New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-13
THE PROPERTY MAN.
HIS EXACTING DUTIES

sP-opss as tho property man Of . theatre IS always
called is well named for he IS literally one Of the
props OF theatre, and Q very important one He Is
OF those wopkors who, though not seen personally,
ret DO . great deal toward securing a handsome
setting and smooth performance. One very small
mlstaka made By him might easily ruin q representa-
ton Everything used upon the stage put there Is
under hts sole caro-, and IL letter, pocketbook
knifs book . sword should not b In It's place.
play might como TO grief and end amid unintentionai
laughter. Just fancy scene In which the villain
drags the heroine up the stage to desk table
whers there should be knife, dagger or pistol and
after struggle gets hand free and reaches for the
weapon only End It Is not there. Many such things
have happened and will happen again. and innumera-
BILE stories Of the funny things actors have
said done when they couldn't find the means TO Kill
themselves or others. Great Heavens have swal-
lowed the flss which has become standing Joke In
the profession, had its origin in this situation: An
actor who supposed to have fled HIS way out OF
prison should have been shot by the guards and died
All over the stage but the guards guns wouldn't
20 or and sitter waiting for several unsuccessful trials
the ac tor old Tom" Kinds, dead, pretended TO
put tho file in his mouth and made the historical ex
clsmation- Now, II the Props who vas working
that stage had been q good he would have stood
in tho entrance with q revolver and when the guns
wouldn't go OF he could have fired couple OF shots
and the effect would have been almost good as tho
audience, startled by the noise, would not be very
Likely 30 notice the ABSENCE OF 1re rom inc guns
Guns and pistols that won't go of are not however.
Prop.'.5 only trouble Those that do have caused
many an accident u Is very rarely that ball
cartridge gets substituted for blank though II has
been known happen; but the use Of 3 lttls too
much powder or . heavy vsddng has caused many
serious accident Two three actors are walking
about to-day with their faces marked with little black
specks Of gunpowder, which could not be extracted
The hrtclAss Props must be pretty fair artist,
sculptor, carpenter snc cabinet maker He must have
much taste o furnisher and decorator, have almost
. wonan's skill in making . room seem honelke,
and Q w0nan's taor's ability to use needle and
thread since psper- macho has been found 10 be
an Alsbls material for initiating china carved
metal and woodwork gold and siIverpste and statu-
airy tho standard of artistic ability demanded from
Props has been greatly advanced. Nowadays In
first class theatre all the and brio abrac and
ststuary that lavishly displayed are, as rule
made OF this material She possibilities Of which are
even yet only half known. skilful worker In this
produces articles which look quite we'll those
Initiated, arc not breakasle, very light and cost
4 mere trlne A good Props will also make arti-
ncia flowers ard plants, fruits and ali the fowls.
turkeys, joints, and bread and cakes used az
Barmecids stagebanqust He also brews the tea
that does duty for still wines and has been called
upon TO fake up imitation champagne when the
manager too mean TO pay for ginger ale, which
is the usual substitute. The economy prsctised by
Poor old Ben de Bar who thestres In ST. Louis
and Sew-Orieans was known 10 cut up potatoes
into Small eubes 10 represent losfsugar On the
other hand, stage feasts are often entirely real
During the run OF the Partisan Romance at the
Union square Theatre salads, cold poultry, fruit and
two bottles Of imported champagne We're used every
night The actors enjoyed this at first, but very
soon got tired Of Il. ore reason perhaps, WAS that
they bad to snatch bites between the intervals
Props is generally miserable when he has to
do with 1--we animals. the care OF which dcvolves upon
him but deepest depth Of his troubles Is reached
uhsn . 1.-Two baby is needed OF course he doesn't
keep this in the property room. but the parents OF
hired babies generally we'll on he has buy
clothes FOR minute and keep them clean and
In order Often be has to cook food for IT, II It's APP
pssrances arc spread over moro than act. AMI
hs Efforts often useless in trying TO keep his
tcrrur quiet Many Props has been accused OF
putting soothing syrup IN the Infants food
In travelling company the Props is not an ar.
tst, but simply mechanic. He docs not mako any,
thing. but Limits his exortions 20 wrestling with
trunks and borrowing furniture In this last respect
his greatest value consists for the strength OF
couple Of passes, he will often get the loan Of two
three sets OF furniture and plano.