Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-07-18
A HANGING POSTPONED.
cHANFRAU's TWO EFFORTS TO PLAY
A Pennsylvania TOWN.

A Big House Prevented by the Failure to
Hang . Man as Per Programme-Kit
Indnlging I'm = RAge-The Handy and
AnAble Rural Manager.
Some few years ago piloted Frank
Chanfrau over the Pennsylvania circuit,
and as it was my first experience on the
''road" / was particularly anxious that
the tour should be success, not only for
my immediate benefit, financially, but
also for the purpose of creating repu-
tation with other stellar attractions whom
proposed to take over the same terri
tory later on. I also desired to stand
well with the local managers, enabling
me, as it would, to make advantageous
arrangements as to terms, etc., etc.
APPEAsING KITS WRATH.
The country" manager, as rule, is
peculiar individual, combining, as he
often does, the various duties of janitor,
bill poster, ticket seller and scene shifter.
He is usually clever fellow, and as his
expenses are almost nothing, he easily
earns a handsome income, no matter
how small the business may be for the
star or company, his share of the receipts
being quite all profit.
But where he particularly shines and
brings his latent talents to the fore, is
his readiness to account for bad house
land he has many of them during the
season. with a prompt and reasonable
excuse, SO that in the event of business
being unsatisfactory he may calm down
the irate manager and disgusted star,
and induce them to again visit the vii
lage on some future occasion. The fol-
lowing is true illustration. We had
played ali through the coal regions,
Kit proving magnet, and we were
piling up the dollars. We continued the
tour into the western portion of the
state, but on reaching Lockhaven we
found that we had met our Waterloo.
I forget now just what our receipts
were that night, but it was in the vicin-
ity of $12 or SIS.
Chanfrau was simply mad. 1t was his
first visit to that town, and he vowed it
would be his last, and, after the per-
formance, when the local manager joined
us at the hotel, the genial Frank did not
mince his words, and, it is we'll known,
that his curses could be "both loud and
deep" on occasions.
"What kind of town is this?" said
he; "does anybody live here? Do they
ever come to the theatre? Here we bring
you a New York success, with first
class company, and we don't play to
enough money to pay for hauling the
baggage"
"Now, my dear Mr.. Chanfrau," re-
piled the man of the opera house, ''you
must know that we have had show here
every night for the past six weeks, and
our people are drained of money. Why,
"Cellers & Sapman's" company last
night didn't take in IS, and Pills "Gob-
lins' had to leave their trunks for their
hotel bills Ordinarily, this is first
class town, and you can play to big
money. You made hit tonight, and
will be the talk of the town. Now, if
you could be here on Friday the house
wouldn't be big enough to hold the peo-
ple."
What cyclone is going to occur then?'
asked Chanfrau
| "Why, were going to hang O man here
next Friday, and all the people will come
from miles around. You come back and
play, and I'll give you 80 per cent. of the
receipts and haul your baggage free.
| What do you say"
Chanfrau looked at me and looked at
| Chanfrau, and as he seemed to acquiesce
I accepted the proposal, and then and
there signed contracts for the return
date.
:; The next day wired several towns,
changed dates, Cancelled the Friday
night where we were originally booked,
and, of much trouble and some expense,
arranged matters SO that we could give
the good folks of Lockhaven and vicin-
ity one more opportunity to witness
"The Arkansas Traveller"
Friday came and we rode all day,
making a long jump, and arrived about
Z o'clock. AS it was too late for supper
we hurried to the opera house.
| One thing struck me aG once as Delng
curious, and that was the total absence
of people on the streets. Not man,
woman or child was in sight, and the
town seemed like city of the dead,
when l had naturally looked forward to
gala night--stores open, citizens
promenading up and down the main
street and every seat in the house sold
/ before our arrival.
/ At $50 o'clock, and with nobody in
the theatre, I mildly suggested to the
| manager that he had better put out his
gas, as we would give no performance,
i and asked him to come with me and ex-
plain matters to Mr.. Chanfrau. lie did
so and we proceeded to Franks dressing
room at once.
.'What is the matter now? Where is
that man you were going to hang today?"
said my furious star.
"Why, Mr.. Chanfrau," replied the
local director, 1--WE postponed the hang
ing for another month. Boston Globe.
|
Persevere.
The cause of nine parts in ten of the