The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-02-21
DRAMATIC REPORTER.
PECULIAR BRANCH OF NEWSPAPER
SERVICE IN VOGUE IN NEW YORK.
Rot Critic but Gossip Gathsrer--Col.
Amusing Story or Edwin Booth.

y
IN one evening and saw something of
the play at each one. II these young
men had been in the newspaper bust
ness they would scarcely have thought
OF their performance rs feat to boast
OF. for the same thing is done every
evening by the representative of each
OF our large newspapers. and the re-
porter who makes the round of the
theaters not only looks in at the house.
but often Interviews the manager and
sometimes one or two of the players.
Tho critics, both musical and dra-
matte, have nothing to do with the
news of the amusement world. II an
actor falls dead on the stage. the critic
may mention the fact. but it is the
duty of the dramatic reporter, il the
accident happens in q theater. or the
musical reporter. If it is in opera house
or concert hall, to find out all about
1t aud treat it accordingly.
l believe that Mr.. Leander Richard
son. now the editor of one of our dra-
matte Journals, was originally respon-
sible for extending tho field of dra-
matte journalism so that it might take
in everything. from the details of the
stars private life. down to the color of
the chorus girls stockings. Richard
SON was employed as reporter on the
Times. when, ten or fifteen years ago,
he began to make daily notes of what
this or that actor or actress had told
him. He was acquainted with many
professional people who were only too
glad to see their names in print. Rich
ardson did his work SO well that the
place of theatrical reporter was created
for him on tho Times. and for several
years his duties consisted in visiting as
many theaters as he could every even
ing. and following up every bit of gos-
sip about theatrical people. If Miss
Lillian Russell had made up her mind
to elope. he knew it before she did. and
told the readers of his paper all about
it. Managers have told me that they
often looked among Richardson's notes
to find out what was going on in their
own companies.
One night last winter was told by
clever and pleasant young fellow
who had for two years held the place
of dramatic reporter for one of orr inn
portant papers. that in his rounds that
evening he had received no less than
three offers to join theatrical COM
panies rs their press agent. One Of
the offers came from New York man
ager who would require no travelling
from his agent and would pay him $50
a week, with vacation of a month in
in summer. His duty would be to get
oil the free advertising for his employ
er that he could manage. II may seem
strange that a manager and his clerks
can not write what are known rs press
notices so that they will suit tho ed
itorial eye and find their way into
print. but it is n well-known fact
that fluent writer with knack for
dressing up little bits of news or Cos
sip for print is as rare rs he is indis-
pensable in every large theater. 1t is
the duty of this man to know that the
chorus girls stockings were changed
to match the prima donna's hair aud
to put this fact in such shape that 1t
win find its way into print rs an anus
ding item.
The famous Col. Mapleson. once
commander of Her Majesty's operatic
forces who made great deal of mon
ey by giving Italian opera in this coun.
try, was his own press agent. and a
most efficient one. Mapleson used to
say that he got more free advertising
in week than other managers got in
month. simply because the reporters
knew that he was always ready for
them with some tale worth printing.
He kept n special notebook devoted
to such stories or anecdotes as might
box well in print. IL there was a
squabble in his company, he was the
first to send word down to the news
paper Offices. with request that the
reporter should call upon him. He
reveled in squabblcs, and have more
than half IN idea that some OF the
furious feu,ls between members OF his
company were organized by the gal
liant Colonel in order that the newspa-
pers might find pretcxt for devoting
few columns to his affairs. He used
to tell the critics that lie liked abuse.
provided that there were columns of IT;
he could stand anything but silence
upon tho part Of the press. When his
prima donna had her diamonds stolen.
which happened every season. he had
no end of "reminiscences about such
misfortunes, and he was always more
than willing to tell the reporters all
about the affair. Incidentally mention
ing the fact that the opera house was
always crowded, and tho performances
under Col. Mapleson's direction the
best that America had ever seen.
Maplcson was remarkable press
agent, but hc was too extravaganza to
succeed rs a manager. He made
clear profit of about $4,000 year
during the six or eight years OF his
prosperity here, but he spent S25, 600.
As u man. lie never knew what it was
to be doSu-bcartcd. No matter how
desperate were his straits, he foun'l
means To drink champagne at dinner
every day and to wear January rosc
In his b,,ttou-hole.