The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-15
BEHIND THE SCENES.

BEHIND THE SCENES.
How Theatres are Managed I'm Lon
don-Salarfes, &c.
A writer in the London Daily News gives
some interesting details of theatrical manage
ment in London:
Within the last two years several new thea
tres have been built ut the West End, and
another is to be opened. Ifthis increase con-
tinues it will soon become serious question
whether the supply will not exceed the de-
mand. London contains, in proportion to its
size, the smallest number Of theatre-gOers of
any metropolis in Europe. This is due, In
part, to the prevalence among many Of its
inhabitants Of a religious objection <''plays,"
and in part to the love of the fireside which
characterizes the nation. New theatres, there
fore, cannot be indefinitely opened without
either proving commercial failures, or shut
ting mp. by their success, some Of the old ones.
The proprietor OF theatre gets
a good percentage on the outlay of his capital,
so long as his rent 'is paid. Sometimes, how
ever. it happens that the reverse is the case,
or that his theatre remains for many months
without all occupier. Tenants are indeed al
ways 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 speculative one. In large, first
class West End theatre the nightly expenses
average about f70 or ESQ; and the receipts vary
from f3O to f30O, according to the success of
the entertainments. AS rule, the receipts
are below the expenses; the loss Is made upby
some lucky hit, when they are largely In ex-
cess. Christmas Is the best theatrical season
{rt1
1t is wet. In winter, however, every wet night
costs the manager about f20 The stalls are
seldom full except between February and May.
During the season fashionable people usually
20 to the opera or to parties-as their object Is
rather to he seen than TO see; during the Win
ter months, however, they go In large parties
to the stalls of theatres. Although the dress
circle Is cheaper and more comfortable than
the stalls, 1t Is the portion ofa theatre gener-
ally the least full.
Clerks and small tradesmen usually 60 to
the pit. The gallery Is the home of the work
ing classes, who are the surcst patrons of thea
tres. They take the deepest interest In what
goes on upon the stage; and If any 'god' Is
noisy, the Intervention of policeman is not
necessary, as he is Immediately turned out or
reduced to silence by his ncighbors Applause
invariably comes from the gallery and the pit,
Us the occupants of the stalls and the dress cir
Gle however much they may be pleased, con-
slider it beneath their dignity to give any out
ward expression to their feelings. Nothing,
however, is more deceptive than full
''housc p for no one, except the man.
it is filled with money or paper" Paper
is the slang term for an order. As the gene
raj public dislike void, if that void be
not filed up with persons who have paid for
their seats, it has to be filled with per-
sons who have not paid for them. a large
and by no means poor class never pay to 70
into theatre; indeed, thoroughly to under
man must have been sthc manager Of a thea
tre His table Is covered every morning with
letters asking for orders on all conceivable
pretcXts If managers would pnt an end to
this bcgging-ietter nuisance, and agree among
themselves not to pack their houses, they
would, In the end, be gamers, for order-hun-
tiers, as class, cannot exist without seeing
every new play which Is produced, anu II lt
were once made clear to them that they must
either pay or Keep away, they would do the
latter. The weekly expenses Of the lessee are
nude up in the following manner:
RENT.
This item, with taxes and insurance, amounts
to about f7O a week.
ADVERTISING, POSTING AND BILLING.
Some time ago the managers of the princi-
measures to diminish the lavish outlay in ad-
vertising and posting that has become the Gus
TOM They were. however. unable to agree
upon common code of rules Newspaper ad-
vertiSing costs about f40 weekly, and posting
rather larger sum. Could managers agree
not to put above one advertisement in each
newspaper, and were they 10 take stations
where bills from each theatre might be exhibit
cd, they would all Of them be gamers, and the
general public would not be losers.
THE WARDROBE.
AT the head OF this department is q master
tailor and mistress Of the wardrobe. The silks
and satins used on the stage are usually bought
wholesale The dresses for large burlesque
or pantomme cost many hundred pounds.
Actresses arc obliged TO find their Owr; uon-
nets, boots and gloves. Actors In plays of
modern life lind their own dresses.
THE SCENERY.
The principle scene painter of theatre is
usually all artist of cmincnce in his profession;
he las several assistants under him. 1t Is
seldom that less than $500 is spent on col0rs
and canvas in the course OF year. scenes.
when they are not likely 10 be used again. are
painted out; but as in each separate piece the
position of all the doors and windows Is dlilef-
rnt, it is seldom that ''ciOthes' can bs used
second time. In every theatre. however,
there Is q large quantity of stock scenery,
consisting OF forests. interiors, gardens, &c.,
which does duty in tarces.
The master carpenter is charged win the
preparation Of all the woodwork used in the
frames of the scenery and in the sets, which
nowadays are frequently almost built up on
the stage The scene-shifters are under ms
orders, and as scenes have to be shifted with
almost lightning speed. the number is legion.
The property man makes or provides all the
properties That are required in piece. This
includes everything from furniture to thsat-
| rical suppcrs.
LIGHTING.
The gas bill amounts to about $50 week.
Few dramas. and scarcely any burlesQues, are