St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-08-06


era Chair and the Late Conner
Should Go Together.
In these days of fast race horses and
the summer crop OF prominent events at
the race courses there is a phrase COM
mon among the frequenters of the bet
ting sheds which is usually applied to
some event or horse that is looked upon
In particularly unfavOrable light or
one that is SO unworthy that the book
makers and book takers have particu-
lar grievance against, says Charles
AsCOr Parker in Chicago Sports and
AmusemeHts. This phrase is that that
event or that horse must be scratched.
OF in other words, omitted from the per-
fOrmances Of the day.
There have been so many unweI-
coined features about the stage and the
theaters in seasons gone by that the
play producer and the theater manager
viii DO we'll to Scratch - or see that
they are omitted from the coming sea-
sons theatrical festivities. This is the
time of year when next seasons theater
stats and theatrical companies are be-
lated from foreign stages for use in
America, owing to the absence of any
playwrights in this country, and next
seasons general theatrical affairs are
being moulded to suit the exacting eve
Of that most daring. energetic and en-
teTprising American business man, the
progressive and conscientious theatrical
manager.
The average manager ISan exceedingly
busy ana Woodworking individual, but
most OF bis attention Is paid TO the more
important problems IN getting his thea
ter OF company III running order. The
writer has been repeatedly Informed
that the new Empire theater in New
York in regard to the details of its
management. is the besI-run place of
amusement in America. One or TWO of
ChicagO's theaters are run in the best
possible manner Imaginable, but to the
great majority of the theaterS of Amer
lea little timely advice at this partIcu-
lar period OF the year may perhaps not
DC entirely out OF place. 1t Is q we'll
known fact that IT this country had as
much confidence regarding the present
financial trepdatiOn as 1t has voluntary
advice on all matters every American
would be q millionaire and every bust
ness man CTesus. But that is neither
aF"" rOr here.
We are all very willing advisers. but
mU=l o. Us are pOOr at practicing, and
g. writer Is 10 better that the rest.
de does not believe that thus article
viii have the slightest tendency towards
EeVOluUOnlZlng anything, therefore
those at whom il strikes can console
themselves i'm advance. However, It is
always possible that the old case where
the mouse freed the lion from the mesheS
OF the net Is liable to have parallel any
day, and If few stray shots through
the medium Of this publication should
be the means OF doing away with a few
unenYiaOly annoying features and prac-
tees al the average theateT, why the
time occupied i'll The writing OF these
Jew words viii have been well spent.
Ehe Important Ticket Seller.
First. when theater patron walks Nd
20 the box Office the chances are more
than even That he is entirely unac-
guanted with the diagram OF the audi
t0Tium. He knows but little as to the
divisions of the prices of admission.
and II is an even thing that he is but
little acquainted with the facts as to
who IS IN the cast, as wei! as numerous
other things. If he asks an extra cues
tiOn OF two Of the young man in the box
Office it Is more than likely that be gets
snapped up in very impatient and
humIliating manner. The average
young man who rules supreme behind
the box Office bars gives the stranger
tie impression that he is being con-
tinUauy bored by a lot of apparent
ignOramuSes who. according to his way
OIL thinking, ought to know all about
tAe theater, the pedigree of the per
formers, what seats are behind posts,
where the ice water, the opera glasses,
Riil where the programmes can be most
readily obtained. In fact, the average
ticket seller believes himself to be the
most important, the most glOriOusiy
Indispensable individual that ever
humDled himself into cOndesceHding to
give information 20 the public that in
an indirect way pay him his salary.
: hese prosecuted young men of this
stripe are more numerous in prOsaIc
New York city than they are III Chi
eagO. but there are some of them who
are bad enough here. to which scores
upOu scores OF theater patrons can
readily testify.
i.e tfouU46 is that these young gen
Lemen are all fTOWhs and brief replies
when the theater manager is not about.
but when their employer appears they
are all smiles anu rs radiant and anna
bic as a May morning. IheateT mana
gers should look to lt that such Young
men are scratched" the coming season.
The box Office man Is the representa-
tive of The manager. de Is the one who
comes in more frequent, direct contact
with the supporters and patrons OF his
theateT than any other emplOye. and mis-
conduct ard treatment OF those patrons
is regarded by tie frequeuters OF his
playhouse as sanctioned pulley by that
manager. Scratch him."
inappropriate Orchestra Music.
The next thing that could be omitted
without causing any hard feelings be-
tween the manager and his patrons Is
the inappropriate music usually rev
eltd in by theater orchestra. 1t /.
the usual practice Tor these orchestra:
20 render several selections between
acts. but IL is also the usual practice
Tor the orchestra leader to have
his musicians perform Sucn music as hC
may select. W mats the matter witt
the manager beng cOunSeled a little
more each week with regard to wha
the orchestra shall play and what /
shall not? At the recent congress o
musicians al the worlds fair it was Sc
forth that music was prophecy o
what life Is 10 be hereafter. II such i
10 be the case. and one Is to Judge from
the Efforts blown forth by the average
theateT orchestra between the acts OF
play, why, ] see but little reason win
amy of us should hold out any hopes TO
q peaceful eternity.
SeusauonaliSm has not only secures
the grip of a Hercules during recen
years III stage productions. but il la
bred its way down into the Orchestr
pit, and such musical selections a
.-baIuyard tIolics'' are the latest eC
cenuicities which the programme
usually meDfIun as innovations.
These solicitors usually start off by tn
first yioiulst giving an Imitation OF tn
growing cf bantam rooster. Then til
second violin comes out with a NOR
robust crow of Il large cochin china
These crows are rapidly followed by tn
scared cackIag from the flutes ana III
Plcoi0s, until at last the entire fussiu