New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-13
ACTORS SEEKING PLACES.
PHASES or THE PLAYERS LIFE SEEN
AT THE DRAMATIC AGENCIES

AT THE DRAMATIC AGEN' LEE.
This IS the season q tho yenr when trng"dJ
stalks by the side II comedy. when ID" woman
u many sorrows goes hand IN nand with her VINO
laughs The king ard the down moot Oh one level
the queen and the hous-mad are IA I'd" same
caste II any ono doubts This let him take "a siroH
into upper broadway any nue day between ana
o'clock lie Will md Napoleon hobno1h'ng WIZ the
keeper OF the inn and virtue triumphant VIII w
listening 10 a funny story told by tho heavy villain
For this f. the time Of the year when 'he hncm-
Moved actors pather by the wayside 20 trll ~ what
b.y have done and Will do aud 10 spin tales OF The
engagements they have refused and The Dig ones
they are going 10 get.
The prevailing idea that when warm weather
comes the players betake themselves 10 luxurious
,,ls and beautiful country homes Is picturesque
invention OF popular Action few OF the more
an, cc,sfu do enjoy the vacation period but TO the
majority Il brings only added cares ana ne" hhN-
ic,ies Their days now are spent 'httey III I"e
dramatic agencies. waiting, Mica"ber-hKe' io'
something 10 turn up The dramatic agent Is the
mddleman between players ana managers ana
IL only through the Intervention OF IA" agent that
the average actor Is able 10 secure employment
OF course the stars and few Of the more sue
cessful DO not patronze the agencies but even OF
these there are few who at some time IN their
careers have not been dependent upon this inter
mcdinry.
Tho young woman who is lust dying TO 20 on
the stage because she has talent-her friends all
say she -imagines that all that IL necessary is
TO learn a good recitation. put on smart frock
and a picture hat. and, bursting IN upon the suS-
ceptiblc manager. take him by storm
Now whatever may be the peculariies OF the
average manager. innocent susceptibility IL not in
Guided I'm the category
The aspir1nts plan Is also baked by inc fhct
that II IL only the best known actors VINO can see
the manager at all
The manager saves himself tho trouble OF use
less interviews by recourse to the dramatic agent.
| The latter fs the conpanies and the actor who
is not in the good graces Of that person might al
most az well be out OF the profession
AGENTS SHOW FAvORITIsM.
| Tho agent being likewise human. there is likely
| 10 be more or less favorltism and II Is by no
means certain that the best talent always secures
the best places. Many players remain idle for long
| periods because they have In some way offended
| this arblter OF their fortunes
| Al the dramatic agency the names and addresses
| Of the actors are recorded and the agent s at all
| times aware Of the material available for filling
| new companies adding TO old ones. II man
aeer on the road finds It TO his advantage 10 dis
charge one OF his actors he knows that by tele-
graphing TO the agent he can secure a substitute
The agency il practically clearing house. where
! actors assorted ana cIasslned TOT the conven-
/, fence OF the manager
There are several OF these agencies In New York
! and their general characteristics are the same.
They are now at the height Of their activity, and
! are interesting II somewhat depressing places. In
| appearance they differ little. The walls are covered
! with photographs OF players-some being personal
! lIkenesses others taken In character. Nearly all
| OF the pictures bear autographs and auectionate
inscriptions Of the faces are unfamiliar rep
resenting that large class born TO blush unseen"
or at lea st to waste their sweetness three line
narts unnotced and aforementioned by the general
! ,ubIic Here and there the face OF well known
| PLAYER lends dignity to the collection.
| Every day now the Offices are thronged with
| eager applicants They begin 10 arrive on the
scene about 10 O'Clock and the row Of chairs along
,he aide OF the room Ia filed the late corners
stand about I'm groups. or llnger In the Railways.
| discussing the Incidents OF seasons past pros
! meets OF the one TO come.
Are Won settled for next season. IL asked
many times I'm the day. and as many times comes
The reniv mo but expect 10 be by tomorrow -
| And Tomorrow and the next day II is the same
onestion and the same old answer. The dramatic
aaeent ia usually a woman. with woman's pro-
nensitv for gossip. Her Intentions may be good
but her idea OF business IL peculiar An acquaint-
once has come into the Office and is costly en-
sronsed behind the rail which separates the agent
rom her clients The two sit chatting while the
ac.nrs Finger around. The seconds lengthen inc
,nn,,tes ana the minutes into hours and the walt
| nv nayers shift about uneasy. There aching
hssr,s In the ofhce poverty confined TO mar
| row streets and DARK tsnemsnts. Here II may b