Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-02-14
LAYING OUT ROUTES
FOR THE VARIOUS THEATRICAL COM.
BINATIoNS OF THE COUNTRY.
How the Thing In Done systematically
The Agents Long Book"-Adver-
Using the Attractions Arrange
ments with the Manager.
New York Sun Interview ]

New York Sun Interview
sOf late, y one of the best-known theat-
rical agents in this city said recently,
"actors have far less trouble in arranging
for dates out of town than formerly. In
fact, may say that the system Of rout
ing and booking has undergone a com.
pete change No longer than sven
years ago tho old system prevailed Tn.
der il hardly any so called combinations
went on the road can say. witht ut
being in the least immodest, that was
the first agent to adopt the present sys.
tenn. based it on that pursued by a
New York theatre. which sent many
companies on the road. From the family
which managed the establishment got
the fundamental principles Of the present
system have IL down to such fine
point that If l am asked to book and
route company Can tell in few min
utes what dates and places are open for
it. :"
How do you manage thats" we
asked
Il will explain. Through my acquaint.
ance with managers. / have the sole
agency for about hundred theatres. To
carry out my system il was necessary that
/ should lie sole agent for them here
Otherwise it would be impossible for me
TO lay out routes by glance at my books
To be- IN with. l have theatre in each Of
the lar re cities in the country. In some
sect: us there are circuits. as for instance
the sr:nont the Texas the California
circuit. aud am in close relation with the
representatives of these. by no means
however, always include such circuits in
the routes lay out Besides theatres in
large cities. have good show towns be-
tween them For instance. / have on
my list ten New York cities the same
number in Ohio, seven in Indiana. six in
Pennsylvania and SO on. Let NE give you
an illustration as to how quickly can
route a combination or star. The first
time i had dealings with one of my stars
she came up TO me and said: My route
for next season isn't well laid out want
you to lay out a new route for me. i
leave for California to morrow. What
are your termsY
81 will lay out a route for you.' re-
piled, if you will lea everything in my
hands. When you come back from Cali
fornia will show you the route. and you
will find my terms reasonable
-Before she left that afternoon for Cali.
fornia had her route laid out, and she
was booked for all the theatres on the
route How do l manage its I'll shew
you In this beeL. opening a long book.
. have on every page every date in the
yesT. with blank space after each date.
livery page belongs to theatre. the thea,
tres being arranged according to states
/ can tel by glance at each page how
many dates ara open for the theatre repre-
sented by that page Here Is Cleveland
filled you see. from Aug. "a.
1885, to June 81, 1886 Now.
suppose | want to book an attrac.
tion for some date later than June 81.
1886. in Cleveland telegraph to the
manager the name of the attraction, the
time. and terms There is a possibility
that We may differ on terms and have to
adjust them by wire But / know what
ideas the different managers have in re-
gard to terms. and usually get an affirma-
tive answer to my first telegram. In ed
dition TO my book. in which each page is
devoted to a theatre, have tables con-
sis ting of page like those in the book,
pasted on cardboard Each Of these
tables is devoted to star or combination.
i have sixteen all told Now. look at this
table Cn 1t you will find the route Of a
star actress mapped out As q rule
start my attraction in New York and
wind up in New York. {"
But if you have to make routes for
sixteen attractions, said the reporter, Il
should think the late comers would be
hard TO satisfy"
There are no late corners among my
regular sixteen attractions, because I book
them all in December for the next year.
Besides the routes differ in character.
Here, for instance, is route for play in
which well 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. 1t is onfiped 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 obliged to jump all over
the country. and are put to great outlay
for transportation. Then again 1t may
happen that some combination goes to
pieces In that event these late corners
may get good route after all
How dc you manage the advertising
for your attractions while en- routef"
That is all provided for in the con-
tract l have printed form which, when
filed out. is contract between my at
fractions as party of The first part and the
theatre as party Of the second part The
attraction agrees to furnish the acting
company, advance printing. and stage
performance for usually 20 per cent Of
the gross receipts. The manager agrees
to furnish the theatre, well lighted,
warmed, and cleansed, with scenery and
equipments according to plots furnished.
stage hands, ushers, property. men, and
assistants, janitors, ticket.sellers. supers,
ballet calcium lights. programmes. bill.
boards. firstclass orchestra, or, IL i'm
possible to secure an orchestra, first
class piano and pianist; door keepers.
licenses. advertising. stage furniture and
properties
. SUPPOSE you consider, in making up
your routes how the attractions did The
previous season."
Yes, hav,: a book of the receipts of
every performance.
Are not some sections of the country
better To show in than othersf"
maine and New Hampshire are poor
states, and In Vermont there are only
three good show towns OF course the
country is thickly populated in this sec
ticn, and here there are no long jumps,
But the west and south are equally