The herald., 1896-12-20
GOWNS THAT DAZZLE.
Actresses Dispose of Them to Their Less
Opulent Sisters.

ayers for the costumes of their play.
| were divided in equal shares among tn.
theater-going public each person nigh
give a good start to bank account
Hundreds of thousands of dollars are
spent every season in New York alone
for dresses, and it would be impossible
TO find out how much more is invested
| in other parts of the country and the
/ provinces
Much of the money goes. of course
for the costuming of choruses, ballets
| iEgenues, and men, but it is in dressing
the leading women that the greatest
| amount is spent. Sometimes the gowns
are from Paris and the cost of single
one may exceep $1,000 One or two of the
| greatest theatrical managers invariably
| have lot of Paris gowns in their houses
| wardrobes. Others patronize the home
| dealers and some of the daintiest and
most admired creations seen In season
are the work of the great stores of Broad
way and Sixth avenue. When a play is
taken off the stage in this city, whether
because of failure or because it has
| reached the end of a season or of its
drawing power, the dresses of it's prin-
cipal women are generally almost as
good as new. and yet they are almost in
variably discarded What becomes of
them? That question was asked the
other day of theatrical manager who
is world famous for the lavishness with
which he stages his plays.
Different managers" he said, "have
different ways Of disposing of the dresses
of their principal women. None of those
who have become famous ever sells the
dresses, however, as many people sup
pose.
THE secondhand clothing stores? /
never let them have anything in all my
long career. When a. production has fin
ished Its run in New YORK. it generally is
sent on the road, either by its original
manager or by somebody to whom he
has sold the rights. The company may
or may not be that of the original pro-
duction. In the former case, of course,
the original dresses may be used with
out any trouble. In the latter event, new
and less expensive costumes may be oh
tained. or the original ones may be made
over to fit the new people.
Il am speaking, of course, only of
gowns. 1t would be one of the hardest
things on earth to tell what becomes of
the hundreds of thousands of ballet
girls costumes. Some of them are sold
to the cheap companies that start out
from the Bowery and Eighth avenue.
Some may be seen, in fading glory, in
the cheap concert halls. But in every
theater there is a wardrobe woman, and
the task is frequently hers to make over
for new production costumes that have
seen lot of service.
In keeping with the elaborateness of
his scenic setting of a play, Daniel
Frohman of the Lyceum is perhaps as
lavish as any manager in the world in
the gowning Of the women Of his COM
pany. 1t Is only the minor managers
who compel their artists to pay for their
own costumes. Daniel Frohman pays
every cent of the expenses, and so does
his brother. Charles. of the Empire, and
so does Augustin Daily. They are the abb
solute owners of everything
Then there are managers who bear
part of the expenses of dressing the lead
ing people, and they are probably In a
majority. When the manager of a. home
company has half a dozen road compan-
fes, the question of the disposal Of the
gorgeous gowns that SO delight the
hearts of women theater-goers is a SIM
pie one. The costumes of successes are
worn and worn again. Through the
hands of the wardrobe woman they go
until at last the time comes to retire
them. That does not mean, by any
means, that they have become dowdy.
manager with any regard for his repu-
tation would never allow them to reach
that stage. They show symptoms of
danger ahead, however, and they must
GO.
"A great many of them are d.ssected
skilled hands will find in them many
parts that may be worked into new
dresses for the big people of the per-
formance or for the minor characters.
In this way single dress may not be
ann1hfated for years and years. If it
is decided that gown, as a whole, shall
go, its destination may be the ragbag,
ana the smaller people sell to second
hand dealers
THE Twelfth Night club receives
many of the best gowns that have ou.-
lived their usefulness. Daniel Frohman.
l think, is their best friend. Many
poor young actress who has secured an
engagement after long and impover-
ishing wait, and who is unable to pay
for the dresses she reQuires-supposing
she has been hired by a manager who
does not supply costumes-has found her
Salvatlon In this club, to which Mr..
Frohman is one Of the largest contrib
utors. Then, too, I believe, the Profess
slonat Woman's league has great deal
to say as to what shall become of some
OF the finest gowns that have outlived
their usefulness.
Some excellent creations thus flno
their way to strange places. The
dresses of failure seldom are seen
again. as they originally were and in the
original place. Talking of costumes In
general, 1t would be a wonderful sight
to see the wardrobe room of Augustin
DAILY. l have heard. bits about it for
years, but never was fortunate enough
to get peep. 1 have been told, that in
1t are the original costumes of every
Shakespearean production ever made by
Mr DAILY, and many of the habilimen.s
III Whlch that famous managers famous
players made their greatest successes.
You can imagine what a gorgeous room
that must be."-New York Times.