of less benevolent foreign landlords holding similar property.  Unless civic responsibility develops beyond this comparatively helpless position, no such improvement of the situation as may lead to dramatic growth may result from this foundation.  At the same time, even this meager measure of civic control of the dramatic situation has bettered Northampton’s chances in the matter of drama.  It has shielded the town from utter helplessness against dramatic deterioration through receiving whatever outside commercial managements may choose to offer.  It has enabled the town to choose for itself to some degree and most notably to gain access to a higher class of independent dramatic entertainment than would otherwise be open to it.

But even in the act of thus looking out for the mere shell of a civic theater, the difficulties incident to a partial reform of the dramatic situation appear.  They are the difficulties incident both to the current dramatic commercial monopoly, and to not doing more than own a building.  The next step toward surmounting these difficulties would be to give the shell a substantial kernel.  It is natural enough that in an age as much disposed as ours is to give the dominant place to financial support that the most obvious and superficially practical thing to do was done first.  It is natural enough, too, in the working-out process, that its superficialness becomes evident.

Pittsfield comes next both in date and significance of its step toward financial support for the community of a theater.

To Mr. Edward Boltwood, a member of the executive committee responsible for this step on behalf of the town, I am indebted for the following account for which I asked of its initiation: 

’A corporation of thirty citizens bought the local theater ("The Colonial”) last January (1912).  We are professional and business men, maintaining no academic theories, believing in a practical way that a protected and well-conducted theater is as sound a municipal asset as a good public library is.  We have not printed any report.

’After cleansing, re-decorating, and re-equipping the house, we shall install a resident stock company, to open May 20, under the direction of Mr. William Parker, who is at present producing manager at the Castle Square, with Mr. Craig.  We have no very definite plan, except to make our theater a place of entertainment for intelligent people.’

Among the comments of the press involved in stating this item of news at the time, the way the ‘Nation’ put it, and the way the ‘Outlook’ put it, are fairly representative of public opinion of the need and value of this civic step.

Said the ‘Nation’: 

’Some of the leading citizens of Pittsfield, Mass., being dissatisfied with the commercial management of the principal theater in the town, have bought the house with the avowed purpose of conducting it upon lines more worthy of intelligent support.’