The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-11-11
Stage.Struck Women.
Purses Filled at the Expense of Amateur
Actors.
New York world.l

A young lady who has taken part in private
theatricals for years and who is tormented by
desire to go. on the stage recently went to
manager of theatre who, with untiring kind
ness had been refusing her opportunities for a
chance to distinguish herself at his theatre,
and showed him an advertisement which she
had clipped from a newspaper, and which had
called for "lady to take leading position on
the stage" 1t announced obstruction 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 op-
portunity to enquire about the advertiser. He
has not been called on to do so.
Many similar advertisements appear. Speak
ing TO the proprietor OF dramatic agency he
said yesterday: "ln most cases they are simply
traps for ambitious amateurs 1t does some
times happen, but not often, that manager
wants an amateur actress to take certain
part, and that there is no application ON the
books of any agency which fultiils the require
ments. Then he inserts, or we do for him, and
receive say thousand replies, which shows
that those whose advertisements are not legiti-
mate 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 families, and it is those
that the men speak of wish to catch. They
say to the amateur that it is impossible for her
to appear first in city theatre, and persuade
her to contribute toward the expense of organ
izing a snap company to play outside of New
York. They get $500 or $500 or 1000 out Of
these amateurs and then leave them. Some
times, after the company gets stranded, the
amateur comes back without her trunk or her
iewelry. As to legitimate advertisements
manager may not be able to find professional
actress who can afford the costumes necessary
to part. Then he gets some rich amateur, il
he can, let's her dress magnifcently, and act as
her natural endowments permit her, and ev-
erybody is happy-he especially, because he
has to pay her little or no salary. The last rea-
son 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 actress"
every theatre, especially those with stock
companies, receives so many applications from
amateurs" said a manager, that there is no
need of advertising. As for advertisements of
this class, they come from men-whether pro-
fessionals or not l don't know-wno try to
make money out of amateurs. For instance,
they say to young lady who has money and
who wants 10 make her appearance on the
stage that it will cost 50 900, 81 900, 5000 or
$500 to organize company and hire theatre,
anu tneJ R6t d trOup6 bORobnef duu uJIc u tuo-
atre for night at Paterson, Newark or some
other place, where the company generally
comes to grief. They might in ordinary cases
make $3.50 or $500 out of $500, while $3.50 or
$500 went for expenses, and il the greenness Of
their subject was very green they might be
able to go away with the 5000. Some amateurs
do not care at all about the money. In one
theatre half the actresses are amateurs and be-
long to good New York families
One lady know of who acts occasionally
and spends good deal of money that way.
Last season her losses were $4,000, but she did
not mind it and her agent bought himself
nice little place in the country. Another lady
tried to make arrangements to play at mat
inees here, and the gentleman who accompa-
panied her offered to pay any amount required
as he is able to do. / have seen her act and
she acts badly and wants to play leading parts,
such as Camille We would not have her
here, but of course there are theatres in the
city where her services would be accepted ON
the terms she proposes. On the other hand
know of q young lady belonging to good
family, but in reduced circumstances, who
wants to go on the stage TO increase her in-
come. 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 or by
gratuity when position is secured for the pu-
pill. Some instructors advertise engagements
guaranteed, but except in the case OF the
leading teachers, whom everybody knows and
who have influence with managers, this is not
to be relied upon, for in most cases the engage
ment would have to be paid for. The profess
sional 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 to remain here idle