Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-12-07

of the sages of the Rialto. Daniel Froh-
man, when he managed for Haverly, and
later for the Madisou-Square people, Justly
enjoyed the reputation of being the hard
est worker and the most cautious abusi-
ness manager" in the theatrical business.
His brother Charles, now the manager
of Shenandoah All the Comforts of
Home" Men and Women" and other
successes, was his lieutenant, and after
ward launched forth for himself in MANY
notable enterprises. Charles Frohman
learned his business thoroughly ana be-
came prominent even as young man, be-
fore he achieved the distinction of being a
producer"
Gus Frohman, like Charles and Dan.
Travelled all over the country and learned
his business before he branched out as a
producer. And these three men embody
in themselves some of the finest charac-
teristics of the "business managers OF the
American stage who were trained in the
school of the manager in the good old
days.
Al Hayman, Harry Mann, Joe Arthur,
now the successful author of "Blue Jeans"
graduated from the same school, and they
had to learn and practice the virtues of
self-denial, modesty and practical economy
in booming others long before they were
permitted to see their own names even in
very small type at the foot of the play
bill.
Mart Hanley of Harrigan's Theater is
another of the singularly efficient and
seif-reliant men, whose patience, foresight,
unselhshness, enterprise and versatility
have been responsible for the success and
eminence of many theaters and actors.
Mr.. Hanley, who resembles Catholic
priest more than a theatrical manager,
learned his business in the hard and ex-
acting school of the "road' years ago.
He looks young, but his experience has
been long and varied. He was once re-
garded as the pillar in the front of the
house at the old and famous Theater
Comique, the scene of Harrigan and Harris
first triumphs.
Mr.. Hanley perhaps knows more about
the joys and sorrows of that potential firm
than any man living except Ed Harrigan,
who years ago reposed implicit trust in
Mr.. Hanley's judgment, which, when un-
trammeled, was rarely at fault
John Roth. who was John Rickaby's
right-hand man and Gus Williams busi.
ness manager for a great while, is another
of the men who claimed to know and re-
ally did know every manager of theater
in America and every railroad passenger
agent of value on this continent. Mr..
Robb became manager of Pope's Theater,
in st. Louis, and lapsed into capital re-
Gently. What lot of genuine men of
merit there was in this class of theatrical
people five years ago What has become
of them?
l can recall forty names which would
suggest forty great successes to the minds
of theatrical people. These men could tell
you the fare to any town in the United
States, the cost of billing it for show, the
name of the billposter, the number Of free
passes required there by the press and the
municipality, the next best stand to make
from it, the cheapest and best hotel in the
place, and the number of watchers needed
on the doors of the theater, academy or
town hall to prevent the combination from
being robbed out of its boots.
Five years ago the business manager
of a show could or was expected to be able
to give the star or backer all the financial
facts requisite to his proper comprehension
of his business. And the business man.
ager" was required to look after the getting
up of printing, the transfer of baggage, the
booking of routes, the making of terms
with local managers, the arrangement of
railway fares, and the settlement of all
quarrels in the company.
| could go on and enumerate many more
details of the duties of the business man.
ager" of that epoch, which would entitle
him to the reputation of being fit for the
secret service of the Russian Government.
But it is not necessary to do so. Suffice it
to say that the business manager" of that
time had to render services to his employ
ers for comparative pittance, which
would be regarded as poor compensation
by large share of the business to-day.
Yet the old-time business managers never
complained, and they returned to the city
at the close of season in the best of spir-
Its, albeit they had spent the most of their
salaries in proving to their employers that
they could boom the shows everywhere
and make money for the management.
This was improbable you will say; so it
was, and it drove the other business men,
or large proportion of them, into the
field of managerial speculation for them
selves.
Charles Matthews, James Meade, J. NJ.
Hill and the Haymans and Frohmans,
Locke and Davis, Rogers and others, have
remained business managers, but for their
own stars and enterprises, from which they
derive the giants share of the profits.
The business manager is not the patient,
painstaking, poorly paid adjunct he used
to be. No, indeed The business man
ager now contrives to make most or any of
the money that is made.
ROBERT MORRIS.