Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-01-14
How Theaters are Managed in London
Salaries, Etc.

How Theaters are Managed in London
Salaries. Etc.
A writer in the London Daily Neps
gives some interesting details of theatri-
cal management in London:
Within the last two years several new
theaters have been built at the West End,
and another is to be opened. If this
increase continues, it will soon become
serious question whether the supply
will not exceed the demand. London
contains, in proportion to its size, the
smallest number of theater- goers of any
metropolis in Europe. This is due, in
part, to the prevalence among many of
its inhabitants of a religious objection to
"plays," and in part to the love of the
Greside which characterizes the nation.
New theaters, therefore, cannot be indei-
nitely opened without either proving
commercial failures, or shutting up, by
their success, some of the old ones.
The proprietor of theater
gets a good per centage on the outlay OF
his capital, so long as his rent is paid.
Sometimes, however, it happens that this
is not the case, or that his theater re-
mains for many months without an
occupier. Tenants are indeed always to
be found, but tenants able TO give sub
stantial security for their rent are not
quite so plentiful.
The lessee is usually his own manager.
His profits may be large or small. His
business is essentially a speculative one.
In large, frst-class West End theater
the nightly expenses average about ESQ
or 200; and the receipts vary from ESQ
10 e300, according to the success of the
entertainments. As rule, the receipts
are below the expenses; the loss is made
up by some lucky hit, when they are
largely in excess. Christmas is the best
theatrical season in the year; summer
is the worst, except when it is wet. In
winter, however, every wet night costs
the manager about 920 The stalls are
seldom full, except between February
and May. During the season fashion
able people usually go to the opera or to
parties-as their object is rather to be
seen than to see; during the winter
months, however, they 60 in large par
ties to the stalls of theaters Although
the dress circle is cheaper and more
comfortable than the stalls, it is the por-
ton of theater generally the least full.
Clerks and small tradesmen usually go
to the pit. The gallery is the home of
the working classes, who are the surest
patrons of theaters. They take the
deepest interest in what goes on upon
the stage; and, if any god " is noisy,
the Intervention of a policeman is not
necessary, as he is Immediately turned
out or reducedto silence by his neigh
bors. Applause invariably comes from
the gallery and the pit, as the occupants
of the stalls and the dress circle, how
ever much they may be pleased, consider
it beneath their dignity to give any out
ward expression to their feelings.
Nothing, however, is more deceptive
than full "heuss;" for no one, except
the manager and the acting manager,
knows whether it is filled with money or
paper" Paper is the slang term for
an order. As the general public dis
like void, if that void be not filed
up with persons who have paid for
their seats, it has to be filled with
persons who have not paid for them. A
large, and by no means poor class,
never pay to 90 into theater; indeed,
thoroughly to understand the parsimony
of the human species, man must have
been the manager of theater. His ia
BILE is covered every morning with letters
asking for orders, on all conceivable pre-
texts. If managers would put an end to
this begging letter nuisance, and agree
among themselves not to pack their
L..... 49, ,rorlJ IN iha and he oain-
ers, for order-hunters, as q class, cannot
exist without seeing every new play
which is produced, aud if it we're once
made clear to them that they must either
pay or keep away, most of them would
do the former. The weekly expenses of
the lessee are made up in the following
manner:
Rent, with taxes aud insurance,
amounts to about e70 week.
Some time ago the managers of the
principal theaters met together in order
to concert measures 10 diminish the lavish
outlay in advertising and posting that
has become the custom. They were,
however, unable to agree upon common
code of rules. Newspaper advertising
costs about e40 weekly, aud posting q
rather larger sum. Could managers agree
not to put above one advertisement in
each newspaper, and were they to take
stations where bills from each theater
might be exhibited, they would all Of
them be gamers, and the general public
would not be losers.
At the head of the wardrobe depart
ment is a master tailor and mistress Of
the wardrobe. The silks aud satius used
on the stage are usually bought whole.
sale. The dresses for large burlesque
or psntomime cost many hundred pounds.
Actresses are obliged to find their own
bonnets, boots and gloves. Actors in
plays Of modern life find their own
dresses.
The priacipal scene painter OF thea
ter is usually an artist of eminence in his
profession he has several assistants un-
der him. 1t is seldom that less than $500
is spent on colOrs aud canvas in the
course Of q year. Scenes, when they are
not likely to be used again, are painted
out; but as in each separate piece The
position Of all the doors aud windows is
different, it is seldom that clothes can
be used second time. In every thehter,
however, there is a large quantity of
stock scenery, consisting Of forests. in