Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-12-27
srAeE-srRUoK WOMEN.


a young lady who has taken part IN
private theatricals for years, and VINO ~
tormented by desire to 90 on the stage,
recently went to a manager OF theAter
who, with untiring kindness, had been re-
fusing her opportunities for a chance 30
distinguish herself at bis theater, and
showed him an advertisement which she
had clipped from a newspaper, and which
had called for ga lady to take leading po-
| sition ON the stage" 1t announced "a IN
struction Free" The advertiser did not
make himself known, but gave an address
to which letters should be sent. The
manager, being familiar with the ways OF
womankind and knowing therefore that the
advertisement would be answered by his
visitor whichever course he advised, told
her to send letter to the address given,
and, in case the reply was favorable, to do
nothing until he had been consulted and
have an opportunity to inquire aiont the
advertiser. He has not been called on to
| do SO.
Many similar advertisements appear.
| Speaking to the proprietor of dramatic
agency recently, he said e" In most Gases
they are simply traps for ambitious anna
teurs. 1t does sometime happen, but not
often, bbat manager wants an amateur
actress to take q certain part and that there
is no application on the books of any sgency
which fulflls the requirements. Then he
inserts, and receive, say thousand replies,
which shows that those whose advertise
ments are not legitimate have big field for
their operations.
"The number OF amateur actresses who
want TO go upon the stage is enormous.
Many of them belong to respectable fan4i-
lies, and it is those that the Rien / speak
Of wish to catch. They say to the amateur
that it is impossible for her to appear first
in city theater, and persuade her TO con-
tribute toward the expense of organizing
snap company to play outside of New
York. They get $500 or $500 or 81. 009
cut of these amateurs, and then leave her.
Sometimes, after the company gets strand
ed, the amateur comes back without her
trunk or her jewelry. As to legitimate
advertisements manager may not be
able to tiud professional actress wlio can
afford The costumes necessary to a part.
Then he gets some rich amateur if he can,
lets her dress magniiioently, and act as her
natural endowments permit her, and every
body is happy-he especially, because he
has to pay her little or no salary. That
last reason Is one why amateurs are not
much liked in the profession !; they do not
always need money, and they take The
bread out of the mouth OF the professional
actresses"
Every theater, especially those with
stock company, receives so many applica-
tions from amateurs" said manager,
"that there is no need of advertising. As
| for advertisements of this class, they come
from men-whether professionals or NOT,
do not know-who try to make money eut
of amateurs For instance, they say To
young lady who has money ard wants TO
make her appearance on the stage that It
will cost $1,000 $1,000, $500 or $500 tc.
organize company and hire theater, and
| they get troupe together and hire thea
ter tor night in Paterson, Newark or
someother place, where the company gen.
orally comes to grief. The amount thsy
make by commission and out of expeL ses.
varies according to the greenness OF their
subject. They might In ordinary csses
make $50, or $500 out of $500, while $3.50
or 5000 went for the expenses, and is she
| subject was very green they might be able
| to go away with $500. Some amateurs do
not care at all about the money In one
theater half the actresses are amateurs and
belong to good New York families.
Zone lady know of who acts occasional
! ly and spends great deal of money ih&s
way. Last season her losses were SIG, 900,
bus she did not mind if, and her agent
bought himself nice little place in the
country. Another lady tried to make ar
raugemerts to pay a5 mstinees here, and
| the gentleman who accompanied her Of
| fered to pay any amount required, as he
! is able to do. | have seen her act, and
she acts badly, ard wants to play leading
parts, such as Camille We would not
have her here, bat of course there are the
aters in the city where her services would
be accepted on the terms she proposes. On
the other hand. know Of a young lady
belonging to good family, but in reduced
circumstances, who wants to go ON the
stage to increase her income, and there are
many such cases. As to the instruction
free part of the advertisement, the man
may mean it, or he may hope to get his
accounts even by the sale of books OF by
gratuity when position Is secured for the
pupil, Some instructors advertise EN-
gagements guaranteed, but, except in the
case of the leading teachers, whom every
body knows and who have influence with
managers, this is not to be relied upon, for
in most cases the engagement would have
to be paid for. The professional actors
found in snap companies join them because
they think they might as well take the risk
of having to walk back to the city as re-
main here lille. Il New York World.