The record-union., 1893-05-15
A THEATRICAL TALK.
Why Mansfield Does Not Play Here
This Season.
The Local Theatrical Management on
the Facts-Nr. DALEY and the Re-
turn-Checlk Business.

A good deal of talk having been put
afloat about Richard Mansfield skipping
Sacramento" and playing in Marysville
instead, a RECoRD-UNIoN representative
last evening called on Manager Todd for
his version, it having been charged that
Mansield's refusal to play here was due
TO bad management on the part of j. II.
Todd, manager for the proprietor, T. J.
Clunie. The following was the result of
the inquiry:
"AIr. Todd, will you state why so fine
company as Mr.. Mansfield's refuses to
play here?"
80 far as 1 know, yes"
at is due to the public that you do so.
1t is given out that the fault is yours and
that Mansfield's skipping Sacramento is
an injury to the theatrical reputation of
the town."
VERY well, if you will wait long
enough Pll not say a word unless you
ask it, and will lay the correspondence
before you. 1t is on file, and you can see
tor yourself"
Thereupon letter files and letter copy
books, contracts and memoranda were
picked out of the alphabetical files and
facts:
The box statement showed by receipts
OF the Mansfield agent and the manage
ment preceding Todd, that Mansfield
played IN the Metropolitan Theater May,
loS-, at 81, and 90 cents and 81 cents tor
reserved seats; first night, Beau Brum-
mel" gross receipts, Si95; theater's
snare, 70 per cent, Sl23 10: Manstieid's
share, 70 per cent, S37l %. Second
night, "Parisian Romance" receipts, S226;
Manstield's share, Sl69 90; theater's
share, s56 so. "It costs to open the house
!or rent, orchestra, advertising, bill post
ing. stage and house hands, etc., never
less than $685." said Mr.. Todd in response
TO an inquiry.
July, 1892, j. p. Slocum, agent for Mr..
Mansfield, wrote to j. II. Clunie, then
manager, asking for dates in May, 1913, at
80 per cent. of the gross receipts and $500
guarantee for Manstield's share.
Clunie replied that he could not pay
such terms; that under no circumstances
could he guarantee Mansfield to carry
SSOo out OF town, nor would the manage
ment pay 50 per cent. in view of the bus
mess done in the first engagement.
September q, 1892, Manstield's agent
replied that it was true they had done a
poor business in May, but it was because
the people did not know Mr.. Mansfield,
and he was sure second season they
would give him good houses. He
wanted to play in Sacramento and in
closed contract for signature saying,
Sign 1t on your own TERMS"
September 30th, Mr.. Todd having come
into charge, replied, sending the contract
signed at 70 per cent. and no guarantee.
he struck out of the contract a clause
giving Mansfield full control of the door
and full control of passes-except the
press-and inserted instead, door con-
troll mutuaP' and added to passes, PRO
prietor's box, properties and lithos" and
conhning advertising to daily PAPERS"
This he inclosed in letter and mailed,
asking II the terms were acceptable.
October 10Th Slocum replied. REFUSING
the contract, In harsh terms, and added
that Todd had changed it, and besides
Mr.. Mansfield would under no circum-
stances play in town that gave him in
May, 1892. on Saturday night, only S226
nance; that such a town was good one
to avoid; that he had played in Sacra-
mento only as matter OF convenience.
and not expecting to make dollar
Todd says that he replied defending the
city and declaring Aansheld's aspersions
unjust and his demands exorbitant. That
the management was willing to nIav
some engagements if it could meet bare
expenses, but could not stand so heavy a
loss as Mansheld's terms would insure
suppose, MIR. Todd, that J. Ii. Clunie
had taken Mansfield at $500 guarantee
how do you think it would have come
out?"
AN $500 house is a big one. Now so
per cent of 900 house would have
given Mansfield his $500 and the theater
500. But If we had 800 in the house he
would have had $3.50 at so per cent and
we would have had $40 to pay him out of
our pocket. If we had taken him
without guarantee, the house at 500 or so
per cent. would have left us $40. and
possibly would have netted Sl5 at that.
Manstield's second night here was played
to SIG gross for Partisan Romance no
opposition, fine press notices, excellent
billing and all advertising asked for bv
him. L don't think any business man
after that would guarantee him $50 with
the same or even other pieces"
rs that all there is to it?''
That is all; the matter dropped with
his refusal to write at 20 per CONT
but he goes to Marysyille Dresumab1v
at 81 per cent?"
Yes, probably. and he'll not net over
$50. think-that is, if he gets S4OO in
the house. If he'd played here at 70 per
cent to $500 gross he'd had S42O. But Won
see the business he did before. Had no
offered at 10 per cent l might have taken
him, but he told Clunie to write his own
terms, and l did so when it came to me.
and Slocum then rejected it without any
further Offering"
At this point Mr.. Daley, the proprietor
OF the New York Stock Company, came
in, and the question was asked him.
w hat about this no return cbecly,
business at the Opera-house?
1t was arule adopted at my suggestion.
brought it from Morrosco's, San Fran.
cisco, where 1t prevails. Mr.. Todd and T
agreed to it. 1t was right"
'-Why?"
because with stock company it
means dead loss to give return checlS
where the prices are so low-that is. the
checks mean loss TO the house. no mat
ter how good its business"
''Why?''
That IS experience. When one finds
1t by experience to be true, he is justified