The New York herald., 1870-03-06
POUFEE'S LAST LEGS.
A Page from the Secret History
of the New York Stage.
Trials and Troubles-ROws, 'Mad Dogs"
Irate Actors and the Gentlemen
and Ladies OF the Chorus.

enter the ring generally come out badly scorched
The managerial battle, however, is often just as
disastrous to the veteran who has made LIE. long
study OF the hckleness OF public appetite. But OF
all theatrical speculations opjrd b0uDe seems to
be the most risky; witness the failure Of three
managers to the tune OF 100000 last year. and the
sensational and brilliant blow up of the bouirers at
the French theatre week ago.
BYRNE AND STARR.
Two young men-C A. Byrne and Starr for two
years identified with Bateman-havlng made little
money! determ ned some six weeks ago to give work
and bread to the French actors lying round loose
IN New York TO all the speculation appeared well
timed and everything foretold success.
FIRST TEMPTATION.
The wouid-be managers waited upon Mr.. Jacob
Grau, who received their propositions with avidity.
He Immediately made out schedule OF expenses,
which were found to amount to $40O a night-com-
pany prima donna, rent, advertising, &C., all COM
bined. An arrangement was Immediately entered
into, large deposit given, a company was speedily
organized, a prma donna Cdrs Howard PauD was
engaged, and the costumes whicn were lacking in
Mr.. Grau's wardrobe were speedily obtained.
Hardly had the rehearsas OF LA Grande Duchessen
begun, however, when, on second calculation, 1t
was found that the expenses could not possibly be
less than $3.50 night, would PROBABLY approach
$500. But the managers hau gone 100 far to back
out. and as 1t was rumored that Mr.. Grau desired
to get the whole thing IN ms own hands, their de-
termination became all the more fixed to '.paddle
their own canoe.n This was
SECOND TEMPTATION
which could not be overlooked Bur money flowed
out OF the treasury at frghtu rate, and each day
the means to carry on the opera became ''beautI-
fully less and small by degrees" The greatest
damper at this time was the constant visits OF the
L,ap
salaries that as yet depended on variety
OF contingencies.
THIRD TEMPTATION.
AT length, with depleted treasury and doubtful
prospects, the first night came, January "a. The
"Grand Duchessn was given, the audience was bril-
liant the success enormous, ana the managers, OF
course, jubilant. At a little supper given in the
theatre shortly afterwards congratulations poured
in upon the lucky Byrne and Starr Every body wished
himself in their boots and faliing this drank their
champagne That happy evening
FOURTH TEMPTATION
came In the shape oc an offer from an enthusiastic
party to buy up the company ana the season. In
fortunately Tor themselves The managers refused the
offer. The second night the weather turned ont
stormy and the house turned out slim-sO slim, IN
deed, tnat IL did not pay expenses by 5000. 1t was
genuine misfortune That the third night was stormy
again, and the house, though slightly better, Tar
from paying expenses. On the fourth day the man.
ayers fOund, what with preliminary expenses and
advances OF all kinds, the treasury was completely
dGPe'ea Grau came N about three o,eock
ened to close the house unless II was forth
Coming before the hour ol opening The mana sers
sailed out and borrowed the money. The mouse
was opened and the play was given. There was
good house on FRIDAY nlgnt, the pront OF when
well and during which 1t ralned 1uriouslv. The
trouble with the ''mad dogs' langltce, credtors)
began, and q
came In longing desire on the part Of the man.
sails OF ''Geneveve de Rrabant" were gong on
actively and the expense OF costumes became enOr-
nous mo, s. Many were wanting IN Grau's wardrobe,
day came and with 1t the chorus singers, VINO wanted
their saaTies winch amounted to 5000. The entire
Tor money to do TINS. With an immense
deal OF trouble and immense deal OF interest the
money was, however, oUlained. Again the house
was not paying one, ana as speedily as the money
came into the 0oX office II was whlsked out by
ANXIOUS creditors. And yet many remained un-
satisfied who ought TO have been satisfied. Tues
day, at three O'CLOCK Grau hove IN sight again with
his threats. HIS appearance brought on the
sixth TEMPrATlON,
which was very strong feeling IN the managers
heart to raise him at the a boot out OF MS
time the popular notion continued that opera
6ott0e was grand success, because the
MANAGERS wisely "papered' their houses judi
clousy each evening 10 the extent OF sometimes
300 tickets. But 'deadieais" brought no money,
The congratulations which The managers constantly
received concerning their 'crONded houses'' were.
under the peculiar circumstances Of the case, ex-
tremey gratifying. Byrne and starr continued to
make The stage Their iavorte place OF resort during
the evening" and the ingenuity with which they
lodged 'lnconvenient" persons was really worthy
OF better reward. An opportunity to make
'plle' appeared In Inc arrival IN town OF
PRINCE ARTHUR TO THE RESCUE.
The first Byrne and Starr heard OF ms Intended visit
to their theatre was through the papers. An invita-
ton to the Prince and suite was sent and unusual
preparations made to receive his Royal iilgnness.
But what was most gratifying there was splendid
house-that is III comparison with what had Deen-
and 1t gave the managers an opportunity TO escape
threatened storms which would only nave
swamped them. Ihe Prince didn't come.
though all the papers but the HERALD said
ne dld, md It was generally put down as
hoax. So 1t turned out TO be, but quite unlnten-
tonaly. On the whole, however, the audience took
the matter good naturedly ana there was little COM
paining. IL reality 1t was Godsend TO Byrne and
Starr that the Prince did not come, a. a contract
had been signed between tnem anu Grau that II
latter succeeded in inducing the Prince to visit the
theatre he tGiau, not the Prlncel should nave
third the gross receipts that nlgnt. more disap-
pointed, enraged man there was not to be found IN
New York that night than the sesame Mr.. Grau.
No; only the Prince, but the roya family OF England
and indeed the entire sovereignty OF Europe, mig
have found themselves IN unexpected difficulties If
Mr. JACOB Grau'S deyout VISA nad been listened to by
the powers above. Alter this little advertisement Of
one night business commenced again as bad as ever
and catastrophe seemed near at hand. once more
it was avoided by piece OF luck. The Saturday OF
the second week OF opera bouBea
SEVENTH TEMPTATION
came in a visit to Brooklyn In four days the per-
formance IN the City Of Churches was worked up
and the previous sale OF tickets helped 10 smooth
over good many OF the rougn edges OF managerial
experience. On Friday nights receipts 1t was I'M
possible TO pay the rent, and the climax seemed
| have been reached when the Saturday matinee only
brought Sl65 In the house Grau ragged and stamped
and jaobered to his pOyglot employees, and the up
snot Of IL was that he would not allow the costumes
to 20 TO Brooklyn unless the rent pad. 1t took
| good deal OF taking and moreover q smart trick,
| to have the embargo on The costumes removed The
trick was that julius Grau, nephew to Jacob, allowed
himself 10 be wneedeu out OF the receipt Tor the
money for the night IN Brooklyn, and took unwit-
ttngly an Old receipt back IN It's place. This was,
/
desired effect In Brooklyn the was irressti-
| bly, iunny. The mad dogs" with their usual fine
sense OF smell found out that the prospects OF the
managers were good and attended IN such numbers
that II was utterly out OF the question to satisfy all,
or even a small number. The orchestra Insisted on
getting paid for three nights arrears. The prma
donna had TO be squared up. There was heavy
rent to pay, and all this, added to wnat had been
already taken beforehand, left exceedingly little
| over Yet the Impression seemed TO be that there
| were quantities OF money floating about, and the
tenacity OF the creditors was frghtu. A few were