New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-12-15
SHOW TRICKS.
How these Things are Managed-HistOry
of the Black CrOOk-HOw n Clergyman
yyns Reminded ofthe New Jerusalem by

of the Black CrOOk-HOW n clergyman
was Reminded ofthe New Jerusalem py
the Transformation Scene
Apropos of the re-0ccupatiOn OF NlbIo
| Theatre after its second destruction by hre,
a correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette
concocts very readable history of that re-
markable theatrical success, the Z" Black
| Crook" spectacle Many of the circum-
stances are already familiar to the pubic
| but the whole story has not been correctly
detailed before. They run as follows,
In the latter part of 1865, Harry Palmer
was walking up Chestnut street IN Phla-
deIphia and encountered Henry Z. Jarrett,
who had Just come from Baltimore. They
fell into conversation, and adjourned to
neighbOring oyster shop.
What are you doing now, Harry!' said
Jarrett, as they waited for the tultillment OF
| their orders.
Nothing" said Harry with that precise
| intonati0n for which he is famous, mot a
thing and l am looking around for some
| thing to do
That's just my case" replied Jarrett.
| Suppose we get up show together. How
! much money can you raise3'
| about ten thousand dollars"
That's my figure, too" said Jarrett.
"What do YOU say to getting up something
| to travel about the country WITH"
agreed" said Palmer, and just then
came the oysters, and temporarily stopped
| their mouths They remained an hour or
Sc in the restaurant, and before they left it
was decided that they would sail on the
| steamer two days later from New York.
Jarrett fastened to the Baltimore train to
say goodbye to his family and arrange his
preparations for departure. Palmer tele-
graphed for a state-roOm on the steamer,
and next day was in New York, where Jar
rett joined him a couple OF hours before the
sailing of the steamer.
GATHERING THE MATERIALS.
With no very definite purpose beyond
that of finding an attractive novelty, they
arrived in London, and began looking
around among the theatres. For several
days they found nothing that suited them,
and at last came to Covent Garden. There
was snowy performance going on there,
with a closing scene that reminded them OF
the "Seven Sisters" though it was mOEe
gorgeous. After they had looked at it, one
Of the pair suggested:
Suppose We buy this closing scene, get
up ballet company, and then show the
two together. We can take 1t through, and
it ought to draw
just what l was thinking" said the
other. They talked awhile about the mat
ter before going to bed, and the next morn
ing they opened negotiations for the ma
chinery and properties of the scene, for
which they were to pay $500, the delivery
to be made at the end OF the month, when
the piece was to be withdrawn. This pur-
chase was what atterward appeared as the
transformation scene in the "BIack Crook"
Then they set about engaging the live ma
terial for their ballet. They engaged few
dancers in London. but could not find a
star that suited them.
Their plans were all settled to take this
transformation scene and ballet troupe to
America, run it a month in New York, a
fortnight in Boston, and so on through all
the cities and large towns. Jarrett started
for New York to arrange for theatre for
the performance, and Palmer went to the
continent to secure the star performers.
Jarrett arrived here and found Niblo's Gar
den under the management of William
Wheatleigh, the best for his purpose. 1t
was not doing good business, and Wheat
leigh was looking around for something
new. Jarrett untolded his plans, and it did
not take long TO arrange bargain. J i'll
rett, Parker and WheatIeigh formed a part
nership, in which the money the two first
had expended was to be set against the
lease OF the house, The receipts were to be
pooled" and after paying expenses there
was 30 be an equal division of profits.
yHE BLACK CROOK.
They were sitting in Wheatleigh's office,
and had just completed negotiations, when
there was a rap at the door, and the attend
ant announced M. Barras, dramatic author,
who wished to see Mr.. Wheatleigh, if he
was not busy. The manager hesitated
moment Tell him I'm out-no, show him
in; he may have something that we want"
Barras came in and explained his business,
He had written and just completed play
which he called The Black Crook, and
wanted Wheatleigh to produce it. Wheat
leigh asked his price, and he named $4,000
and royalty of $50 a night, o $1,000 Out-
right. He was told to caI next day, and
leaving the manuscript, after explaining
few points, he went away.
The two managers looked over the manu-
script. g Not much of play said Jarrett
9 but the title is irst-rate, and will do for
our show. We can take in few scenes
from the piece and stick in the ballet, or
rather, stick the scenes in the ballet. We
can make the piece run six weeks, and we
had best take this piece, and pay him $4,000
and his royalty. That viii be cheaper than
buying it outright"
Jarrett left Wheatleigh to complete the
and jumped on steamer for
England. Wheatleigh arranged for the
play, and wrote by the next steamer that he
had done so. Jarrett reached London, tele- |
grapheG to Palmer, who was in Berlin, to |
meet him in Paris. Thither they FASTENED
they met in the evening" and sat up until
daylight, talking over the plans of their
In a couple Of days they had |
everything satisfactorily settled. 1t was
before the days of the Atlantic cable, and |
the only reliance was upon the mail. While |
they we're talking over the business, Palmer |
suggested:
LET us make a sure thing of it, You
have just time to catch the Cunard steamer |
from Liverpool Go for it, see Wheatleigh. |
and take the next steamer back to help me |
cast over the ballet troupe and machinery. |
will have everything ready by the time you
get here
Jarrett assented, and in five minutes they |
shook hands and separated. Hecaught the |
steamer, and on Tuesday forenoon at ten |
o'clock, landed in New York. In half an |
hour he was cl0seted with Wheatleigh, and |
in few hours the time and all the details |
OF tie production Of the piece were ar
ranged. They took dinner together, and |
late in the evening Jarrett went on board |
tle outgoing Cunard steamer, which was 10 |
sail the next morning.
PRODUCTION OF THE SENSATION.
II due time Jarrett and Palmer arrived
IN New York with their Heterogeneous ma
terlais for the great spectacle, and in due |
time, in August, 1866, the first performance |
came Ali. and the house was crowded It
wa4 whispered that there was great num- I
Der OF '!eaC-heads and hired claquers in the |
audience, huC She managers strenu0usIy |
deny thar there vas anything Of the sort. !
At al. events, there was vociferOus an.
p!ause. though There was an appearance of I
among some Of the spectators
when the corps &c ballet, with clothing fear
fully suggestive 0f the Venus di ATedici
after a bath IN Tel lax, made its entree to
.he demon dance" There was breathlees
ness tor q moment. but round Of applause