The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-28

and out of season, the different productions.
There are scores of these vermin about the diff
ferent San Francisco theaters. This species
of marauder on theatrical enterprise has, /
venture to say, done more to impair the bust
ness, not only here, but elsewhere, than any
other cause that may be cited or suggested.
What is it to him the heavy rent the lessee pays
for the theater, the large and expensive COM
pany occupying the stage, or that in whatever
direction the manager reaches out his hand 1t
must carry money. The deadhead has only
one opinion of the performance, after beating
his way in, and that is, tersely expressed, give
been to see the show and it's no good" He
knows no more about the merit or the dement,
of the play than q COW knows about Sunday,
but he thinks it is the correct thing to con-
denim it, and he rubs his hands in glee if the en-
terprise promises to fail.
There is another kind of deadhead-a man
who intends TO be honorable and respectable in
his dealings among men, who would scorn to
take any mans labor or substance in business
life without recompense, and yet so insidious
is this deadhead vice that he does not scruple
to avail himself of the investment of the man.
ager and of the time and study of the "poor
actor, who struts his brief hour on the STAGE"
without making proper return. He had free
ticket given him once and thus became tainted,
giving rise to the expression, "once q dead
head, always deadhead." 1t is to such indi-
yiduals, however, that managers look for q
measurable cure of this vice of deadheadism.
A little reflection will convince SUCH men of
the injustice of free admissions, and being
business men used to reason from cause to
effect, each one will put himself in the man
ayers place and get correct view of the situa-
ton. Their example would work most desir-
able and wholesome reform in this respect
l am happy to say that the managers and
legitimate journals all over the United States
have joined in vigorous effort to fling this
"Old Man of the Sea'-this vice of dead
headism-from the shoulders of the profess
sion. 1t was, indeed, high time to at
least make an attempt to stop the abuse,
one will acknowledge, when he reads of the
condition of the theaters on account of it in
the different cities of the Eastern States The
Philadelphia managers say that that city is
"overstocked" with deadheads. They seek the
merest excuse to get a ticket, and the man
ayers life is made a hard one by them. A we'll
known manager of that city says: ''They
usually lay for me about a quarter of O'Clock
in the evening and wait around the box-office.
They come in singles. pairs trios and quartets.
And so 1 wait around until 8 80 O'Clock before
put in an appearance at the theater. By that
time the would-be deadheads have gone home
or bought tickets, and l am often 800 the
richer.''
In Cincinnati, 1t Is said, all the railroad off,
GERS, from the president down. are deadheads,
as well as every influential citizen of German
extraction across the Rhine, all the force in the
Mayors office, the police and every hotel
keeper.
In Boston, on one occasion, there were 1000
lithographStickets received at the door-an
auditorium crowded from pit TO dome counted
up only $25O--and it may be said that this
same pernicious Autograph and billboard
practice of free admission prevails to greater
or less extent in all the leading cities of the
Eastern States.
While the deadhead vice does not prevail in
San Francisco to the extent it obtains in the
places have named it has, at the same time
gained SO firm footing here that united
effort is demanded on the part of our local
managers to displace it. Otherwise, in short
time the situation will become a fight for
managerial right in this city, as it is in many
of the cities of the East, and the dignity If the
profession viii be lowered beneath notice.
AS one OF the managers of new theatrical
enterprise feel myself constrained to write q
above. 1 am heartily in sympathy with the
fight against the vice of deadheadism going on
in the East, aid consider it but Just that eyerv-
body who desires TO spend an enjoyable even
ing at the theater, or for any other privilege
should pay q falr price for 1T. In this way our
legitimate enterprises will be placed on a nav
ing basis, and managers will be enabled ~
supply line of talent difficult to do at present
where, on account of this deadhead practice
SO much financial uncertainty exists.
1t is the intention of the Columbia Theater
managers to cut off at the start of the enter
prise what is usually called 'sthe free list !" ex
cepting members of the press on whom the
public depend for correct theatrical informa-
ton, and also such people as give full value for
the privilege of admission. 1t is bold move,
put nope IL VIII be recognized as just one
ana De sustained by an intelligent public.