Felix Cherniavsky - Censorship, Dance, and Morality

Added 18th Mar 2022 by Beth Dobson (Archives and Programming Assistant, DCD) / Last update 18th Mar 2022

Maud Allan 934 51 2008-2-61.jpg
Maud Allan 934 51 2008-2-61.jpg
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Felix Cherniavsky - Censorship, Dance, and Morality

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Maud Allan Research Collection
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일 276 1. P , 511 lail 에 POLICE AT WINTER GARDEN . Ny Times By Mayor's Orders They keep an Eye . on Parts of the Russian Ballet . Russly and mainte Juna * Owing to letters received at the Mayor's office criticising incidents in the perform ance of Rusali ballets at the Winter Garden , where ertrude Hoffmann is the star ; Commissioner Waldo was asked by Mayor Gaynor to have the entertainment Investigated , with the result that it be came known / yesterday summonses had been issued from the West Side Court for Morris Gest , manager of the attrac tion , and House Manager Cass , who will appear at 2 o'clock this afternoon so that Diagistrate Kernochan may determine whether the law has been violated . While both managers denied last night any knowledge of the fact that sum monses had been issued or served , Capt . Burfeind of the West Forty - seventh Street Station was positive that they both had bean served . He has been at the playhouse for the last two performances , but would not say last night whether ho thought Gertrude Hoffmann's perform ance was in violation of the law . It is known that shortly after the open . ing of the performance two weeks ago let ters began to pour into the Mayor's office complaining of certain incidents in the ballet and the scant costuming of one of the performers . The Mayor wrote two letters to the Police Commissioner , turn ing some of the complaints over to him , and asking for action . On Saturday an other letter from the Mayor brought the explanation that Commissioner Waldo had not known of the change in the perform ance at the Winter Garden two weeks ago , and thought the entertainment that had passed muster for several months need not be investigated . Capt . Burfeind was then asked to in vestigate and attended the performance on Saturday night . The summonses were issued on Sunday . It was said at the Winter Garden last night by persons who had seen the first performances that certain of the Incl dents had been " toned down since the opening night . This was Venied by Gest and Cass last night . They said there had been no need of alterations . On being told that the origin of the complaint was in letters to the Mayor , Gest said they had letters on their own side that they could show , written by patrons of the theatre . He said that Baron A. Schlippenbach , Russian Consul General , had written to congratulate them on the success of the Russian ballets . Inspector Walsh and Capt . Burfelnd also acted yesterday on complaints received that ticket speculators were working in full swing in front of the theatres . Sergt . Sheridan with six men was stationed in front of the New York Theatre , where there was a first night , but they were unable to check the twenty speculators who mingled in the crowds . The specu lators would walt for those who showed inclination to buy and take them around the corner , where the money changed hands . A little excitement was created by one of the theatie attaches ejecting a man whom he said he had seen trying to put his hand in the ticket taker's pocket . Ile was not arrested , but told the po lice he was a sxculator . Another spec ulator 145 caught trying to sell an ad mission ticket that several years old . WANT TO SUPPRESS DANCE . NY Timba Complaint Against Miss Hoffmann and Her Troupe at the Winter Garden . Morris . Gost , manager - director of Miss Gertrude Hoffmann , and J. F. Cazs , man . åger of the Winter Garden , Fiftieth Street and Broadway , appeared in the West Side Court yesterday afternoon in response to a summong which had been served on them by Capt . Burfeind of the West Forty - seventh Street Station . The latter complains that the dance given by Miss Hoffmann and her troupe of Rus sian dancere is not proper for the ctage . The appearance of the two managers 1o the result of several complaints which were made by letters to Mayor Gaynor . John F. McIntyre appeared for Mr. Gest , and asked for an adjournment until next Saturday afternoon . This Magistrate Kernochan granted . In adjourning the examination , he said that he had visited the theatre last night in order to judge of the case and that he did not think It would take long to dispose or it . David Belasco was in court to testify for the managers . Commenting on the case , he said : The only interest I take in the case is that i do not think it right to sum mon these managers on such a complaint . The dance which is complained of is not Indecent . In fact , ever since the time of Christ we have had dancing in fleshings , and if they complain about this danca they will have to complain against every dance at the Metropolltan Opera House this coming season . * If tights are eliminated in dancing you will eliminate all beauty from it . It 18 necessary for dancers of this kind ' to show their limbs to bring out all the beauty of the - art . " A group of Russian dancers appeared last night before the King and Queen of England , dressed in much scantier cloth 16 than the dancers at the Winter Gar den , and I am sure that if it were not a respectable dance It would not have been performed before the King and Queen . " 1 . an was