The New York herald., 1868-06-28
Tho theatrical Benefit System-Relics Of
Professional, Deadheadism.

An English critical journal (the London
ReoseW) in late number INDUCES, apropos
to Mr.. Paul Bedfords farewell benefit at
the New Queens theatre, in some severe but
thoroughly deserved structures upon the benefit
system in general. In America this system is
exaggerated even to caricature. At nearly
every theatre in New York city, not only the
"stars," but the stock actors az well, are
engaged with the stipulation of benefit, for
the profits of which every ha6ituS or holder of
seat Is .besieged for an extravagant fee for
the said seat on the evening in question; and so
thoroughly has this procedure been incorporated
with the management that there are few who
would have the audacity to defy the custom and
protest against it. Meantime, in journalism
great reform has been begun and carried on
through the persistent efforts Of the HERALD
to break up the deadhead system. Our
employees are so paid as to leave no necessity
for resort to its practices, and so paid as to
afford to be Independent Of all free lists and
deadhead lodges, misnamed oourtesies to the
press; and If it should happen, as it will some
the score of connection with the HERALD, we
wish all theatrical managers and all persons
upon whom such claim is made to understand
that the claimants are not of the HERALD staff
and have no authority to represent it. We
wish the gentlemen 80 connected to be under
no obligations to ticket or railroad agents-in
other words, to pay their way like gentlemen
of any other profession. We employ no
Bohemians, thus securing independence of
criticism and comment on the part of those
who may be detailed to represent the HERALD
in any capacity. The deadhead system has,
in fact, been one of the principal causes of the
decline of the drama in America. On the free
list, and perhaps regularly salaried by theatri
cal managers, the Bohemians have become
simply agents for the retail of any puffery,
however absurd, which it might suit their
masters to demand and by this means por-
tion of the press has been made wholly or
partly subservient to the interests, not only of
theatrical managers, but of the agents of any
institution which might stand in need of a
well written puff.
In London there has always been something
like fair criticism. Bohemians there have
been who puffed and praised at the beck of
managers; but these have been coughed down
from time to time, Independent men have
taken their places, and English criticism
has Outgrown managerial influence. 1t
may be added, however, that if the
remuneration of the dramatic profession be
insufficient, begging is not the most dignifed
way to repair an actors poverty. There is
another and more honest way. Let the lead
ing theatres In New York city-such as WAL
lacks and others-adopt scale Of salaries
which will render their employees Independent
Of all beneits-in other words, let them begin
the same reform in the theatrical profession
which the HERALD began in journalism. Let a
scale of salaries be adopted which will be amply
remunerative without resort to begging and to
the varied lodges of the deadhead, which are
but relics of Bohemianism and by no means
comport with professional dignity. In this
way better class of artists will seek the
boards of leading theatres, and the public will
be relieved Of an annoyance which has gotten
to be an intolerable nuisance. An indepen-
dent profession, devoted to the Improvement of
the dramatic art, and an Independent press,
impartial In it's criticism, are the two things
needed to arrest the decadence of histrionic
art in America; so long as the drama and the
press are given over to begging Bohemianism
so long will the members of either profession be
subject to slur and disrespect. Let enterpris-
ing managers, therefore, abolish benefits and
their Bohemian hangers-on of the Bohemian
press at single coup. Let them employ the
best of artists at the best Of salaries, cut off
free lists and court intelligent and impartial
criticism. By these means only can the dignity
of either profession be preserved.