Sunday Theatres
The opening of theatres on Sundays is a controversial question, but the Home Secretary's decision to permit the inno- vation has aroused surprisingly little criticism. The qualifi- cations attached to the permission mean virtually nothing. There is no really adequate ground, certainly none that would appeal to the stricter sabbatarians, for confining the Sunday opening of theatres and cinemas to " places where the presence of troops or changed industrial conditions create a special need. What, indeed, are these places? There are few towns of any size In the country devoid of troops, and few where industrial con- ditions have not changed. Practically everywhere, therefore, the local authority will be empowered to sanction the opening of theatres, cinemas and music-halls on Sundays. It may not, and from some points of view, is not a change for the better, but it is a change that cannot be resisted. It is right that the determining voice should rest with the local authorities, which are sufficiently susceptible to the views of the population they represent to make the question virtually one of local option. They might with great advantage try to set for Sunday performances a consistently higher standard than the normal. That should be crdl-e possible in the case of films and plays. The elevation Of the music-hall might be more difficult.
Previous page
