The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-25
THE PARIS CLAQUE.
Something A0Oul the French Methods
Of "Approvar' Systematizing
the CIaquers.

An action for breach or contract,
brought by one of the leaders of the
Paris claque against the director of the
theater with which he was connected,
has ended in n manner which will prob
ably cause some little CONSERVATION
among the class whom 1t chiefly con-
Germs. The contract was pronounced
void and the plaintiff nonsuited on the
ground that hired applause is con.
trary to public order and good man
ners, hinders the expression of unbi-
ased opinion and destroys the liberty
of the paying public. This seems to
be excellent common sense, and might
we'll be taken for an English judicial
utterance. But they order theatrical
matters so differently in France that
the decision of the civil tribune has all
the charm of the unexpected. The
Paris claque is much more than re-
coGniZed institution; ii is not merely
tolerated, says the Pail Mall Gazette.
For three-QuarterS of a century 1t has
been Il completely organized system,
regarded as unassailable within the
boundaries of law and order. More
over, the judgment is in curious con-
trast with one given in Vienna on a
cognate question not so long since.
Here the fiscal authorities imposed a
new and burdensome tax on the chef
de clapuc of the Court Opera house.
That functionary appealed to the legal
tribunal, hut the decision was against
him, on the ground that "hired ap-
plause, being a marketable commodity,
wus legally subject to taxation"
1t was i'm 1920 that the Paris claquers
first became amenable to anything like
a general control. In that year GER
tain NJ. Santon set up bureau for the
purpose Of systematiZing the loose
l.. ,i.h a
plausc had hitherto been provided by
and for the Paris theaters. That
shrewd entrepreneur not only raised
recruits for the service. but trained
them for the several branches of the
profession for which they were des-
tined. The manager of n theater de-
voted to comedy, farce or vaudeville
had but to notify his requirements to
the central office, when he was duly
supplied with suitable contingent of
rieurs. Tragedy and melodrama re-
uuired support of different charac-
ter, and accordingly. skilled pleureus
chiefly women-were at hand ready
to take their seats among the paying
public and to bestow the tribute of their
mercenary tears upon the wrongs and
sulferings of the stage heroine. Bis
seurs. the autocrats of the encore, were
held in reserve for operas and concerts.
while to the commisSaireS and chatOu-
llers was intrusted larger discretion
airy power in the way of leading ap-
plause according to the particular cir
cumstances of time and occasion. The
latter were also charged with the un-
enviable duty of endcavoring to sup
press any manifestations of discomfort
among an audience, and to stem the
rising tide of disapproval, task call
ing for no small amount of tact and
experience. and not always succ ssful-
ly accomplished even by their aid.
During the seventy-tivc years which
have since elapsed, the claque system
has undergone many notifications,
and has been re-established on an en-
tirely different footing. The gradual
overlapping Of the various forms of
dramatic entertainment. and especially
the increase in the number of the Paris
theatcrs, made the old methods cum
bersome and finally unworkable. For
some years past the handling of the
whole machinery of the claquc has
been intrusted to few well known
leaders. each of whom is responsible to
q certain number Of thcatcrs for the
supply of the necessary hired applause.
There are thus some half doZ n groups
of theaters, the director of each house
belonging To one group severally con-
The business is not an unproiitable one,
though all engaged in it are not, of
course. equally successful. one of the
most rcmunerative leaderships was
held by the lat" VI. Fournicr. who died
five years ago. leaving n nice little for
tune of a million francs. This gentle
man rad supplied and controlled ap-
plausr as marketable commodity"
for the Opera. OGeon. Buuifee. Ambigu
FOlies. Dramatinues and Menus Plai-
sirs-perhaps one of the most impor-
tant combinations existing FOR this pur-
pose.
AS might perhaps. be expected from
its position and traditions. the Theater
Franchise holds a!oof from these ar
rangements. Not that its director ig-
norcs the power of the claque, but
chooses to keep it entirely within his
personal control. AS a consequence the
system finds its expression in this house
in its least aggressive form. The salary
attached to the post of chef de claque
at the Franchise is a small one. having
been some time ago reduced from about
1900 per annum to half that figure. The
leader receives, however. for his free
disposal. twenty free seats every night.
which amounts to considerable aug
mentation of his salary. He attends
the final rehearsals of new plays, and
makes notes of the speeches and situa-
tions which the authors and stage man
ayers wish to be applauded. But his
functions are limited to leading" the
public instead Of coercing them. At the
Theater Francaise also recalls are left
entirely in the hand of the public
though the claques are expected to sup
port them when made.