The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-31
IDIosYNCRAsY OF PLAYGoERs.
The Mysterious Laws That Govern
Tbenters and Audiences.


John Hollingshead, i'm the Playgoer.
The playgoer who wishes to get a
seat in his selected theater for the time
being should select Friday night. IL
is difficult TO say why he should choose
Friday, except that those interested in
theaters have, from time immemorial.
regarded Friday as their worst night.
The laws that govern theaters and au-
dences are sometimes very mysterious.
A play, for example. is produced, which
every one speaks well of, IL not en-
Enthusiastically, and which many people
express a desire TO see. 1t fails TO
draw" and is removed from the bills
because few people go to see it. When
It is withdrawn, they profess to be
sorry. and regret that they had not
given IL a more solid welcome
There is another problem--difficult to
solve. A play Is produced which at
once achieves instantaneous popularity.
Every one who has seen it advises
others to see it, with the result that
every one in town and many in the
country wish to see it--are eager TO see
1t. The holding capacity of the lucky
house represents 500 people. The peo-
pie consumed with a desire to see this
play number, perhaps, more than half
a million. What is to prevent this
half million presenting themselves on
a single night, and creating gigantic
difficulty. or street riot? The mys-
terious law Of averages, which the
greatest mathematician cannot explain
saves the manager. About as many
people as the house can contain present
themselves every night-rarely more, IL
never less fact almost as wonderful
as the instructive food supply of Lon
don.
There is one popularity Of playgoing
which ! always regard as a disease
a mental alteration, leading. of course.
10 physical injury and suffering. 1t n
that fanatica star worship" which
leads men. women and children 10 take
camp stools to the entrances of pop
ular theater on the eve Of a "frEt
night" and besiege the doors many
hours before the opening. Such an ex-
hibltion OF folly-such an open viola
ton Of the laws OF decency and com
mon sense-can. of course. no more be
interfered with. as long as the rights
OF passing and plying pedestrians arc
concerned, than the self-mutilations OF
Hindoo fakirs at their religious care
monies. Honest and sensible playgoers
will do well 10 note and avoid these pit
and gallery door excuses, which only
bring the WORKING drama INTO ldlOcy.
Whatever rules and regulations are laid
down by theatrical managers in the
conduct OF their business should be re-
spected by the trained playgoer. II II
is Zee house" Ga system quite within
the rights OF the manager) the play
goer should enter and depart without
remark. If he objects TO fees. he can
easily avoid that particular theater.
and reserve his protests for print or
conversation. II II is mo fee house,
a system that causes large outlay
for his comfort and convenience, he
should aid the manager I'm maintains
ing this system, and not attempt to
corrupt his servants. When opened
the Galety Theater. I pledged himself
10 q mo feee" system. which ! always
maintained meant business. right or
wrong. / thought I was right. ana
claimed no particular merit for my sys-
tenn. thought ! was practising a
sound trading policy. II was wrong
I wasted c1S.0O0 IN eighteen years.