The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-06-12
DRAMATIC sKETCHEs-NO. 6.
The Mnster of one Robes.

gets the least part OF the credit In the best theatres
It has been the rule that the stage manager should
assign daily II the bill was that often changed, or
whenever required, the dresses that were to be fur
nished from the theatre wardrobe, that each lady
or gentleman should wear At some houses this
rule is still actively enforced, the performer finding
on his dressng-tabe in the evening all the articles
needed by him, marked with his name It is not
often, however, that there is such system the per-
formers In most cases selecting for themselves such
things as they may fancy. There is another ancient
rule which is even more generally broken.
In the good old times it was decreed
that all performers OF the rank of walking gentle
man and upwards should furnish their own dresses.
The wardrobe was intended only for the smaller
people, whose salaries were supposed (and very
fairly supposedly to be inadequate to the purchase of
costumes. These latter performers we're expected
TO have their "tights," shoes, feathers etc. but
the theatre agreed to furnish their dresses How
ever the rule may have been broken, it is now the
fact that in many the principal performers do
not scTuple to the theatre wardrobe the leading
himself not being too proud very frequently to
draw on it's stores of cotton velvet and silver lace
OF course this is unfair to the utility, because the
big men of the place their choice and the very
people who can least afford to do 30 have to put
with the eavngs.
1t is rare nowadays to find stock actor with any
considerable personal wardrobe. Formerly a good
amount OF this material considered an essential
Money spent in this way thought to be legit-
matey laid out for it was argued that what his
tools are to the mechanic his wardrobe is to the
actor. Now, however, the most business-lke men in
the profession think money so laid out poor invest
ment and would rather have their earnings in the
savings bank or Government stocks than In tneatr-
cal raiment. Two reasons may be given for this
change of base. Many Of the ''revvals" and sensa-
tons OF late years have been dressed for the sake OF
uniformity, by managers This material so accu-
muates in theatre that there is often real need
of individual expenditure. Then, the popularity of
Society," or, actors call them "Pantaloon" pieces,
renders great deal of the fancy dressing OF other
times unnecessary In this last and important mat
ter the theatre is the ganer for all present day cos
tunes must be provided by the performers, whether
OF high low degree. But although during the run
OF s'pantaloon pieces the wardrobe mans occupation
is good gone, yet they do not run forever and
in some localities they do not at ALL The SUBJ
ject OF our sketch is therefore, at all times,
tial member OF the stage managers staff.
1t might be supposed that the costumer should be
by trade tailor. But whether he should be or not,
he very rarely is Consider the manly figure of
Colonel Frank Johnson. Everybody knows Frank.
Does he look as if he ever sat on lapboard? Frank
is the political lay at present, but he was cos
tumer-and good one-at the Arch Street Theatre
for many years. In fact, this branch of the tailor
ing business is not so much trade or art as it
is knack, superficial way OF putting things. The
property man who manufactures gorgeous paste-
board gonet has very rarely learned that art at the
goldsmith's and the stage carpenter who builds
ship and puts 1t on the stocks complete, has,
most likely, never been within seventeen
miles OF ship yard. In like manner the stage
tailor is not tailor as OF the outer world regard
that worthy artihcer. he doesn't learn; he knows.
His work isn't theory reduced to practice; 1t is in
stinct. Oftener than not he Is some broken-down
or imperfectly appreciated actor who has more soul
for Buttons than for Shakespeare. Men continually
drift from the stage into similarly unlikely business
relations to it. but this change, from struting their
own brief hour to the trappngup OF their more sue
tt,n foac of
Many the sad stories of disappointed ambition
to be found in the corners and dark places OF the
theatre
All clothes have mean kind OF look when thrown
of, but none seem ineffaby shabby as theatrical
dresses Al the best they are intended to be looked
at from a distance, and when in addition to a
damaging propinquty they suffer from the CON-
bined ll-usage OF several generations OF people who
have no interest in taking care OF them it is not
worth any high price Of admission to see them tossed
about In heaps in dingy and uncomfortable apart
ment. This room is generally in the flies, or at some
point as conveniently thereto as possible. Its
position has been known TO cause an extra vehe-
of language very often, but there Is reason
for its remote location. 1t would be seriously
the way on the stage floor, and the base
ment is often so damp and poorly ventilated
place as to be unfit for by people who have tc
remain in it all day. Both wardrobe and dressing.
rooms, however, at times built under the stage
We have known dressing-rooms OF this sort to be SO
very damp that the actors In arral Ing themselves
or their approaching triumphs had either to do SC
upon stools and chairs or else to stand in water
ankle deep during tue operation There is more
OF the romantic than of the agreeable in this, ant
Hot much OF either.
The first sight of the wardrobe invariably impei
one to ask, Can any order be got out of this chaos
An apparently more hopeless condition OF things Cal
scarcely exist. As already limited, the actors ofte
help themselves and in doing so they mix things vi
considerably The man who would rather have hi
hdgety customers do this, thinking to save htmsel
trouble thereby, must surely find the heavy END
the account in clearing up after them, II there eve
is a clearing-up. 1t does seem in some theatres as
this clearng-up time never came, in which case, c
course the new rule is all clear gain for the ward
robe man.
The duties OF this official are three-fold. FRS
to provide such new dresses may be necessary
second, to issue nightly, or when required, sue
articles may be called for; third, to keep striC
account OF such material issued, and to keep tn
entire stock in good condition and repair. An
one can that the place is a responsible on
1t is, further, in many cases a hardworking an
combining one. At Wallack's the costumer has a
easy berth, although the old comedies give hi
something to DO, but at the Bowery he is one of I'll
busiest men in the theatre.
Most young actors have their keenest recolle
tons socated with the wardrobe. 1t IL the regio
of practical Jokes. The way novices are put upo
IS perfectly heartess, but there seems to be no he
for it, and only one compensation, viz, that in the
turn the yctimized parties may have the opport
ny OF hazing other unfortunate Freshmen.
greenhorn behind the scenes has astonishiI
talent for gulbility He takes everything he hea
for truth, absorbing as greediy as a sponge Il
most improbable things However shreWd al
sensible he may in fact be, 1t seems that on his Dir