The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-15
REAL MATINEE GIRL
SHE is GETTING To BE IN EVIDENCE
IN INDIANAPOLIS.
A Disguised Actor Gives His Views of
the Young WOman-Observa-
tions of Charles Layman.

Indianapolis can now boast OF her matt
nee ~girls-that is, some of them are girls,
even If there is a liberal sprinkling among
them of femininity of a ripper age. BY
matinee girls is meant that class so famil-
lar and so oft discussed and written about
in the East which makes regular attend
ance upon matinee performances almost a
religious ceremony and carries its worship
OF actors to the extreme of waiting outside
the theater doors after the show is out
to catch a more or less fieeting glimpse Of
its favored disciple of Thespis. 1t has long
been a common sight at the Capitol-avenue
entrance to the stage of the Park Theater
to witness a bevy of girls, most of them
of an unusually tender age, waiting with
feverish eagerness for the actors to make
their exit after they have DOTTED their
make-ups and put themselves in present.
able shape for appearance on the street.
Until recently, however, such sights were
unknown about the other theaters of In
dianapolis. A Journal reporter was stand
ing in the doorway of the Grand Opera
House yesterday afternoon, discussing flu
ture prospects of the stock company with
~"Ns 80 ~ aoA WiiNi Aio ~
was attracted to a double line of girls and
women at the mouth of Wabash street,
leading to the stage entrance of the thea
ter. Look at the crowd of matinee girls
waiting to catch sight Of the actors" said
Mr.. Layman. THAT is getting TO be a
regular thing around here now. The men,
bers Of the company have to run a ver-
liable gauntlet every matinee day. Very
shortly one Of the men of the stock com-
pany came up, looking flushed and an
noyed. Had the foolish creatures who
were making such a spectacle of them
selves been able to hear what this actor
said about them it is likely they would be
a trife more circumspect hereafter as to
their conduct in public. Don't that make
you tired?" said the actor. Those women
stare at us like they thought we were
freaks. 1t certainly looks very silly"
The conversation again turned to the
plans Of the stock company for the three
weeks which remain in the present season.
Asked as to what play would be put on
next week following THE Butterflies" MIR.
Layman aid 1--WE ave been discussing
that subject with Mr.. Hunt all day and
nothing definite has been decided yet. We
have considered the advisability OF reviv-
ing two of the seasons most successful
pieces during the last week, and 1t may be
that we will adopt that course. Another
plan that has been suggested is that we
have the two revivals next week and then
get Quo Vadis' back again for the week
following, which would make a fine finish
to a successful season. There are lots OF
people In indianapolis who have not seen
the play yet, and if they have a strong
enough desire to witness it to justify them
In making their wish known to us 1t is by
no means out of the question that such a
demand would be needed. OF course, you
understand hat Quo Vadis' is a very cost
ly production, and that the management
would not entertain the idea of getting 1t
here for another weeks engagement un-
less they had reasonable assurance of fair
business. / think 1 can safely say that a
definite announcement will be made next
Monday or Tuesday"