about 10,000 who visit the theatre Friday evenings, Saturday matinee and Saturday evenings (the existing Blue Laws do not allow performances on Sunday) and approximately 20,000 who are brought to the theatre via the benefit. Without the latter the Yiddish theatre could not exist in this city—not even one. In this all are agreed.
The mergers that have been effected among the Jewish fraternal, beneficial and landsmanshaft organizations in the recent past have been numerous. The theatre was among the first to feel the effects of these amalgamations. With all this the “benefit” is still counted on to render real service during the coming season.
The question now raised is: How many theatres can a 30,000 population absorb? At this writing arrangements are being completed for the opening of the Arch—the oldest Yiddish theatre in this city—the Gibson and the Garden. The Arch will be under the management of Moses Gruber with Simon Wolf as his director; the Gibson will be under the management of Morris Burns with Jacob Cone as Director, and the Garden will be under the management of “Mike” Thomashefsky, one of the pioneers of the Yiddish theatre in this city with one of the members of the Art Theatre as Director. Artists expected to constitute the troupes include such well known names as: Hyman Jacobson, Mae Simons, Celia Adler and the other members of the Art Theatre under the direction of Maurice Schwartz.
All the theatres are now going through the customary renovations. The managers are all busy making final arrangements. It will not be long now before official notices will go out to the Yiddish theatre goers of the definite dates of opening. And actors and public alike will watch with keen interest for further developments.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
