The Theater vs. The Saloon

One of the unexpected effects of the establishment in Walla Walla during the past summer of theaters and parks has been the greatly diminished evening patronage in the saloons of the city. The amusement resorts have made themselves entertaining, and have been liberally patronized by men. While the show is on, the saloons are comparatively empty. When the theaters close, the crowds pour out on the streets, but many of the men go home; others merely drop into the saloons for a few minutes, then they also go home. This would seem to indicate that many of the evening habitues of drinking resorts go there for amusement rather than for boozing, and that if other ways of pleasantly passing the time are provided, the evening at the saloon is not the only option. The men in search of evening recreation find the theater more attractive. Besides, he can take his family and give wife and children a pleasure, and all for less expense. This is a practical exemplification of the contention of William T. Stead in his book 'If Christ Came to Chicago': 'If the allurements offered to pleasure-seekers and homeless idlers are to be counteracted, a substitute, moral, but at least equally attractive must be provided.'