The times., 1901-06-09
ARE YOU STAGB-STRUCK? I?
If So, Here Is the Way to Begin
Your Histri0nic Career.
The HomeIy Girl Has Little Chance.
No Matter How Gifted She May Be,
and Even Those who Are Bcnuti-
full Must serve an Apprenticeship.


dramatic aspirant comes 10 New York,
saws the sun" in the hope of getting
her foot on the bottom rung of the theat-
rical ladder preparatory to climbing up
until she is among stars at the top. The
number of young women who thus de
scend on New York has increased in re-
cent years although their way of placing
themselves after they get here has chang
cd.
Apart from the greater ease of finding
employment after they have been grad
uated from a dramatiP school, the method
Of seeking it nowadays is different. For
merly when a young girl decided to go on
the stage and came to New York to put
that decision into practical effect she
brought with her a letter from the man
ager of a local theatre who had acquaint-
ances in New York and recommended his
Young friend to their consideration.
This letter after while would get her
into the presence of a manager who would
probably think more of her looks than
ANYTHING else and wind up the first inter
view by telling her that he hadn't any
thing for her. unless she happened to be
striking enough in herself to attract at
tention by her beauty. If he was especial
" Interested in her, and had an idea OF
engaging her. he might ask her to come
some morning to the theatre and recIte
or give her some scene from play to
study and TO read TO him at the time he
appointed for her.
That was the old-fashioned way of be-
ginning the campaign in New York ana
it frequently resulted in the young wom-
ans engagement to play a small part or
TO go on the road with some company
Noyadavs the young woman who comes
l,.ay- O
INV other part Of equal Importance never
aonroaches the manager whom she may
see with any idea Of resLming her profes-
sion at that same point. She never has
any idea of beginning in any such exalted
Mace and is quite content to have Few
lines TO sneak She is fortunate indeed If
she gets that and is not relegated at the
outset to the chorus. Only few years
ago a young and very beautiful woman
who was well known in New York society
and whose notorietory should have gain
ed her more conspicuous position on the
stage was quite content to take her place
along. with seven or eight young women
never heard Of before who figured as
kind of chorus in q play at the Empire
Her friends lamented her Willingness to
begin so UnimpOrtantly, and said that
she had made a mistake in accepting a
p be successful only while she was young
and beautiful. and well known among a
certain set of New York people.
It looked as If they were right and as II
the young woman ought to have begun a
little bit higher If she expected her stage
career to be financially profitable. 1t hap
pened. however that ali her friends We're
reasoning on the theory that she would
never turn out to be an actress but she
did, and has improved so much that her
services are in demand because she can
act. and she is receiving today five times
as much as she ever got before.
Last week the daughter of a man who
was one time worth million dollars or
more and was the principal figure in the
life of & modish suburban town three
years ago. took a place in the chorus of
a burlesque because she had to work and
could find nothing else TO do. Several
years ago she never would have thought
of making any such modest beginning
The time Of the star who comes full-hedg-
ed from the elocutionist TO the stage how
ever, has long since passed.
The young woman who comes from out
Of town TO get a theatrical engagement in
New York" said woman who keeps one
Of the successful exchanges. must real
ize that she is not going TO be able TO
compete with the pretty graduates of one
or two dramatic schools. The ugly girl
has equally little chance whether she
comes from a dramatic school or not, but
II ii is q question Of two pretty women
one Of whom has been taught to act. and
the other Of whom has not, it is the train
ed girl that the master is going TO take
i have the NAMES OF ten or fifteen girls
on my books who have come 10 me 10 find
mHg.w4 T-.w -
experience and most Of them would he
willing TO do anything that offers ] new
er take them on my books. so long as they
have inflated ideas OF what thev eSnect
TO DO. When they come with the idea of
becoming leading women right away. |
persuade them that anything Of the kind
is out OF the question and md out just
now little they expect. II then / see my
way TO finding some sort Of place for
them, number them among my clients
nay ADVICE 20 them always is, 10 try TO
get some position for the first wear or
two In New York, in the chorus Of some
Durlesque, where their salaries would be
Just as large as If they were playing parts
IN small road companies. They will NOT
nave 10 travel and they will acquire ia
miiiarity with the stage. If the; do not
want to 60 into the chorus, and Tnanv of
them OBJECT TO that. ] advise them to stav
IN New York and take their chances %
getting employment al what are called
extra ladies', or what used TO be known
as supers. They will be maid for mis-
WohId receive for appearing in small
parts on the road and there is aIwsvs the
opportunity Of something turning up for
lheIn II ihey are on the spot and they be
come known to stage managers.
II they 90 on the road they are some
times able TO get better parts than if
they stayed IN New York bu; most of
the time outside Of this city is lost so far
a. their progress in the profession goes
always tell my girls it's d great deal
peter lot them 10 be seen in small part
IN musical comedy IN New York than in
Last Lynne towns all around the conn
Try. TOT they can never attract attention
from New York managers Sometimes IL
happenc that girl who begins TO play in
the smai' towns as star Is liable to hold
Ler own Tor two or three seasons and does
nnallN attract the attention OF some me-
tropolitap manager.
one instance OF this is to be seen this
year IN the case OF young girl who is
70 becoTIe star next year She was
playing IN little towns and attracting no
alJentlon whatever when New York
manager saw her and enga ged her as
leading lady. Now, she is 10 be AT the
nedu o. her own company next year and
~ looks Ss II her reputation was made
bhe was sensible enough never 10 come
70 New York and il is Of course easier
toI any woman to be star in the little
toWns OF the Eastern States.
MY advice TO every girl that comes to
New YORK and has no training in the drsi-
matte schools IS 10 stay here until she
nnds a place In a chorus or as an extra
Iady, 10 wait for her opportunity 70 play
q part. and, above all things 10 be h
solutely free from any idea that she is
gong TO set the world on fire In a year
or two. The old Mary Anderson game
never happened more than once OF twice
and now il IS dead as a door nail The
woman who gets to the ton and stays
Hg he rnHF.W ~ NH L..