Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-11-18
Joe Emmet's Audience.
HOW HE PLAYED AN ENTIRE MATINEE
FOR THE BENEFIT OF ONE MAN.

HOW HE PLAYED AN ENTIRE MATINEE
FOR THE BENEFIT OF ONE MAN.
In describing scenes Mr.. Emmett uncon.
seionsly assumed the character of Fritz
ard danced around the brokers' efice as
gracefully as though he was in costume
He was asked 10 how large an audience he
had ever performed. "WeU, | don't
know he replied There were nearly
800 persons in the Grand Opera House
last evening. Of course, as it was first
night, some of it was paper. Bus my share
of the receipts was more than ss00-that is
sixty per cent, of the gross receipts at the
box Office. think 1 played to over 1900
people in London once. The smallest au-
dience I ever had was in Columbus, OHIO.
The managers bad been trying to introduce
matinee's, but with not much success. Joe
Jefferson. Denman Thompson, and some
IF the stars had gone through the mill, and
the audiences ka0 been so small that they
The money had been returned at the box
office, and the disappointed ticket buyers
had departed, determined never again to
patronize matinee in Columbus. The
afternoon business was at its lowest ebb
when I struck the town, After two OF
three performances the posters announced
matinee. I went to the theatre at two
O'Clock that afternoon and found my COM
oI,- hab IND q i'm, in
their every day suits. / looked out in the
auditorium. There was just one man In
the theatre. He sat clear back in the par
quet. 1t was as much as / could do to
outline him in the darkness. went out
to the box Office. Did that man pay for
his ticket?' Yes, fifty cenJs,' the treas
urer replied. The manager told me to
return him his money and close the thea
tre.' NO, you WON'T l said. L have
never disappointed an audience when I'm
sober, and don't propose to do 80 now.
Well play for him. I went into the par
quet, introduced myself to the man, and
thanked him for his attendance. told
him that as ne thought enough of me to
come and see me and pay fifty cents fol
the privilege, he should have as good a per
Torrance as though the house was packed
then went behind the curtain and reques-
ted the company to dress. Great Caesar
Joe, one Of them said, you amt going to
play to that one man, are you?' Yes, l
am replied. He's paid his money, and
be shall have his moneys worth 'Ob,
the devil, broke in another member of the
company, I'll pay his fifty cents and you
let him co. I told them that the per-
Torrance must 20 on as usual, and ]
warned each one that any attempt to guy
the audience or any failure to play part
in full would be the signal for discharge
swell, the orchestra played an overture
and the curtain arose." Fritz continued
Il walked down to the foot-lights. I in.
vlted the audience to come forward and
take front seat, where he could see and
be seen. He thanked me, and seated him.
self in the front row. I suggested that a
little applause thrown in where he thought
the actors deserved 1t, would serve to in.
spirit them and warm them to their work
He seemed to appreciate the situation,
and agreed to give us all the encourage.
ment that he thought we deserved. The
performance began. don't think l ever
played better. threw myself, heart and
soul, into the character, and sang the
Lullaby so tenderly that the entire audi.
encs was in tears. He called for an encore.
l told him we rarely gave an encore, but
as this was an extraordinary occasion he
should have one. He applauded literally
at times where 10 applause was deserved
and again failed toapplaud where applause
was deserved. At such times I called his
attention to the omission, and asked
whether On reflection he did not think
that he had made mistake. A hint was
sufficient. He would clap his hands as
though perfectly enchanted and shou,
bravo = like an italian over Salvini. The
company paid no attention to him, hut
went on with the performance as regular
as clock work. Between the acts, how
ever, one or two of them evlnced dispo-
sition to go out in the auditorium and
mlngle with the audience. set my face
against it, and they refraiped. At the
close Of the second act the manager enter
ed the theatre. He had been out for a
walk. He seemed dumbfounded at seeing
the house brilliantly lighted and the or
chestra playing soberly to one man,
but he was the more astonished when
the curtain arose and the performance
was resumed with as much unconcern as
though there were thousand dollars in the
house. But he had an eye to business.
He sent word to the newspaper reporters,
and half dozen of them arrived in time
for the last act. No actor ever received
better newspaper criticisms. Some of
them were over a column long. It turned
out that the audience was an owner of a
copper mine IN Michigan and very veal
thy. On the following night he gave the
whole party a banquet at the leading no.
tel. He entertained us as handsomely as
we had entertained him, and we parted
with mutual regrets. Just year after
announced another matinee at Columbus.
1t was well advertised, and the house was
packed to suffocation. I took in over
ST. ,2OO."-N. Y. San.