AND CONTAINING CHAPTERS ON THEATRICAL CONTRACTS, THEATRICAL, MUSIC AND DANCING AND EXCISE LICENCES DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL COPYRIGHT, &c. WITH AN APPENDIX CONTAINING THE ACTS OF PARLIAMENT RELATING THERETO AND THE REGULATIONS OF THE LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL BY A. A. STRONG, LL.B. (LONDON) SOLICITOR LONDON PUBLISHED AT THE ERA' PUBLISHING OFFICE 49 WELLINGTON STREET, STRAND, W.c. 1898 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. Any information as to decisions from time to time given in courts of law on theatrical topics will be welcomed. 4 EASTCHEAP, LONDON, E.C.: January 1898. A. A. S. |