New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-10
" BO0MLNGn d STAR.

SOME CURIoSTTIES OF THE PROFESSION
Tho frequently quoted advice of the cookery book
to one DESTROYS Of cooking hare. first catch your
hares IS entirely superfuous TO the manager who
seeks new star. He has no necessity to CATCH but
Is moro likely to be hunted by asprants for stellar
honors. While these ambitious persons are to be
found in both sexes and on every side, they are mostly
women and may be roughly divided into three classes
the society debutane tho experienced actress and the
novice who has been on tho stage only a season or
two. There is little money to made out OF male
star. unless no be really fine actor who has been
before tho public for many years. Even then his
success will largely depend the taking qualities OF
the new play In which he must DO presented. 1t
Is impossible for women stars to draw In wellworn
repertoire. but tho who has not the same attrac
ton Of personality must endeayor TO replace It by
novelty Of dramatic material How true this is may
be- seen even in the cases Of established favOres
Despite the wonderful popularity Of Rip Van Wrinkle"
Jefferson found It advisable to lay It aside for me
and Florence Crane and Robson, Goodwin, Mantel,
and tho numerous interpreters Of Irish comedy, try
new play nearly every season.
The society debutante has become Of late the favor
Ito with the manager who wants to add TO the
theatrical constellation. Two reasons urge him to
this choice; FIRST that preliminary paragraphing
can be obtained about such a and second that
money necessary for tho preliminary blooming" 1t
is not certain that the word BOOM originated in
dramatic circles but Il has been made moro use OF there
than anywhere, has also its companion word
"husthD Every enterprisng manager and agent IS
now described as Hhustler.S and 1t is the hustler"
who works I'D blooms" II the debutante IS supplied
with attachment in tho shape Of scandal so
much the better for tho hustler" for he contrives
to get good dead Of free advertising about the
eAv fant ~ rnfp ta kan
as the motto Of the " hustler" II tie scandal does
not exist he adroltly hints at to newspaper men
foolish enough TO be caught by his chat and an
untrue story printed ono day is triumph. for
be can always secure n denial Of Il on tho noSt The
devices OF producers numerous, but, as rule,
rather threadbare, and undoubted reward awaits tho
discovercr Of a new way of making sensation. We
have had stars whose matrimonial difficulties have been
disgustingy enlarged upon stars who have sought to
claim attention because they have been mOrganatcaly.
even less securely, united 10 European princes,
or who have boosted Of the assertion that they
Legitimate daughters OF English dukes stars who
prosecuted by the attention Of strange admirers.
crazy otherwise stars who are robbed OF diamonds
thrown periodically from carriages or horses, and arc
followed by wicked men, who occasionally cut of the
back hair which grows long enough 70 be cut again With
extraordinary almost incredible, rapdlty. The fenc-
Ing rowing and other athletic amusements OF stars arc
paraded and wo have even been told at length how
some play Atzbelng farmers and darymahs in their
summer vacations Nothing IS too trivial, too per-
sona scandslous for the hustler who can get
into print whether Il be details Of tho hInScst COS
tune or substantial accusation against the character
OF good tasto of his star The hustler" either by his
own hand or through the medium Of some hired serb
bier who put together paragraph in moro or less
decent English delugs the dramatic editors Of city and
country papers with notices. Here he can generally
get little attention, but in places where matter Is
scarce and nows Is not forthcoming, his inventions
often secure certain amount Of publicity. The dra-
matte editors Of New-YOrk arc, as rule, extremely
lind to novlces In whom they discern the fantest
promise Of talent but they have been deceived and I'M
posed upon so often that they arc naturally and prop
orly unwilling to give much advance mention to
debutantes Of whom they know nothing.
The second class OF would-be stars. composed OF
actresses whO having fought their way 10 the front
rank OF stock and combination companies, seek moro
fame and money, does not supply many stars as
# SHOULD Talent aud good looks are not wanting
but tho speculative manager Is apt to crave new
sensation OF the first class, and 10 think that what
the public has seen for from I've TO ten years must
bs more or less stale. 1t is sad but unqucssionable
truth that Of late years "sensat0naismn has grown
10 be moro important than talent In dramatic matters
Everything IS circuscd," and were II not for the
devoted and often nlrequited efforts of tue managers
OF tho few stock companies In this city and ono In
Boston. things would be far worse than they are.
Tho third class Of aspirants composed OF novices,
usually has a taste for. that peculiarly American
form Of comedy which Lotta. Minnie Palmer and
Annie Ptxley have populnriLed. These aspiraAts
arc often graduates from tho variety boards. whose
PRINCIPAL reliance Is banI playing singing and dane
log They arc generally supplied with that mys-
terlous Individual termed backern who furnishes
the funds for dash at sariOm,n and tho star hires
a manager instead Of being hired by one.
But 10 whatever class the debutante may belong,
the expense OF booming her Is about the same
and for one week at q New-York theatre OF good
reputsilon win amount 10 nearly $1,000. This seems
n large sum- but few Items will show us approx
Imate correctness ManageH Of New-York theatres
will only rent To unknown attractions, and the weekly
rental will vary according TO tho season and house
from 81 800 to $500; Getting up printing will
cost nearly $500 and fairly liberal newspaper ad-
ycriising the same amount This salaries Of the com;
parry who OF course, got higher rate than usual
for ono week, which neccssitates two weeks Of 70
hesrsals Will not be far short OF $1,000 and the
balance q quickly absorbed In dresses aud inedenals
SHOULD tho star and piece, on which latter. II new
ono payment has 10 be made, prove successful
tIInes can be booked for tour durnP the following
soason Int the manager win need capital OF two
ar three thousand dollars. II the star and play
stouId fall tho $1,000 VIII DO hoIelesSly and IRE
treyably lost II viii be SEEM therefore, that the
introducing OF new stars Is an expensive and risky
venture hut nevertheless attempts at their intro
ducflou dn not grow less numerous.