The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-07-19
STAGE VERNAcULAR.
What Actors Mean by the Slang of
the Profession.
lBOston Jonrnal.l

NbOSlOn JOuTndl.J
very often a layman listening te a
group Of theatrical men discussing
shop' is at a loss to understand half
OF the conversation, owing to the pc
cunaT Yernacular of the stage world
which is Greek to an outsider. Among
some OF the oft-used phrases the fol-
lowing are the better known and their
1uH significance has been compiled by
one OF the eastern theatrical journals:
Roast-This is not appertaining to a
lire, but simply means that when an
actor is assailed by the press he is
usually roasted" There are various
kinds of roasts, but they all look alike
Hit-This applies to the word success.
When an actor makes hit it means that
ne has succeeded, In his own estimation
ne Is always a hit, but in the public
mind he sometimes is and sometimes is
not.
Cold Feet-This is slang phrase used
in an expression of disgust when a man
leaves it stranded or disbands it in short
order. The words will not be found in
any of Tennyson's poems but in a poeti-
cal sense may read as follows: "After the
piece was out two weeks the manager got
cold feet and the show closed
Anglican individual who does not live
in the celestial regions but usually man
OF means who stands sponsor for pro-
ductlon. There are various kinds of
them, some good and some bad. The good
ones part with their money without a
murmur Nothing need be said about the
bad ones.
Press Work-This term applies to the
publicity given the players in the news
papers. The man who does it is called
a press agent. The value of press work
is great The methods pursued are not
always original, and such things as los
ing diamonds. divorcing husbands, come
under the category of press work. For
further particulars apply to A. Toxin
Worm, care of Tanbarkville. n. Y.
Nov A thanf Two hoe bro nrn
doing no business. There is nothing dead
about such a house save the management.
At present there is but one in New York,
although throughout the country there
Paper-There are two meanings to the
word paper" One is the Autographs
used by the various managers and the
other is the complimentary admission
found in the theatre ticket takers box.
"Papering house" means that it is filled
with "deadheads.' 1t is a practice fire.
quently resorted to on the opening of a
new play.
day and frequently he has failed to walk.
That is why there are so many UNI
employed actors.
s: R; o.-An Old5time abhreyiatiQn for
cities this term has been obliterated in
favor of "House Full or Full House.
Jump-Applies to the difference between
the town a company is playing in and
town a company is to go to.
Three-Sheet-An expression used to des-
ignate a certain style of paper. 1t re-
quires three certain sized sheets, which,
when pasted together, form one complete
one, to be pasted on what is termed
stand.
Time-The dates booked and contracted
for the appearance of travelling compa-
MES.
Gala call is a notice placed generally
near the stage door, on which is posted
information or instructions to the players.
Open Time-Dates not booked or con-
tracted for.
Turkey Snap-An organization especial
~ made for Thanksgiving day.