The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-08

of houses, but is well known and its ex-
perIenCe and judgment are relied upon by
both parties to the contract And both
parties must rely upon the fairness of the
Arbitrator Many country managers make
the agency their headquarters during the
busy month of the booking season, and
give their personal supervision to filling
their own dates.
1t is from the managers of a string"
of shows, however, tldt we get the most
interesting insight Of the process of book
lug. These have too much at stake TO
intrust this feature to an outside party.
There is also the question of expense and
the fitting in of one show with the bust
mess of another.
For instance. while it is not desirable
to follow one farce comedy with another
Immediately, or, indeed, any other style
OF entertainment with another of sim
liar character, it is very deSlrd ole to
follow one sort with one of a totally
different character This is what the
clever local manager wants. and when the
manager with a stirring can furnish the
two shows for the same theater 1t IS
money in his pocket. In such a case one
show advertiseS the O1her, and the same
agent in advance car do the work for the
two. The second show can be advertised
! in the middle of the week with the rea-
sonable assurance that the money its an
nouncement takes out of the house of the
| first will find its way into the box Office of
! the second.
| FOLLOWING ONE SHOW WITH ANOTHER
The character of the show that imme-
diately precedes or follows another show
| is an item of importance to the manager,
| and this information Is always demanded
| and furnished where possible before a
contract is signed While ii does not ap-
pear to the uninitated to be true, 1t IS
! often more safe to play an Inexpensive
| show between two expensive shows,
especially if the weaker is of different
! character from the more elaborate.
| was in the New York Offices of man
agerial firm the other day. 1t has n1ne
! shows in its string and the process OF
! hooking the nine was requiring the close
and laborous application of the combined
! skill and experience OF two men. IN a
little private room, made as free from in-
terruptiOn as locks and bolts will admit,
they pored over the route book and stud
led the map, which formed the top OF the
desk, and considered the pile Of letters
brought in the last mail.
The route book is printed book having
every date Of the season ranged IN ruled
spaces on a single page. This Is the reg
Mar form used Each column gives the
dav of the week, day Of the month, space
for the town, and ruled spaces for the
letters H" (held), "B" booked, "C'
! contracted for. and terms The en-
tries in this book show the exact status
Of ant one of the particular shows, each
show having a page Where the place IS
a lone night stand"-a single perform
anre-the town is entered opposite the
particular date: when for week OF
more. it is recorded across the approprl
ATE space. The untitled time is seen at q
glance. Before this interesting stage is
reached. however. there has been much
preliminary work.
ARRANGING FOR DATES.
Having early in the spring settled on tht
elbows. and decided on the general route
the manager dictates letters TO the thea
fers on that route asking for the open
time between certain dates. open Tune
is the unengaged dates. The New YORK
manager has decided how he wants
thInps and now he proceeds 10 ascertain
how closely he can come to getting what
he wants. In this letter he names the
chow he wants the time for. II he gets a
| uositjve replV. he marks the time helu,
and goes on adjusting the rest or th'
route Then he selects the particular
date and gives terms Then the MANAGE
in thecountrv objects TO the terms, where
mon a fourth letter is dispatched eX
naming the merits Of the show. ana now
necessary 10 his happiness u IS thaI H'
should have this PARTICULAR show at ina
particular time.