Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-04-26


thea asks tie agent how many llekets
the paper is to get. The number Of
tickets that a country paper can find
use for is astonishing. 1t is never
less than eight and often more than
twenty. These matters being settled,
the editer and the agent make joint
call on the towns chief dispenser of
liquid inspiration. Next the agent
makes a contract with an expressman
to convey the company's baggage to
and from the theater or the hotel, and
then he makes contracts with the
various hotel keepers to take SO many
people &C so much per day. All these
contracts are duly written out and
signed, for they have to besent back 30
the business manager, who goes with
the company, in order that he may not
be imposed upon In paying the bills.
The advance agent has also to arrange
for the sale of reserved seats, which
must be opened a few days before the
company arrives, and for dozen other
matters of minor Importance. From
each town be sends back letter, in
closing all his contracts and giving the
business manager full account Of his
work If that work has not been
properly done, the city manager hears
of it at once, and the advance agent
receives a sudden waking up"
Meanwhile, rehearsals in New York
have been finished and the day of de-
parture arrives. Possibly the first
town upon which the glories of the
new play are to dawn is New Haven.
A notice has been posted in the thea,
ter stating BY what road and train the
company is to 60, and 1T what hour
baggage must be ready. At the ap.
pointed time the company assemblies
at the Grand Central Station, one or
two always making their appearance
at the last moment. The business
manager purchases the tickets, the
property man checks the baggage, and
at last the entire company starts for
its tour ION the road"
On reaching the town the business
manager takes his people to their
hotels, registers their names, and sees
that the ladies get the best rooms.
always keeping an eye on his own
comfort. Then he rushes off to see
about the ticket sale. If he finds
that it is large he gees back to the
hotel happy man, if not, he imme>
dlately endeaVors to arouse the town
to due appreciation of the fact that
his company is there. 1t is curious
fact that in many country towns very
few tickets are sold until after the
company arrives. The reason is that
SO many entertainments are advertised
which fail to take place, owing to
the bursting up" Of the company
before reaching the town, thst the
good people of provincial places are
a little shy Of investing their money in
advance purchases. The first thing the
business manager does, therefore, is
to send his people out walking that
they may be seen and known of men.
1t he thinks the town needs some
thing more he hastens to a printing
Office and has few thousand dodgers
struck off, reading something like
this: To night! The great New York
Third Avenue Theater Company in
'Loggerheadsl One hundred nights
in New Yorkl" A horse and wagon.
two or three small boys and bass
drum serve to distribute and call at>
tention to these exciting announce
ments, Then the business manager
returns to the hotel and spends the
afternoon in his favorite amusement
it may be billiards, or it may be max
ing love to the leading lady. At
night he stands by the ticket taker, if
be does not take the tickets himself
and watches that official to see that
he does not pocket a few cards of ad.
mission IN order to return them sur
reptitleusly to the box Office, where
they may be sold a second time, much
to the benefit of the seller and the
doorkeeper. About 8 o'clock the
business manager counts the tickets
and settles up" with the proprie-
tor Of the theater. After that
he pays the bills of the anxious
crowd of bill posters, newspaper col
lectors, ct id omne genus, who are
always on hand early in anticipation
ola financial weakness, and who have
wary eye on the company's baggage.
The last duty of the business manager
is to announce the time and place Of
departure on the next day; and then
he can escort the leading lady home.
Thus he appears to have a compares
lively easy time; but not so. There is
not a day when he does not have
dozen applications from various mem
bers Of the company for the loan of
money 10 sums varying from ten cents
to $2O. de must enter these in book
kept for the purpose. and deduct them
from the salaries at the end of the week.
When the members of the company are
responsible for their own board, he
pays all board bills and deducts them
also. That iesc is never accomplished
without trouble, for actors have weak
memories for the beer and billiards
which they have had charged in their
hotel bills; and unless the BUSINESS
manager can produce aseparate bill of
items for each member of his company,
receipted by the clerk Of each hotel
visited, he is sure to experience some
very cold weather during his trip on
the road.