The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-12

Hov Hs-aeers TRY e. Cireu-vsvt rsesy
Ths-p,sss wss s.n Ths,r Fr.s Tp.ss,r.

Thsrp,as- whs sell Their Free Ttess,r.
The condition which now confronts = num-
Der Of tho theatrical managers o. New York
city IL how 10 prevent eomplim sntary tickets
which. from time to time. they feel under the
necessity OF issuing. from being sold by the re-
eipients Itis long established usage among
managers to extend the courtesy Of their
houses to actors and actresses and to furnish
these. on demand. with orders for seats. usu-
ally two. few years ago. some managers
finding that It was inconvenient and often In
judicious to pass in members Of the theatre
cal profession who presented themselves
at the box ONCE or at the door
keepers railing. agreed among themselves
upon the rule OF insisting that all
such applications for complimentary tickets
should DO made during tho day. BY this means
the presence OF actors and others who
wish to rec the manager for moment was
done away with during the evening perform
snces. and the change proved to be a grateful
one After that some OF the managers went
into a sort OF combine" whereby no passes
were issued to actors or actresses but printed
orders were given them which on presents"
tion at the box once and the payment OF ten
cents 10 the Actors Fund for each ticket were
Reasonable for seats. This change has worked
fairly well, though II has increased somewhat
the demands for tickets and made. In some
cases. refusal moro difficult.
The present theatrical season has been .
very poor one. and there are now In New York
over 1000 unemp loyed actors and from 1 800
to 300 actresses. coryphees and chorus girls
The dearth OF money In the amallertowns, and
more especially In those on the line OF railroad
com paniee even many actors who. when not
engaged In regular, travelling company
welcome ten dollars or so With small travelling
,snaps" which went on the road for two. or
business ls relatively good But in the. smaller
discoverable profit. These are the q one-night
sncs By one com pany is ali that is ever thoSgSt
OF. the theatre not being open more than two
or three times In week during the regular
Many. Of the seeond-class theatres In the
large eitie; which h formerly we're open to com,
are three house. devoted 70 this now Ia town,
b Boston &' Pro,idsnee. &orcss.er. and other
primers a1cs 0' who tax. Part IN these con:
tinuous entertainments are mostly variety
se.or. Out q may be- n said sssrs
fore to be. from com ination OF circum-
ws:c Ss s:y 81 Ge tSsn
there is the practical collapse Of the one, might
stands which they were accustomed to play In
continuous performs nces. all three com bining
to keep upper Broadway and the region OF the
Union square crowded with idle and "a peraily
for when the weather is unfavorab.s .. as It i:
usually In the winter for men who have no.
where's in particular to go. these nctors are ac-
hang out till the clouds roll by.
presence or to furnishing them with free
. To Sfs
so some Of these actors have hit upon tho
ting tickets during the day and OF selling them
to the ticket scalpsrs at the Dow-ruling rate
Of 25 cents a pair II these tickets are. re.
cents to the ' Act Actor" e Fund they may Be
Shics with the . ,sas.d brings up
formafity the actor can get aity cent: Tor
them. and the scalper resells for = dollar. BY
this means. so injurious to the business Of the
some setors cam thsr
have no way Of identiiyins; i, majority o. shs
Not Ss 90 ae could
noyed at the condition which things have
taken, some Of those managers who are very
Ss5, \, In the nnm % ,s o. thss sa
have recently hit upon the plan Of giving
to such Of the aetors as apply for eomnli-
ton admit tSem In the evening. These cards
are given during the day. and the manager
himself honofs them At night and aecompa.
not worked very we'll so far. because It entails
the constant presence Of the manager In the
lobby of the theatre at the very time when he
and $500. and it has been equally dispieasing
to those actors who arc the logiti ate rsctpi-
ents OF such courtesies.