The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-04-17
THE ORCHESTRA LEADER.
Must Play Any Sort of An Instrument
Ever Heard OF, And Help Out Play
ers in Their Gags
From the New York Advertiser


Ever Heard OF, And Help Out Play
ers in Their Gags"
From the New York Advertiser.
This is the age of progress and versati-
lily in the amendment business. The
leading lady nowadays is asked to swing
across chasms, jump over fve-barred
gates in baggy trousers, play Ophelia or
East Lynne" and is expected to do all
these things equally well. From the
leading man physical tasks of like ma
ture are demanded as well as the ability
to play Claude or Hamlet. AS for the
low comedian-well there is no limit to
the demand made on him. Years ago the
public would have looked askance on the
actor or actress who com bined acrobatics
with art, but of late years they have
come to regard the combination as all
right.
The poor actor or actress who is cast for
physical comedy roles nowadays accepts
them as a matter of course. They have
long ceased to bewail their fate, but have
tried TO accept the situation gracefully
and improve on it if possible. There is
one member of the amusement profession
who never has and probably never will
approve of the new order of things-the
leader of the orchestra. Just at present
he is putting up very violent protest to
the managers of the theaters and threat
ems to lay the matter before the musical
union.
IF that act goes on tonight quit"
one leader said to the manager of an up
town music hall one night this week.
well, professor" said the manager,
soothingly, 'I'll speak to Mr.. Burns
and have him cut some of that business
OUT
But the professor was too indignant to
be soothed as easily as thai and he broke
out with:
81 don't mind being told that the band
is rotten and being called 'Snigglehi-
mer' or Julius and a dozen other names,
and don't mind all the other business
they do with the orchestra, but when a
fellow hits me on the head with club
and Squirts a syringe of water over me
and calls it gag, that's when I quit"
And the irate conductor stalked off
muttering Indignantly to himself.
The manager sighed and said: CHOW,
there's some good reason for the leaders
complaint. | have been thinking for
some time of putting up a notice in my
green room forbidding the use of gags in
business with members of the orches-
ira, or else notifying each team that |
will deduct $40 week from their sal
aries for using my leader and men,
bers of my orchestra for partners in their
acts"
There is hardly a performer who plays
here but who has more or less of his act
arranged with the members of the or
chestra l have had TO raise the salary
of every man in the band TO keep him,
and they have had so much practice these
past two seasons that they are all pretty
lair comedians"
Then growing reminiscent he told some
of the curious things the members of the
orchestra are expected to do
zone team that played in the house"
he said, brought along half dozen re-
volvers and during the course of their act
the leader and the musicians fired these
revOlvers at the team. But before doing
so, of course, there was quarrel between
the comedians and the orchestra.
THAT was a mild form of it, however.
A girl who came here to sing George
and make fun of the double bass, or the
fellow with the dog house, as she called
him in the song, brought along mask
with big bumps on the cheeks and long
red mustaches fastened to it, which she
expected him to wear all through her act
and stand up when she said so and show
his face to the audience: And she was
indignant when he refused to wear the
mask.
Another soubrette brought song
during which she made love to every
member of the band and commented on
the personal appearance of each AT re-
hearsal she wanted the professor to
leave his seat and climb on the stage and
kiss her. When he objected on the score
of his wife, who was doing a specially
that week, she likewise became indig-
nant Another act consisted Of three
songs, the chorus of each song with all
the lung power the orchestra was capable
of. There was the usual kick. The must
clans could not sing and play at the same
time
"A Dutch comedian had one of his
gags arranged in this way What salary
do YOU get2 to the leader. $3.50 week
was the reply To the drummer: What
do you getf Eight dollars says the
drummer. That's all right, you get
yours
"A soubrette who sang Daddy
Wouldn't Buy Me Bow Vow" brought
six live dogs of various sizes and breeds
to the theater one day, expecting the
members of the orchestra to carry them
in their laps while she sang her songs,
and hand them over the foOtlights to her
at the proper time Then a strong man
who played here one week nearly broke up
the orchestra in more senses than one.
During his act he stood on high plat
form and held suspended from his neck
by chains another platform upon which
were seated the entire orchestra, playing
a march as loudly as they could. AT
the first performance something went
wrong with the strong gentleman and he
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