Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-29

the feature of the dramatic agency. The
dramatic agent is the medium between the
out-of-town manager and the travelling man.
ager as we'll as between the performer and
his or her employer. There are at least a
dozen well known dramatic agencies in New
York. In large building, few doors
from the Dramatic Neios Office, on Thirtieth
street, is one of the most prominent. It is
an old residence building remodeled on the
lower floors, three OF which are occupied by
the business. At times there are within
sight on these pretty days perhaps 100 in
dividuals, and 70 out of the 100 are con-
nected with the dramatic profession in some
capacity.
STALLS LIKE oLD-FAsHIoNED PEws.
On the plate glass of the lower floor will
be seen the names OF 40 to 80 managers OF
the different combin ations which will cater
for the public amusement throughout the
United States during the dramatic season.
Within are two long lines Of stalls which
strongly resemble pews in the old-iashioned
colonial churches. These stalls with the
desks and fixtures are rented by theatrical
managers who come to New York to book
their annual attractions at the rate OF S75 to
$500 per annum. This is not merely for
desk privilege, but is also the compensation
of the agency which acts as middle man be-
tween the travelling and the local manager.
Just now nearly every one OF these stalls
is daily occupied by its temporary owner,
who is busily engaged in arranging dates
for the plays that are being booked for his
theater or circuit OF theaters in some section
OF the country. Here he may be found and
here he gets his mail. Sometimes he does
the business here and sometimes on the curb
In the vicinity. If in the latter instance
h Ii oL-ato
little book called "date book" in which
he has arranged ser1atim the engagements
already made, and which shows at glance
the open dates which he has yet 10 fill.
NEGOTIATING PERSONAL ENGAGEMENTS.
In this same building, on the third floor,
large, masculine looking woman sits all day,
acting as like intermedium for the actor
and manager in the arrangements of per-
sonal engagements. The rooms are crowded
just now with all classes of actors and
actresses on the look out for contracts for the
coming season. These rooms are very elabor-
atelv fitted up. On the walls are upward of
] 200 pictures, portraits of the men and
women of to-day best known to the profess
sion. In the crowd, waiting his or her turn,
IS every variety of player, from Little
Lord Fauntlerov" up to the old woman and
old man OF the legitimate.
The dramatic agency as here represented
is thing of comparatively recent growth.
Theatrical managers, as a rule, decry the
theatrical agency, but are compelled to
patronize it because the shrewdness and
energy of those who have built up the sys-
tenn has made it an essential part OF the
business.
From all the complaints heard of the
dramatic agency as it is to-day the outsider
must naturally inquire why the National
Dramatic Managers Association does not
have well conducted bureau of its own in
New York to insure the desired results with
less friction and at less expense to all
parties. In business involving, as this
does, millions of dollars every year, and
the well being of thousands connected with
it, it would seem that those who are most
interested might devise better system of
reaching the desired end.
CHARLES T. MURRAY,