The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-07
sHoEING FOR A NEW PLAY.
Footwear n Big Item in n Stage Pro-
ductiOn, Costing From 1000 to
$1,000.
From the New York Post.

duction, Costing From $1,000 to
$1,000.
From the New York Post.
Through some oversight the manager
of a theatrical company that is soon
to try" an elaborate costume play
upon an Eastern city has neglected to
make arrangements to have the COM
pany shod, and the anxiety into which
the cast has been plunged by this
carelessness gives some idea of the i'm
portance which attaches to the matter
of shoeing for a modern stage pro-
duction. The actors who have been
engaged for this one took it for grant
ted that the usual arrangements has
been made with the usual bootmaker
for providing them with the proper
footgear, and all they would have TO
do would be to drop in any day ana
leave their measurement. That is the
way thy have been accustomed to
buying their stage shoes, and they
have been dropping into a little shop
in Union Square, which has practically
a monopoly in theatrical bootmaking,
every day for the past week. The wo-
man who is in charge of the shop dur
ing the proprietors absence says: 1t
will teach them all a lesson"
A man who, from dress and man
ners, was obviously from stageland,
entered the shop, and with an air of
assurance took d chair and announced
that he had come to be measured.
For what?" asked the woman.
For what?" repeated the actor,
"why, for the shoes l am to wear
in" mentioning the title of the
play.
I'VE know nothing about the boots
you are to wear in that piece" said
the woman; but, possibly, if you will
leave your order we can get them out
for you in time-what style is it you
want?"
The actors easy assurance gave
way instantly to bewilderment, and
from beliwderment to mental stam-
pede. style" he echoed gazing help
lessly around him; why classic, Span
ish, Louis XIV-I don't know, how
should 1 know? Something like that
thing there in the showcase" and he
pointed to a black satin Spanish Slip
per with high heels slashed with yell
low and trimmed around the top with
silver, that's what l want, isn't it?
something on that order, anyway"
The woman told him that it would be
impossible to fill an order from so mea-
ger a description, and advised him to
go around to the costumers' and OBJ
tain details. The actor humbly prom
Used to do so.
When he had gone the woman turn
ed to another customer. THAT man."
she explained, would have known all
about the boots he is to wear, If he
had seen them; that is IL we had made
them for him he could have pointed
out where they were historically and
otherwise wrong. AS it is, you can see
how ignorant he is, and how helpless.
1t is customary for a manager, when
a new play is to be put on, to leave the
order with a bootmaker for all the
footgear that are to be worn by the
cast; the style and the designs are
sent to us by the customer or in some
cases. are left to ouB own judgment"
What does 1t cost to shoe a COM
pany for first-class production?" in
quired the customer.
From $1,000 to $1,000" the woman
answered. This present production
will cost about 5000"
"And who pays for all that?"
"Why, the actors themselves. 1t costs
each one from $50 to 500, according to
the number of changes he or she has
TO make I'm the course of the play. The
supers. of course. do not have to pay
for the shoes they wear-they are in
cluded in the companys property"
The popularity OF historical plays has
made the high kid boot extending
above the knee and known to the trade
as a "knickertaur." in greater demand
than any other style. Other costume