1903 - theater is dying

In 1903, the theater business was seen to be failing. This cartoon shows the many reasons for failure: the construction of mannequin models as stand-ins for actors, surrounded by scenes of price gouging, poorly attended performances, the use of wooden actors, indifference to customers and haughty attitudes by theater staff, and the resulting failure of business. Above the main scene are the ghosts of past actors labeled "Booth, Gilbert, Forrest, Cushman, [and] Wallack".