Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-18
THE vIENNEsE CLAQUE.
Masters of the subtle Art OIL
Applause.


Applause.
vienna Correspondence of Pal Mall Ga
zette.)
The history of Vienna theatres Is the
history OF the claquers who have made
and, be 1t known. sometimes marred
them Vienna has had more really famous
claque leaders than actors. They, at least,
have been native talent, while the VOL
ters, Sandrocks, and Odillons, to say no.
thing Of the Kopaczsys and Pathways and
a hundred others, have been purely i'm
ported material. One is reminded OF this
by the recent death of the leader OF the
Peoples Theatre claque, Herr Gentner.
He was a claquer of the good old school.
Pannowitz, the great. unapproachable
Pannowitz, was his prototype.
A claquer of genius has not been seen
in Venice like upon Pannowtz. He had
the income of Minister. His adlatus,
KONG, received from him fixed salary.
Pannowitz was always dressed in the
latest fashion. At premieres one saw him
in evening dress never as the transparent
professional clapper. He changed his
place every evening now and again oc-
cupied a box, and even paid for II when
necessary. His aide-de-camp used to in
struct his men in the duties of the eve
ming. Pannowitz applauded but little. just
like a regular habitue. His forte lay in
his wonderful dumb show. understood OF
his retainers only. His baton was his
handkerchief every movement of which
had it's distinct and ineligible signif-
canoe. And when he Laughter, there was
no help for it, the whole OF the public
had to join in the irresistible cachinna-
ton. His DISCUSSES were complete. The
anxious debutante could sometimes little
guess that the Misunderstanding old gen.
teman with side whiskers, sitting in a
box and never able TO applaud or laugh
enough. was the great. the unriyalled,
and well-paid prince of claquers.
And now his great disciple. Gentner, has
gone, too. He was as modest in life as in
profession. He was discreet in starting
the applause. though he had hands like a
couple of card-tables. but he generally
managed to transport his faithful follow
ers into veritabe furioso at will. He
had an absolutely inimitable hiss for his
patrons pet aversions which was abso-
lutely fatal when well paid for When he
raised both his hands to clap that was a
sign for the whole band to let loose their
stored-up thunders. He himself did not
join in. His neighbors must never know
that no was the paid applauder Then he
would take out his handkerchief. and the
applause would suddenly end. That was
all la Pannowitz But the meister prac-
tically died in exile. Like a great states
man. a faux pas had botted out his pro-
fessional existence In a night. His locum
tenens had omitted to applaud a diva
The diva had a crying fit. and demanded
Gentner's discharge. a diva can forgive
everything but not the applause that fall
ed. 1t proved the death of Gentner His
actor son. the pride of his life, was short
ly 10 have a debut in Vienna, and his
fathers big hands were to make him.
One day they brought the lad home TO
die. And now, penniless, childless, and ex-
lied, the fallen genius has gone to a
bourne where, doubtless the art OF manu-
featured applause Is wholly negligible
quantity. 1t was not his wish nor his lot
to die In harness-not. for instance, like
poor Samek. whose fear of being too late
cost him his life in the Ring Theatre dis
aster.
The geniuses Of the claque have left no
memoirs behind them for the benefit Of
posterity.