Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-09-06

W AhG EsA
''a(Fl'Es
Charles FL. Day, Ian old circus and
theatrical agent in reminiscent View'
writes as follows to the Dramatic STAR
I am not, as some Of my joking friends
would have il, zone of the oldest inhab-
itants," neither am | the 1rst party VINO
ever piloted or managed show, al
though IL is current rumor that l was
In with Noah the first season he was
out with boat menagerie.
But have been working at my trade
long enough to have seen many changes
come over the travelling theatrical ousl-
ness. and in regard thereto i shall dip
few lines out of the ink bottle.
1t may injure my matrimonial pros
poets TO say so. but IL Is now more than
twenty years since / advertised the late
Laura Keene for O western tour. we
opened at'Wheelng, West Virginia, and
from the time that billed hat city OF
glassware and nails until reached st.
Paul, | met but one dramatic company,
and that was headed by Kean Blu
chanan, who left the road years ago, as
did my star, the talented and capricious
s'fair-haired Laura" or "The Duchess"
as Joseph Jefferson calls her In his auto
biography.
/ Fame is bubble, and the man who
never heard of George Washington is
, still walking about, and 1t was at Day
ton, Ohio that found city editor who
had never heard Of "The Queen OF
Comedy" and OH reminding him that
the actress name was a matter OF his
tory in connection with tragic event
at Washington, he exclaimed:
sob, yes, remember Larry keene,
come to think; he was the fellow who
killed Wilkes Booth!"
Playing on shares was not the rule in
those days. Generally we 'hired a
hall" and assumed all risks, but in St.
Paul we shared with the late James A.
Oates, who had summer lease OF the
Opera House.
While advertising the Arlington Min
strels In the West had met the typical
barn -stormers we read Of, and many a
merry night did spend listening to the
| Jolly and impecunious troupes as they
| told of trials sore In prairie towns.
Such thing as salary day TO them
was never known. Many OF the compa-
MES were often composed OF members
OF large family, and when the receipts
were low the manager talked himself
out of town as best he could. Fact Is
the touring actor was not looked on
with favor by the landlords.
At the conclusion OF the engagement
referred to In st. Paul the proprietor Of
the Merchants Hotel remarked TO me
on sQuaring all accounts:
"Your people and Mexican Buchanan
are the first theatrical folks to ever pay
their bills at my hotel"
That was commentary on early the
atricals in st. Paul.
| Prior to that season Laura Keene had
| been billed on the road with three
sheet poster only, with q cut center, and
one-sixth sheet bill, bat my minstrel
experience had given me large idea Of
advertising, and we were nicely billed
for those days in type stand OF twelve
sheets, .hree-sheet at each end, and q
streamer over all. To-day 1t would be
| looked upon as q rather snide outfit.
What do you think OF playing "Our
American Cousin" and Hunted Down.
without any scenery and nothing at the
at Muscatine, Iowa. The same town to.
day boasts nice theatre.
At Burlington, Iowa, Union Hall had
one drop, with scene on each side.
Both were horrible. but Edwin Forres;
had survived it few weeks before, and
we lived through 1t. The same Bur-
| lington to-day boasts of an opera house
which would be a credit to any town.
AT no point outside of st. Paul and
Minneapolis did we find com petent
stage hands, and as for orchestras,
Heavensl they played anything from
'Money Musk" TO "Old Dan Tucker. {"
The next season, at Raleigh, N. c.,
the curtain rolled up after colored
band had, TO the horror Of Miss Keene,
ratified of "Shoe Fly" and at the next
between acts favored with that charm.
ing walk-around, imported from the
dives Of Norfolk, and called Chicken in
the Bread Tray"
The newspapers cared little a nd knew
little about theatricals, and | usually
met with reception something like
this, on my introduction in the editorial
rooms, where large pumpkins and tall
corn stalks were on exhibition, and or.
ders were received for jsb printing TO be
''execnted with promptness, neatness
and Dispatch"
"Theater man, Ell? Well, the last
troupe that was here went away OWN,
me for dogers and advertising. You
won't do anything herel'
The notices that appeared at this per.
Tod were OF the Town Hall to-aieht'
order, and the most fagrant puff,
direct. That could write a line was !
wonder to the editor, and often. e
amuse myself, reeled of few yarns 10,
the local columns and jabbed some enc.
my OF the paper who was lam pooninR the
local man, for the western editor was
never SO happy as when fighting in bis
columns and calling his rival all the vile
names he could think Of.
When had burned up the enemy tbe
editor was as rule DESTROYS that
should join him in burning no the To vn.
or reddening 1t In lurid libations At hi,
expense, and l went away with his best
wishes, and repaid them by roastins
him In that other town as soon a. ~.
came cahoots with his deadly enemy,