Source: Chicago Sunday Tribune, 12 May 1929, pt. 7, pg. 4.
My Dear Miss Tinée: What is there in the makeup of womenkind that seems to render them incapable of keeping quiet during musical numbers.
At the Chicago theater when the appeal to "silence" is flashed on the screen previous to the orchestral program, it seems to have the same effect on the women as waving a flag of lurid hue before a bull.
Recently a gentleman sitting in the row in front of me hissed slightly to the people in front of him, and to the ones beside me, to keep quiet--the disturbers were women, of course. Then above the blare of trumpets, the female next to him announced, "It's the sextette from Lushy, very popular number."
Exasperated, he said to her, "Shut up," which caused the female to threaten to call an usher because she was insulted. I wish she had, as the man urged her to do. I would have enjoyed filing charges against her and supporting him.
Music lovers in every theater are annoyed to the point of distraction by the chatter of females during the musical part of the program. If the Inquiring Reporter should ask me what was the principal cause of divorce, I would answer "the inability of females to keep their mouths shut."
I think it is a part of your duty, and would be an act of mercy and charity, for you to start a crusade among picture fans—FEMALES—to keep their mouths shut during the music numbers.
