Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-06-02
SEASON OF ANGELS.
THE OCCASION MAY BE ANGELIC
AND 1T MAY NOT.
Brief Glance at Theater Manage
ment-What 1t Costs 10 Put a
New Play on the Stage.

and pays salaries for one night, one week,
and sometimes, though not often, longer.
The rustic of the angels wings is generally
heard about this time of the year when
the dramatic season is drawing to close.
and when it becomes possible to lease Il
New York theater As might naturally
be expected, the angel is more often of the
softer than of the sterner sex. She is
generally an amateur actress who has an
unconquerable yearning for the professional
stage, and who is apt to think that she has
only to exhibit herself and her costumes
and then the world will be at her feet.
Sometimes she is Il professional actress who
has struggled YEARLY in the ranks for
years, and has either saved enough money
to make the grand venture on her own ac-
count or has succeeded in imbuing capt.
tallst with faith in her abilities. Occa-
sionally an ambitious playwright, to the
merits of whose work managers have been
singularly and yet unanimously blind
brings out his play at his own expense, and
thus becomes worthy to be classed among
the angels.
Comparatively few people have any idea
of the cost of running theater for even
one week. and it may serve as a warning
to state approximately what this is, and
| how extremely small the offset in the
shape OF boX-oifice receipts is likely to be-
L he first expense is naturally the hiring
of theater. This will range from $500
to 81. 400, according to the lateness of the
season and the theater selected. For this
amount the manager supplies the theater
! gas, ushers, stage hands, orchestra ticket
sellers and takers, gives the use of such
scenery and properties as there may be in
stock, and furnishes a very limited amount
Of advertising in the daily papers. These
items would at first glance seem to cover a
good deal Of the necessary ground, but in
nearly every case extras will pile I'D in
surprising fashion upon the temporary
lessee. All gas used at rehearsaIs will be
| extra, so viii be the stage hands if more
than the two or three employed all dav in
the theater are needed, and they certainly
must be had for scenic rehearsals. The
orchestra is likely to be smaller than will
satisfy the elaborate ideas of the angel.
and if incidental music has to be
arranged or composed, the leader
| charges literally for his ideas and time
and for the services of his copyist.
The scenery is rarely found to be exactly
what is needed, and the individual who
| orders new scene find that, even if not
| elaborate, the cost runs up well into the
hundreds. The stock of properties, a gen
eric and comprehensive term for every
| thing used upon the stage that is not
nailed or screwed to the boards, is likely
to be disappointing to the star or play
wright who wants to see the scenes richly
set. If inquiries are made as to thewhere-
abouts of material used in former produc-
tions the answer is that they were only
borrowed, or have been taken to his house
by the manager, or been sent on the road
with the regular company Even the
piano, which is usually supposed to be in
every theater, is often missing. The adj
vertising will have to be much increased
if any display is to be made, and large
posters and the cost of putting them up
must be added. Even when no itho-
graphic work is used, the printers and
posters bill will reach at least 500, and
no great amount of show will be obtained
for that expenditure.
If, as is most likely to be the case, the
1
to aspire to be Juliets, Julias and Paulines
the hire Of wardrobe for the company
and supers may be estimated at a minimum
of $3.50. The stars own wardrobe proba- |
bly, costs nearly 81, 000 The salaries of |
company depend necessarily on the quality !
OF It's constituent parts, and will range |
from 500 to 81 200; but fair average is i
$1,000, which sum may be made to cover !
the pay Of the supers. it is now custom !
airy to secure a stage director to put on a !
new play. His services will cost from |
500 to 5000, according to his eminence |
and the duration of the rehearsals The I
principal expenses have now been enulner- |
ated, with the exception OF those included
IN the services Of a business manager and !
assistant, who will find preliminary work |
for at least one week before that of the
performance but incidentals will crop up |
in every direction in the most unexnected
and neart-rending way. A summary of
the cost Of weeks performance by a new
feminine star is approximately as follows
Rent Of thealer. ............ 81 nno
one new scene and alterations. $50
EAtIA 100
Extra muslcia1ls---..-........... ........... "a
20
Salaries OF company ............... ..... - / 0OO
salaries OF manager and assistant........... $50
S lao
3QdItlohaI OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. .............. 200
printing and posting. .. 100
arranging rs
9tlgS l5>
lncidentalS ..-............, $50
1olS!.-'..'..-... 20
Nv CgrpfI1l md eco0or,ino1 ,,,,-,o..o...4