. e SRl iy THEATER OFFERINGS FOR PRESENT WEEK ARE RATHER VARIED The Weber & Fields all-star cast company will begin a two weeks’ en- gagement at the Grand Opera-house to-morrow night. . 0Ok “Alexander the Great” is the new play in which Louis James and Fred- erick Warde will appear at the Colum- bia Theater for two weeks, commenc- ing to-morrow. oot Murray and Mack, the Irish come- dians, will begin a week's engagement this afternoon at the California, in their musical comedy, “A Night on Broadway.” e = The Alcazar will on Monday offer the fantastic French farce “The Gay Parisians.” PR “Roly Poly,” a new musical farce by ‘Will Carleton and Lee Johnson, will be started on a run at Fischer's Theater to-morrow night. s e T At the Central Theater an elaborate production of Sutton Vane's melo- drama, “In Sight of St. Paul's,” is an- nounced for to-morrow night and all the week. s a0 “When ~Johnny Comes Marching Home"” will have another week at the Tivoli, (B Several new and attractive acts are to be put on at the Orpheum this after- noon. Daen SO ) The Chutes will offer a revised vaude- ville bill to-morrow evening. AN T SRR IN MUSIC'S REALM THERE IS GOSSIP TO INTEREST ALL A letter from Felix Mottl, in which he makes known that he had nothing whatever to do with the New York “Parsifal” performance, has apperaed in various German papers. € e Leoncavallo's “Roland von Berlin” was to have been performed in Berlin the last of March, but the premiere will now have to be postponed owing to the renovation of the Royal Opera-house. P Another new opera, “Alpenkoenig and Menschenfeind,” by Leo Blech, was given for the first time with good suc- cess in Leipsic. e Gluck’s “Iphigenia in Aulis,” with changes and improvements by Richard Strauss, has been given in Magdebursg. LTy e W. J. Henderson, the well known music critic, writing of “Parsifal” in The Theater Magazine for February, says: “At each disclosure the opera- house has been crowded with a curi- ous throng, made up partly of habit- ual music drinkers, partly of people who regard it as their duty to find out what's going on in town, and part- ly of deluded curiosity seekers from Harlem, Hoboken and way stations, all filled with a faith in the statements of press agents, critics affiicted with Wagneromania and hysterical ladies who once visited Bayreuth. It is both amusing and pathetic to see an audi- ence sitting with bowed heads at the performance of this Kiralfy spectacle of holy things. If Wagner had really hurled into the world a work of gen- jus, a masterpiece in this, his swan song, I, too, should cry, ‘Ave Impera- tor’ and bow the knee; for no man worships more devoutly at the shrine of Wagner than I do. But it seems to me that there is something defec- tive in the vision which fails to pene- trate the tinseled garb of procession- als, ballet, transformation scenes, steam and purple light and to discern the emancipated and anaemic form which is beneath. It is both difficult and easy to believe that this music was written by the composer of ‘Tann- hauser,’ Meistersinger’ and the other great works. It is difficult to believe it because of the utter lack of the native fire of inspiration found in the other scores. It is éasy because of the continued echoing and para- phrasing of the thoughts conceived -environment,” he said. managers will pocket from $50,000 to $100,000. LATE HAPPENINGS AMONG PROMINENT STAGELAND FOLK The fashion which Mrs. Roosevelt Has adopted when attending the theater to invite the star of the cast into the Presidential box to compliment him or her upon the evening's performance is an extremely pretty and gracious one— a fashion which the stars, far from re- senting, are regarding with the high favor that is its due. & W Mary Mannering has just received the scenario of a new play she will bring out next season as the successor of her present vehicle, ‘“Harriet's HoGeymoon.” The play is by Justin Huntly McCarthy, who has supplied E. H. Sothern with suitable vehicles for the last three seasons. It is pos- sible that the play will be completed in time for a trial production late in the spring, swhile Miss Mannering is play- ing her San Francisco engagement. e Rumor has it that before many moons “The Light That Lies in Woman's Eyes"” will be an easily forgotten blink. This is the play by E. H. Sothern, which he wrote expressly for the use of his wife, Virginia Harned. It was given a metropolitan hearing last week and turned out to be about the most cruelly toasted piece of the season. F AR R | The good news comes that W. P. Gilbert has completed a new comedy, which will be seep this season. . . . Lydia Thompson is to return to the stage, according to present arrange- ments. Some years back she took a big final benefit that was to signalize her permanent rétirement, but it is said Lewis Waller has induced her to join his supporting company for the forthcoming revival of *“Ruy Blas,™ which is to be known under the new title “A Queen’s Romance.” The re- vival is soon to be made in London at the Imperial Theater. The once fa- mous Lydia will be seen as the Duch- ess of Albuquerque. . . . Mrs. Thomas Whiffen, who recent- ly suffered a severe attack of pneu- monia in San Francisco, is convales- cing. . . . Richard Mansfield may make a pro- duction for a week or two in New York of “Ivan the Terrible” before starting on his Western tour, which is to lead him to S8an Francisco. HfS manager has been negotiating for a theater, and it is likely that arrange- ments will be made for a week or a fortnight the latter part of February. The production is in readiness, and Mr. Mansfield wishes to bring it out in order to have “Ivan” as an additional attraction in his repertoire through the West. oty To James Neill is due the credit of giving the first performance each sea- son for the benefit of the Bell Sani- tarium for consumptive actors and actresses. Last year he gave a bene- fit in Los Angeles, and on Christmas afternoon he and his company gave another benefit for the same worthy cause in Honolulu under the auspices of the Honolulu B. P. O. Elks. Mr. Neill has also signified his intention of furnishing a room in the sanita- rium, which-will be knowm~ as the James Neill room. . . . Ada Rehan is considering an offer from Henry Irving to join him in a series of old comedies next season in England. The comedies may be “Much Ade About Nothing,” “Twelfth Night,” “The Taming of the Shrew” and the “Merchant of Venice.” . . . Henry Arthur Jones' latest comedy, with the odd title, from this deliberate maker of odd titles, ‘“Joseph Entan- gled,” was produced last Tuesday in London, the wicked cable says, with success. . ’ R Nat C. Goodwin admits he is getting tired of the stage. “I don’t like the “I'm 45 years old. If I can’t leave the stage when T'm 55, it will be strange. Then I will enjoy myself, get up when I like, go to bed when I like and have all the out- door sports I want. T'll go to the the- aters, of course. I couldn’t stay away from the theater, but I'll go to watch the other fellows.” P The row between Acton Davies, a critic on one of the New York pa- pers, and Lloyd Bingham, the hus- band of Amelia Bingham, over a sar- castic notice the former wrote con- cerning Miss Bingham's production of “Olympe,” is still furnishing gossip for the theatrical people. Some one has again brought up the old question of how far a critic can go in review of his performance without stooping to vpersonal abuse. and if he does, whether the actress’ husband, provid- ing she is fortunate enough to be at- tached to a pugilistically inclined cav- alier of the twentieth century, has the right to thrash the offending writer. Some actresses interviewed on the subject seem to think the husband is justified. A few writers think like- wise, providing the critic is willing to submit to the treatment, but while there has been a lot of talk about this latest encounter the auestion remains in the same old place that it was be- fore Mr. Bingham planted his fist on the counteénance of Mr. Davies. Amelia Bingham is the principal in “Olympe” as the actress of the Comedie Francaise who undertook to supplant Mme. Pompadour as concubine to King Louis XV. The drama made by Pierre Decourcelles from the Dumas narrative is hectic with the fever of passion, and Mrs. Bingham, smooth, clean and plump, can’t do anything effectual with “Olympe.” The reviewers said so next for the making of the greater works. day in their various ways, politely or This is the product of a man at hard Jabor. It is unquestionably the work of a genius, but not a work of genius. But it is a tremendously popular suc- cess, and it is like Katisha's left shoul- der blade, in that people come miles to see it.”" Y - * . 1t is a foregone 'conclusion that Patti will clear $400,000 by her Amer- " ican tour, soon to end, and that her harshly, and several ridiculed her fail- ure. That evening, while the press writ- ers were at the opening of another new play, the actress's husbdnd, Lloyd Bingham, and the critic, Acton Davies, had a fight. Bingham was an actor when he fell in love with Amelia. .a mid-Western girl, married her and put her on the stage. Before that he had for a time been an athiete in a circus, and since that he has become a very s . prosperous Wall-street operator, able to capitalize his wife's theatrical ventures. Mrs. Bingham meves in a good grade of fashionable scciety and is extremely ambitious in her profession. She is ad- mirable as a comedienne and incompe- tent as a tragedienne. s 7o e George Osbourne Jr., who died of pneumonia January 11 in Detroit, ‘was engaged to be married to Eugenie Hayden of the “Captain Barrington™ company. The marriage was to have taken place at the close of the season, and a wedding journey to the home of Mr. Osbourne’s parents in California had been planned. During Mr. Os- bourne’s illness Miss Fayden cared for him with the greatest possible devo- tion, and she was prostrated by his death. . . - Sarah Bernhardt’s memoirs are to be published in the autumn, if the author doesn’t change her mind. If well writ- ten, it ought to be the book of the young century. i Maxin Elliott may appear in “Her Own Way” next spring in London. F i T Sir Henry Irving surprised the na- tives of Buffalo last week by cutting fancy figures on skates, on Front Lake, Seneca Park. He was as graceful and active as a youth. LA Mrs. Gilbert, who sustained injuries from an accident last week in Washing- ton, is improving, and the hope is now expressed that she will not be com- pelled to retire from the stage. The well-beloved actress is in her eighty- third year, and it has been marvel to her associates that at that advanced age she has been able to continue her professional work, spending the greater part of each season on the road, sub- Ject to the irregularities and discom- forts of theatrical travel. The drama- tic profession is proud of Mrs. Gilbert— of her successful career of sixty years as an actress of fine artiStic quality, and of her honorable record as a woman. TR e ‘William Devere. the well-known poet- actor, is lying dangerously ill at his residence in New York City, and it is feared that he cannot recover. He is over 70 years of age, and though p sessed of an unusually rugged co tution, he is much weakened by present attack. The news of his illness has caused great regret among a large circle of friends, and when it was learned that his Circumstances were not all that could be desired steps were immediately taken for the holding of a benefit, which will take place at Ta many Hall on February 17. Deve is best known through his verses and his work as an actor in Hoyt's “A Black Sheep” and other farces. His best-liked poem is “Like Kelly Can,” written on seeing a comedian who thought he could amuse an audience as well as the late lamented J. W. Kelly. He has also written a number of verses that have the true ring and touch a note of hemely pathos that s irresistible. W Tl i- the The death of Eduard Lassen removes one of the best of modern song writers. His songs were always admired by the musical public, even though the critics sometimes shrugged their shoulders. He was a thorough musician, and his song creations reveal an extraordinary originality of thought. e AT Giacomo Puceini has just finished the orchestration of his latest opera, “Madame Butterfly,” based on the familiar story. The work will receive its first production this month at La Scala, Milan, and will immediately thereafter be given In Rome. There Madame Storchio is te sing the title role, and in Milan Madame Farneti has been selected for that honor. CHICAGO THEATERS WILL BE SAFE AS LAW CAN MAKE THEM ‘While the San Francisco Supervisors are amending the safety-in-theaters ordinance they might find some sug- gestions in the measure which has just been adopted in Chicago. Here are its most salient points: Steel fire curtains are epecified. Asbestos de- feated. In the rear of all banks of seats on all floors must be cross aisles leading directly to_fire escapes or emergency exits. Fireproof scenery and equipment behind the stage. Smoke vents controlled by electric and me- chanical dampers. Automatic sprinklers above and below the stage and in adjoining rooms. Stand pipes, hose reels and portable fire- extinzuishers. Fire alarms on all floors, on stage, and in ticket-office. Two or more firemen detailed to each thea- ter. and fire drills twice a week. All theaters hereafter erectsd shall be so located that they adjoin at least two public thoroughfares. All floors, balconies and gal leries, including the stage of sueh building. shall be surrounded on four sides by either open spaces or inclosed fire proof passages, both of which shail be outside of the audiencs room or avditorfum, shall open on or conmect directly with such public_thoroughfares, shall be maintained free and clear of obstructions, and shall not be less than eight feet in width, clear of any and all obstructions exeept stair- ways. Index signs reading “This way out” shall be placed consoicuously in such open spaces and passageways. In all cases where the floors of the audi- torium of the buildings of class 5 (theaters) are barked or stepped up the. floor level of the lowest bank sball not be above the sidewalk level. Stairways In theaters shall be in width equivalent to twenty inches for every 100 seats and fractional parts thereof in such buildings. but in no event shall any stairway in such be less than four feet wide in the clear. Each balcony and each gailery shall have immediate access to its provortionate amount of such stairway space, based upon the equiv- alent of twenty inches of space for every 100 seats in such balcony or gailery. All statrways shall have hand railings on each side thereof. Stairways shall not ascend a greater height than eleven feet without a landing The main floor-and also each and every bal- cony and gallery shall have entrance stair- Ways from the street level. separate »pd dis- tinct from other entrance stairway. The minimum width of aisles with ..vers- ing sides shall be two feet eight inches at the end near the stage, and not less than three feet wide at the cther end. minimum width of aisies with parallel sides shall be thres feet. Every alsle shall lead directly to an exit. ‘more than ten seats shall be arranged in any one row between aial‘s. Seats shall mot be less than twenty-two inches In width, measured at the top of the seat backs. Rows of seats shall be not less than two feet ten inches from back to back. #nd no backs of seats of a greater rise than eighteen inches. A bond qf $25,900, guaranteeing the performance, by August 1, of all the requirements of the ordinance, is de- manded, and when the theaters reopen it is probable tHat most of them will “advance their prices in order to recoug and to meet the larger expenses of run- ning under the new restrictions