Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1895-01-11
DEADHEADs IN THE BILLROOM.

hope that may be able to reciprocate some
day, I remain yours, " etc. Doubtless the
= gentleman was disappointed, for he re-
ceived no reply whatever.
~ Another individual presented his card at
the box Office window of theater one
might last week when money was actually
being turned away. He wanted two seats
The house manager looked at the card. It
bore the inscription, &c. -, assist
ant boss canvassman - Il --circus. !"
He was indignant because he did not get
the seats and went away muttering some
thing about not recognizing the profess
sion"
The average individual would rather go
to performance on pass, the securing
of which involved $40 worth Of trouble,
than to pay 81 or 81. so aud be under obli-
cations to no one. know a fellow who,
some time ago, was radically cured Of
.,assomania. He was anxious to see Ger
tain play, and as means to that end OBJ
tanned an introduction to the manager of
the theater. That individual was very ur
bane, and, to- use the vernacular, was
4sontO the game of the free ticket flend.
He inquired if he would like to see the
n show that night and was Immediately
asked to have something. He consented
I as theatrical men and most other men
usually do. The couple entered high
\ toned ''cafe," and the manager In re-
spouse to the question "What'n it bes''
said that he felt as though he could punish
small cold bottle Of champagne. This
was ordered. 1t cost 50.
After the sparkling beverage had been
absorbed, and they had walked to the door,
the pass crank observed, "Er-ah-about
those seats for tonight" with an interrog-
ative vocal infection.
"Oh, yes" responded the theatrical
manager, pulling notebook from his
pocket, "I'll make memorandum of it
and get the treasurer to hold them for
you. Will you pay me now, or give the
money to the treasurerf"
There was gasping out of something
about having forgotten previous ap-
pointment for that evening, and viru-
lent case of free ticket ulosis had been per-
manently cured.
About the most unique, though perhaps
reprehensible, method of getting into a
theater without paying, of which have
aver heard, is in daily, or rather nightly,
use in certain theater TN this city. The
billroom in that house Is on the same floor
az the gallery A particular crowd of
boys, who are friends of one of the posters,
are admitted through this room to the
rear of the portieres separating the gallery
proper from one Of the numerous exits
which the fire commissioners require, but
which no one would think Of using in case
of real danger.
There the lads remain until the lights
within the theater are turned up as the
doors are opened. As soon as the first rush
into the gallery OCCURS the lads push the
portieres aside and mingle with the pay
crowd In promisouous scramble for the
best seats.
This practice should be condemned on
two grounds. In the first place, it ia dis
honest in that 1t keeps from the proprietor
of the theater the money which the boys
would otherwise pay for admission, the
only beneficiary being the bill poster, who
manages by this means to keep himself
we'll supplied with rolled cabbage leaves,
labeled cigars. In the second place, the as
ISOLATION Of boys with a man who will lend
himself to that sort Of thing manifestly
exercises pernioious effect upon the NOR
ais of the former, who are permitted to
sAounge about the billroom smoking coffin
aails, alias cigarettes, and listening to
anecdotes which would be terribly out Of
place in a parlor. =. "a r
Il It is lamentable fact that the perma-
nency Of the marriage contract is not re-
yearied az seriously as it should be by many
4heatrieal people. Divorces for various
causes, and sometimes for no cause at all,
3 are regrettably frequent. This condition
$-s( affairs not unnaturally often results In
strange meetings under embarrassing CIR
so0nGtances .'.2-,. IL g, :, -. 2. TN 5S
g.-..- q -,.. d. O.. :
Early In the present season . manager
hployed an actress for . small part and
@ once dispatched her to Harlem the
Ater for her first rehearsal. That same aft
u ernoon she returned with the information
fhst abe had found herself In avery un-
Ocmfortable poaitipn, for 81 rehearsal; she
800 shocked to learn that the man who
r1ayed tbs opposits part TO her was none
u 49, fhan the man from whom she had
u - divorced some months previously. Shs
n - that she could not afford to resign,
and yet she felt that It would be unpleas-
at Tor her to be In the same company with
& hG ex-husband. She wanted tho mana
h aes Z advice.
That gentleman was loath, In the cir
tancss, to dispense with any Of that
aly freely given commodity, and, like
TA1-. - 40 - - Al ~