DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL LAW BEING A DIGEST OF THE LAW RELATING TO THEATRES AND MUSIC HALLS AND CONTAINING CHAPTERS ON THEATRICAL CONTRACTS, THEATRICAL, MUSIC AND DANCING DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL COPYRIGHT, &c. WITH AN APPENDIX CONTAINING THE ACTS OF PARLIAMENT RELATING THERETO PREFACE. It is curious that, notwithstanding the litigation that often takes place over theatrical matters, so little seems to be known by the theatrical profession of the ordinary legal principles that are involved in their disputes. It must be confessed, though, that the intricacies and dryness of the law are enough to drive away members of a less jovial profession than that of the stage; nevertheless, the law relating to things theatrical is interesting, and many a 'six-and-eight' would be saved if it were better understood. An endeavour has, therefore, been made in the following pages to explain, in as simple a manner as possible, such parts of the law as relate to subjects with which the profession is concerned. Legal terms have, as far as possible, been avoided, and theatrical cases exemplifying legal principles have been given in full. Some of these, it is hoped, will be found interesting from an historical as well as from a legal point of view. A few of them have already been discussed in the pages of the Era in a series of articles on the subject contributed by the author. To make this little work as complete and useful as possible, Acts of Parliament relating to theatrical matters and the regulations of the Lord Chamberlain and London County Council are set out in full in the Appendix. I have much pleasure in acknowledging valuable suggestions by Mr. Harold Hardy, of the Temple, Mr. F. H. Pedgrift, of the Era, and others. 4 EASTCHEAP, LONDON, E.C.: ALBERT STRONG. February 1901. |