Middletown transcript., 1892-05-12

ANU ~ 10 tuS Sus toin w SRans ssiAs
Consequently, the bogus correspon-
dent, on the first appearance, general
" receives the freedom of the house.
But their antecedents are frequently
inquired into, and the fact has often
been discovered that they had lot Of
cards printed simply for the sake Of
obtaining free admission.
Still another class of professional
dead heads are those who have the
nerve to apply to the manager of the
house for seats, giving as their reason,
that if supplied with them, they will
advertise the fact amongst their
friends that the show is frat rate and
worthy Of their patronage. Its need
less to say that these seldom get fur
ther than the opening sentence Of
their carefully prepared speech, when
they are coldly turned down by the
manager to whom they have applied.
Managers generally admit actors
and actresses who have o reputable
standing In the business, presenting
the proper credentials to shov that
they belong to some well known COM
pany. This privilege Is abused BY
people who simply write their names
on blank card, attaching the name
Of some company which they have
heard Of, and which may be travelling
a couple Of hundred miles sway.
They give az a reason for not being
with the company at present, that
they had left it for week to attend
to some business in Philadelphia." !"
The result is, that written cards are
seldom honored, and the applicant is
turned away. Dead.heads are, as q
rule, the most severe critics of per-
formance, and the fact that they have
entered on q free pass causes them, in
order to show their superior know
ledge of theatrical matters, to run the
show down to very low scale. If
they did not do this, they would not
be keeping up their character, for
they invariably insist on inspecting
the amouth Of the gifrhoEse. I" Every
theatre in Philadelphia is troubled BY
all of these classes; some more and
some less.
Mr.. Thomas F. Kelly, manager of
the Grand Opera House and National
Theatre, rarely, ifever, will see.
person whom be suspects of wishing
to ask for pass, for he prefers to
conduct that branch Of the business
entirely through correspondence. At
Forepaugh's Theatre pass is seldom
asked for, because the houses are in
variably large and the price within
the reach of everyone. Mr.. ]. Fred
Zimmerman, of the Chestnut Street
Opera House, has knack Of refusing
applicants in such suave way that
they leave, impressed with the fact
that they did the manager q favor by
not accepting the pass which they are
certain he pressed upon them.
As rule, women are the most in-
veterate dead heads and most impor-
tunats in their demands. They seem
to think that every performance 10 q
sort Of a bargain sale, at which they
are entitled to receive s1.50 seat for
80 cents, and they treat the purchase
of a ticket in the same way that they
would a remnant or any other article
Of dry goods. There are others who
appear when the show Is halfover and
want to pay halfprice on that account.
There is another class who will show
up just before the last act commences
and ask permission to step inside TO
wait for a friend.
Here is story that is absolutely
true, and will illustrate how far
dead-heads will go:-
During the past week Nat Goodwin
has been playing to large business at
the Walnut Street Theatre, and one
night Mr.. E. P. Simpson, the Chester
fieldian busines, manager, was ap-
preached by man whom he did not
care to offend, and who requested
seats. Mr.. Simpson did not want to
give the pass, as the few seats remain
ing in the box uffice were being rapid
ly sold. So thinking to bluff his
importunate visitor. he said
"I'll tell you what I'll do, I cannot
issue pass, but I'll buy you two seats
out of my own pocket" )"
"Don't do that" said the visitor.
"I'm certain it isn't necessary.
"That is the best can do" answer.
.ed Simpson, as he extracted a IS bill
from his pocket and started towards
the window with determination in
his eye.
"Have you really got to buy themi"
once more asked the fiend.
Certainly" was the answer.
"Well. then, if you have, just make
it three, for have brought my wife's
mother along
And Mr.. Simpson had to pay for
the three seats.
A countryman had consulted q
fortune-teller as To hia fi,tura