Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-13

1oiy tAc tuSdsNTS using arranged &C
cording to states. | can tell by a
glance at each page how many dates
are open for the theater represented
by that page. Here is Cleveland
filled you see, from Aug. "a, 1885, to
June II, 1886. Now, suppose I want
ed to book an attraction for some
date later than June 81, 1886, in
Cleveland. [ telegraph to the mana
ger the name of the attraction the time,
and terms. There is possibility that
we MAJ differ on terms and have to
adjust them by wire. But | know
what ideas the different managers
have lii regard to terms, and usually
get an affirmative answer to my first
telegram. In addition to my book, in
which each page is devoted to 8 thea>
ter, l have tables consisting of page
like those in the book, pasted on card
board. Each of these tables is devoted
to star or combination. | have six
teen all told. Now, look at this table.
On it you will find the route of star
actress mapped out. AS rule I start
my attraction in New York and wind
up In New York. This route is an ex.
ception. take her through Canada
to Milwaukee, then come to st. Paul
and Minneapolis, and then Chicago.
I want to get from Chicago to PhiIa~
delphia, for [ want to be east for
Thanksgiving. That day isn't cele~
brated extensively in the west, but it
is good show day in any eastern city.
There are about two hundred towns
between Chicago and Philadelphia
and from these [ select In the follow
ing order: TT. Wayne, Springfield,
Dayton, O., Columbus, O., GAINESVILLE
and Wheeling. These are easy jumps,
being from only two to four hours
apart. Yet have covered the thous-
and miles and landed ray star in Phil
adelphia on Sunday, so that she can
rest and start in fresh on her three
weeks Philadelphia engagement. Then
we go for two weeks to Boston, frona
there to Brooklyn, and thence to Buff
falo, where we play Thanksgiving
week. Now we work our way TO New
York, reaching there in December,
after stops in Rochester, Syracuse,
Utica, and Albany. In New York we
play two weeks. Christmas we will be
in Washington"
''I should think" said the reporter,
''you would have chosen New York
for Christmas"
washington is very good holiday
city, because we catch the clerks from
the departments. We have to consid-
er such matters In laying out routes
For instance, I try to get my attrac-
tons to places like Pittsburg in wins
ter, because that is the busy season in
the iron industry, and hence wages
are good and there are no strikes. We
also find out about pay days in manu-
featuring towns. You see we have
all such matters to consider. But to
continue on our route. From Wash
ington we go to Baltimore. Then we
strike for the southwest as follows
Pittsburg, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and
Louisville. Kansas City comes after
Louisville"
"Isn't that big jump:"
Eyes. It's very big jump, and one
I wouldn't make ordinarily. But this
star always does rushing business in
Kansas City. The train for Kansas
City leaves Louisville before our PER-
formance is over. So I have arranged
with the passenger agent to hold
it. In this way we save a
days stop,oyer in Louisville. Our
next stop is st. Louis, and then we
work south as follows: Nashville,
Memphis, New Orleans, and several
Alabama towns Then we work our
way north through Georgia, South
Carolina, and Virginia, our last
southern stop being Richmond, where
we go to New York again for our
wind-up. From Augusta, Ga, we
make a detour to Jacksonville. This
place is crowded with northerners
during the winter. 1t has new thea
ter, and the manager wants this star
SO much that he is willing to guaran~
tee US certain profit. We take a
special train from Augusta to jack
sonville and from there to Savannah.
''But if you have to make routes for
sixteen attractions, " said the reporter.
81 should think the late corners
would be hard to satisfy"
''There are no late con ers among
my regular sixteen attracts, because
I book them all IN December for the
next year. Besides the routes differ
Ii OAcii oSSOI. LICIC, tCI 4hSbChCC, ID O
route for a play in which a we'll
known actor starred up to last season.
He takes another play this season, so
his old play goes On the road without
him. That route doesn't take in a
single large city. It is confined TO
towns which are one or two night
stands. OF course, some managers
come to me too late. They have to
take what they can get. They are
oblighed to jump all over the coun~
try, and are put to great outlay for
transportation. Then again it may
happen that some combination goes
to pieces.
''How % you manage the advertis~
ing for your attractions while en-
route?"
''That is provided for in the con
tract. | have printed form which,
when filled out, is contract between
my attractions as party of the first
part and the theater as party of the
second part. The attraction agrees to
furnish the acting company, advance
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