Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-04-13
JOE ENIMEl'S AUDIENCE.
How lie Played an Entire Matt
nee for the Benefit of One
Nan.


From the New York sun.
In describing scenes Mr.. Emmett un.
consciously assumed the character Of
Fritz, ard danced around the brokers'
office as gracefully as though he was in
costume. lie was asked to how large
an audience he had performed. "Well,
| don't know" he replied. There was
nearly 800 persons IN the Grand Opera
House last evening. OF course as it vas
first night, some of il WAS paper. But
nv share Of the receipts was more than
$500 that il, sixty per cent. OF the gross
receipts at the box Office. | think ]
PLAYED to over 1000 people in London
once The smallest audience ever had
was IN Columbus, Ohio. The managers
had been trying 10 introduce matlnees,
but with not much success. Joe Jetier'
son, Denman Thompson, and some OF
the big stars had gone through the mill,
and the audience hal been SO small
that they had SHE'D, and refused TO take
the cate. The money had been return
ed 10 the box office, and the diSappuint-
ell ticket buyers had departed determln'
ed never again to patroniZe matinee IN
Columbus. The afternoon business
was at it's lowest ebb when i struck the
town. After two or three performances
the posters announced matinee. |
went to the theatre at O'Clock that
afternoon and found my company sky
larking behind the curtain, in their
everyday suits. looked GU. in tue
auditorium. There was just one man
in the thPa,er. He sat clear back in the
parquet. Ii was Us much "a could do
10 outline him in tie darkness. | went
out to the box office. Did that man
nav for his ticket Yes, fifty cents,
the treasurer replied. The manager
toll me TO return him his money and
close the theater.' no, you won't, |
said, Il have never disappointed an
audience when I'm sober, and | don't
propose 10 DO So now. We'll play Tor
him | went into the parlaet, intro.
duced myself to the man, ami thanked
him for his attendance. told hIm SIS
he thought enough Of me TO come and
see me and pay fifty cents for the privi'
leye, he should have as good perform
ance as though the hous, was packed.
| then went behind the curtain and re-
quested the company 10 dress. Great
Cse ar, joe one OF them said, you amt
a going to play II that one man, ale
YOU? yes. am replied. He's
paid his money, and he shall have his
moneys worth Oh, he'devil, broke
in another member OF the company, III
paw his fifty cents and you let him go
/ told them that the performance must
20 on as usual, and i warned each one
that an attempt to guy the audience or
any failure TO play part in iu!I would
be the signll for discharge.
"Well, The orchestra played an over
ture and the curtain arose. Fritz Goa
tinued: Il walked down to the foot
lights. invited the audience 10 come
forward and take front seat, where he
could see AMI be seen, He thanked me
and settled himself in the front row.
| suggested that little generous ap-
plause thrown in where he thought the
actors deserved it, would serve TO IN
spirit them and warm them TO their
work. lie seemed TO appreciate the
situation, and agreed to give Us all the
encouragement that he thought We de
served. 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 audience was
N tears. He called for an encore. /