Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-03-19

it is customary In some cases for the man.
ager to stand in the entrance and watch
him. Sorry his lot if his act does not
please "the Governor" for that dignitary
Immediately calls out in cutting stage
whisper: "Come of. (" The variety man
is then demolished. He may, however,
succeed in making his way back into the
managers good graces if he can buzz
well-that is, talk well-and especially if
he is good at barney" or fattery. But
if he attempts to "kick "-grumble-
may as well at once have his name "put
up advertised on the bills-at some
other house. There, perhaps, he may be
able to induce the manager to "star his
name-that is, to put it in larger type than
any other on the bill
But often the company goes travelling,
or rather (" takes the road" The advance
agent has gone ahead he has g flooded
the town with dodgers small hand
bills-and the company follows in his
track, filed with expectations of making
"a hit, for their play was ''a go J" in
New York. and the manager has visions of
untold "ducats." An actor who makes
MS living entirely in travelling companies
Is known as
BARN SToRHER,
And is said to be "on the road" Towns
in which the company gives only one per-
Torrance are known as one night stands.
When a company reaches the place in
which it is to play it s said to ''strike the
town" Some companies on the road are
noted for their remarkable lack of ready
cash. These organizations are in the habit
of leaving town occasionally before the
hotel landlord has collected his board BILL |
Those who do this are said to lump the
town" Companies which make habit of
jumping the town are known as "fiy-by-
night" companies. But those organiza-
tions never last long. Sooner or later they
are stuck or . busted" The manager,
if he happens to be an unprincipled man,
slopes = and the unhappy company, in
strange place, without money, are left to |
foot it or "walk home on their uppers
The latter expression signifies that the
soles of their shoes are gone. These I'M |
fortunate people finally reach New York, |
and there find themselves once more g on
the curbstone that is, standing around |
Union square, in the neighborhood of the
dramatic agencies,
WAITING FOR SNAP,
Vt JoO. SOoo snap IL one lnaL
''pans out, or pays we'll; bad "snap +"
is one in which the manager forgets to pay
salaries. Salary is called "the ghost"
and salary day is known as the time when
the ghost walks. The great brother.
hood of actors call themselves ''the pro-
fession, in distinction from all other per-
sons, who are simply outsiders. Out
siders are generally looked upon as ''gillies,
a class Of beings best described by the COM
mon slang term .'fresh." The outsider
who has any acquaintance with theatrical
persons invariably braces them for
passes. II he obtains them, he becomes a
:" deadhead." A man who makes bust
ness of getting into theaters for nothing Is
known as Cheat. :" Some of these per
SONS are very young men of wealth and of
fashionable families, wlo think it fine
thing to be on familiar terms with some
well-know actor. The actor usually per-
mits the young man to pay for suppers
and wine, calls him good fellow, and in
short, 'plays him for srcker :" which
means, he gets all he can from his young
friend and gives nothing in return. After
all, however, the aim of the actors exist
ence is to "hog 'em;" that is, to carry
away his audience by the power and
beauty of the art