Omaha daily bee., 1889-03-24
The Celestials of an Omaha Theater
and their characteristics.
CRITICS WORTH coNsl oERArIoN.
How Kelly Handles the Frequenters
of the Cock Loft-Tbe Gods at
the Grand-The Motor
ious slaven Gang. ,.
The Gods of the Gallery.


cock-loft was introduced into theaters
has there been a time when people were
not more or less curious to read de-
scriptive pen pictures telling OF the
many scenes with nsssed, incidents noted,
expressions heard and general de-
meanor found among those who frequent
that portion of the theater and look
down upon the passing show below.
The patrons of dramatic art who has not
been through the oppressive experience
suffered from nightly sittingsin foully
ven tilated top section, must admit the
defects of their thespian education.
Sparticus appealed to the gods and
thanked them that he was Barbarian,
but they were neither of the London,
Chicago nor the Omaha variety. To
these he left the fate OF his portrayers
and few who have attempted the
found favor in their
Judgment. Without the sanction of
these ragged, dirty, untutored, but
bright, keen, quickwitted critics
would the world ever have
heard of Edwin Forrest, John McCul-
Tough, Frederick Ward or Robert
Mary Anderson, Modjeska, Davenport,
Maggie Mitchell, Lolita, and in fact all
the bright particular stars owe much of
their success before the footlights. In
the timid, tottering, blushing, infancy
OF their adventures on the stage, it was
to the noisy, dark habitatlon of the
gods that they first looked and pleaded
for a decision.
If a new artist or new play catches
the gallery all is we'll. There
is where most of the telling
and decisive criticism comes from.
The spectacular show, the comedy,
melo-drama or any other kind of pro-
duction that fails to win applause from
the gamins might as well be laid on
the shelf.
If you have never spent an evening in
the gallery, among the gods, half your
eXistance is wild, dreary, bowling
waste. There is the place to learn what
intense interest or unspeakable disgust
means. If they praise, it is the kind of
praise that counts: but if condemnation
strikes in it runs riot and is wofully
wicked.
Tho Omaha god is rather a
mild and respectable specimen
as compared with his kind
in some cities. He is very much re-
formed. That fact is due, however. to
the training which he has been COM
PEELED to undergo Of late years by u
small, dark-visaged, nervy man. who
club ever since Boyd's opera house c was
opened. Previous to that event Omaha
could not boast very much of her gallery
god population. Among his friends this
monster spirit responds to the name of
Martin Kelley but,in the "upper circle"
they call him terror.
To merely look at and size him up
one would hardly suppose Mr.. Kelley
capable of handling four or
five hundred rough, reckless raiders,
who, when congregated together
have the desire for devilment in
them aroused to the point of committing
almost any sort of depreciation. But he
has held the reins for eight years and
is king among them.
1t is quite amusing to hear MIR. Kelly
relate the stormy sieges he has had.
Those Of you who have been at the
opera house on several occasions before
doors were opened and seen great
crowds of these boisterous boys waiting
to get in, can form some conception OF
the dangers as well as difficulties any
person would encounter in an attempt
to control and regulate their actions.
One night last season. during the
Booth Barrett engagement, q riot al
most ensued on the sidewalk. A dozen
or more big bullying roughs undertook
to trample several bOOt5lacks and news
boys under foot, break down the en-
trance doors and go in regardless of all
rules, regulations or order. Two or
three policemen attempted to interfere,
but they soon had to abandon the field
and fly. Kelly went out with his club,
waded into the mob like an old warrior,
and quickly restored peace. He says
that the Boyd claims about
four hundred regular attendants
to the twenty-five cent section, who
may be counted on to put in an appear
ance at every attraction, except the
concert and lecture. These classes of
entertainments they have no use for.
OF course there are shows, and actors
too, that draw stronger in that part of
the house as we'll as the dress circle,
Ii anything, the gods discriminate
much closer than the older
and more refined people. The
artist, male or female, who fails to
please them, discovers that fact very
early in series of shrill whistles, cat
calls, and such invitations as ''take a
tumble to yourself, Johnny"
$50 and work on II farm"
"What an old guy
"Where did he blow in from, any
way?"
"What did you say his name was?"
On the other hama, the actor that
pleases their fancy has the pleasure of
hearing great encouragement.
Mary Anderson, Modjeska. Minnie
Maddern and Kate, Gastleton are in
high favor with the Omaha gods.
Every time one OF them comes, the
entire force, numbering from
600 to 700, turn, out. They also
rave over Edwin Booth, admire
Tom Keene, think Robert Dowing
great man, go to- see Hoey as "Old
HOss" every night, 5baye no time for
"Innocent Kid" eall Gene Garfield
as Rats" bird, and pronounce "Fan-
tasma" the best of all spectacular pro-
ductions. AS a rule they are not so
much given to opera, but the King 8
Fool" and "The Little Tycoon, "
brought them out every night.
1t is impossible to narrate, in short
Sunday story. all that could be told