Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-25
SEEING SHOWS FREE.
The Mania for Deadheadism Seen at
Its Best in New York.
TRICKS PLAYED ON THEATERs,
Managers Distribute the Gratis Fellows to
Save the Play.
HOW DAvENPORT's NAME WAS UsEI


NEW YORK, Jan. M.-"Deadheads? You
don't want front seat for yourself and
few friends? No? Well, you ought to have
anything the house can affordp' And the
manager swung wide the bo1-ofice door.
II there is anything on which New York
theatrical manager is touchy it is the sub
Ject of deadheads. The pressure for free ad-
mission to theatrical performances is usually
great anywhere. In New York, where there
are SO many professionals, newspaper men,
billboard and lithograph window people,
all OF whom have more or less claims upon
the courtesies Of the house, it is simply tre-
mendous. When these are REINFORCED BY
the hungry horde of hangers-on whose
claims are purely imaginary it is enough to
drive the occupants of the box Office insane.
The New York managers, as a rule, are
quite liberal in the courtesy OF the house."
But if even those who have Legitimate
claims upon them by reason of their rec1p-
rocal relations should descend upon single
theater on the opening night, or on some
physical impossibility to accommodate them
and leave any seats for the patrons who
come with money in their hands.
Deadheads Take the Best.
The deadhead is hot after the best theaters,
the best plays and the most popular nights.
He is a great play-goer and has keen ap-
probation OF good acting and actors. For
this reason he is on hand and most persistent
where the greatest dramatic successes are
being produced and where every seat that is
given away is SD much cash handed him
from the box-ofice drawer. While he is
thus never-failing index of dramatic sue
cess his presence never contributes to such
end; for he is severe critic and cold-blooded
withal and players are apt to wilt under his
silent disapproval on first nights.
For this reason he is scattered judiciously
in various parts OF the house. II he should
be located in block in the orchestra or else
where, his inattention, restlessness, somnol-
ency or getting up and going out at the
end of the second act, would paralyze the
piece. The best drilled company in the
world could never do justice to themselves
with a lot of vacant chairs staring them in
the face through the last act. To prevent
this the manager cleverly balances the
house-that is, he scatters the deadhead all
over the house where he cannot act as an
organized body.
Influence of the Deadhead
And even with this arrangement the dead
head and other amateur frst-nighters, acting
in unison, are almost enough to break up
new play. They rarely sit it out, aud their
opinions are likely to be tlnged with the
bitterness that comes OF back seat. The
professional critics and men about town
have engagements elsewhere, and the last
act sees vacant seats in all parts of the house.
The rest OF the audience, for the most part
comparatively verdant, not unnaturally
conclude that the play is not so good as it
seems, since otherwise the most intelligent
portion OF the crowd would not have de-
serted.
The newspaper deadheads in the metropo-
lis form no inconsiderable part of the whole.
Every now and then you will see editorial
notices in certain journals to the effect that
no deadhead tickets of any kind will be
accepted by any one connected with these
papers, and requesting theatrical managers
and railroad agents to notify the aforesaid
journals where any attempt to secure dead
head tickets is made by persons representing
themselves as employed on them. This
looks we'll on paper, but it is notorious
| fact that not only the recognized dramatic
| critics and dramatic gossip writers must be
| provided for in the matter of free seats, but
other well-known journalists on these papers
claim and receive theatrical courresies,
though they render and can render no
reciprocal service whatever.
Cases of Imposition.
Then there are a good many roustabout
reporters, sporting writers, etc., some of
whom are not so we'll known, who run
their faces" at the door. When the editorial
department has its innings nothing short of
box is usually given. The out-of-town
correspondent is often the greatest fraud
when it comes to the journalistic class of
deadheads. There are out-of-town men who
devote considerable attention to dramatic
news and gossip, and who keep posted on
plays and players as part of their legit-
innate duties. These are mostly letter
writer's. Out-of-rown newsmen rarely touch
such matters. There is probably far
greater proportion of illegitimate deadhead-
ism among out-of-town correspondents than
among the local fraternity from the fact
that the managers cannot easily ascertain
the standing or Importance of the former as
he can the latter class, and where there is
doubt the box Office rather errs on the side
of liberalitv.
The most persistent ticket beggar is the
individual who represents the most insig-
nificant papers. Or these the womel writers
are the worst and most difficult to deal with.
They are not contented with an occasional
admission. They want 10 come to the best
performances again and again. They want
the best seats in the house. They want
those seats not only for themselves, but or
their female friends or male escorts. They
work the theaters Systematically. They are
never satisfied.
One of the Tricks.
"One Of these fellows, one day." said the
manager, presented his card Con which it
appeared that be represented some unknown
country paper) and requested two seats.
Fanny Davenport was playnp There was
no reason why he should receive this
courtesy and he was refused. He said he
was great aimirer OF Miss Davenport and
asked permission to send his card back for
her autograph. Matinee performance was
OIL, the permission was at once given and he
msnt away a little later with Fanny's sig
nature. That night counting the house
that fellows card turned up from the box
with Pass two written above her name. 1t
was the slickest thing ever saw"
| An Investigation would show a good deal
Of Press Club paper being used to extract
tavors rom theatrical managers where the
individual character of the applicant is in
sufficiently established to secure such lavors
| on his o oGn name. Managers have a nat
ural delicacy about filing any formal COM
plants of this kind, but it is an undoubted
fact that quite a number of feather-weIght
journalists use their connection with the
Press Club to obtain what is beyond their
reach as an Individual. Lithograph and
billboard deadheads are provided for on
other than first nights or special perform
ances. These deadheads are passed in re-
turn for certain
Privileges rs to Advertising.
Wherever you see theatrical placard,
portrait or any kind of lithograph or photo
h sal Il