The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-30
COULDN'T TALK ITALIAN.
Mr.. L. M. Crawford Relates His Ex-
periences With the Del Conte
COmDanv


Six thousands pounds of costumes
and scenery and a legal interest in the
opera of La Boheme'' is what L. NJ
crawford of this city has to remind him
that he was for three months American
manager of the Del Conte Italian Grand
opera company direct from EE:.an"
An Italian Grand Opera company is
IN itself Just as easy to handle as a
mock OF lambs, says Mr.. Crawford, but
the managers that go with it are the
people that shatter the nerves of an
american supervisor general and cause
MN TO wish he had never heard of Italy
or 1taIy's inhabitants. There were four
OF them with the Del Conte company, or
rather four Interested in the company,
as only two made the tour with the
singers, but, according to Mr. CraW-
Iords way of figuring, this was two too
many Mr.. CraWfOrd'S trouble was with
the managers and not with the compa-
ny.
IF had BEEN able to speak the Ital-
ian language said Mr. Crawford to-
day, there would have been no trouble
at all The principals of the company
, we're WlInng to go with me after my
portion of the mana cement had been
transferred TO Col. Thompson of the
Boston Lyrics, and if I had been able to
TAX TO them in way they would cas-
lIy understand, think I would still be
managing the company. But my edu-
catlon was neglected as far as the Ital-
ian language is concerned, and was
severely handicapped as result.
w hen left Topeka and went out to
the coast, continued Mr.. Crawford, Il
found the company in sore straits f1nan-
c1aIly, and arranged to advance enough
money to start the tour. By the terms
OF my contract I was to receive SO per
cent of the gross receipts and furnish
all transportation and book the cOmpa-
ny at the houses throughout the cOun-
try. The other 50 per cent went to the
managers, two of whom were with the
company and two in Mexico. Out of
their share they We're to pay the salar-
les of the singers and handle all matter
directly relating to the members of the
company. AS security for the money
advanced, the scenery and costumes
that 1 now have in my possession were
assigned me, and the copyright of the
opera, La Boheme'
THE company jumped to Seattle from
San Francisco and started on a tour of
the northern cities. We had splendid
success, and I want to say that I have
only kind words for the company itself.
The principals and chorus people work.
ed hard, and 1 never before in all my
life heard such singing. The chorus was
a typical Italian chorus, not overly pre-
possessing in appearance, but the min
ute the singing started one forgot all
about appearances and everything else.
am confident that l could have taken
the company into the east and made a
decided hit.
Things went along all right for
time after We started, but gradually
dissatisfaction arose among the mem
berS of the company because their sal
aries were not paid as promptly as
they should have been, or only partially
paid. There was sufficient money made
to pay the salaries promptly, but it
was misapprOpriated and never reach
ed the company. The matter dragged
along this way, gradually growing
worse, and of course the company
kicked The principals and chorus peO-
pie went after their managers, and they
fell back on me, telling them that the
! business was not aS good as it should
I q
part of the contract as I should do. 1
/ couldn't talk to the Italians with any
! degree of satisfaction, and was almost
unable to defend mySel1. one OF the
/ managers was a Hebrew, and when he
| saw how things were going, he made
proposition to sell out his interest to
me. His interest consisted OF debts ex-
/ cluSiVely, and of course refused to
consider the matter. The fact that 1
/ refused to be rOped in, enraged him, and
! he set about to do me all the dirt he
/ could. He succeeded pretty well. and
| when the company reached St. Paul,
! he made arrangements to transfer his
! interest to Col. Thompson Of the Boston
! lyrics The company had been told all
] along that I was at fault for the trOu-
BILE and was of course dissatisfied and
j ready to make almost any kind of
! move The upshot of the whole matter
| was that after the st. Paul engagement
| they cut loose from me and started out
| under ThompsOn's management.
| after they did this 1 went to the
| principals and explained TO them as
| hest I could what the real trouble was,
and that 1 was not to blame. Almost
| all of them were then willing to come
| back to me, and signed new contracts,
/ but Thompson heard of the move and
| tied the company up saw that there
/ was no chance of settling the matter
| satisfactorily, and concluded to pull out
! and come home. The money advanced
| in San Francisco was never paid, and L
| secured the stuff that was assigned me.
! 4 had a handsome guarantee atKan-
| sas City and had worked up sentiment
! for the company in St. Joe, Topeka and
| Wichita so that I was sure of big
! houses 1t was a great disappointment
| to me not to be able to bring the COM
| nany into the territory where 1 am
9Teat many people in Topeka who are
| 5isanDointed at not having the OppOrtu-
| nitv Of seeing the company"