The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-13

remarkably keen sense of artistic effect.
Previous to bringing out THE Crust of So
ciety' in New York, for instance, he went
over the manuscript and made many ad-
mirable corrections in the text, every one
of them calculated to improve the work
from a theatrical standpoint. After that
he arranged his Suggesting, looked after
the stage management and brought out the
play finely mounted and perfect in all ar
tistic details. / have often seen Stetson
solve instantly some knotty problem in
stage management or in the arrangement
of scenes, that had long puzzled experts,
and also saw him just quickly change
the lines of a manuscript submitted to him
in a manner that very materially increased
the dramatice effectiveness and improved
the general tone of the play.
Joe Brooks graduated from a counting
room to a managerial position; Mr.. Abbey
made his first money in a little jewelry
store in Akron, o., where he also managed
a one-horse opera house: his partner,
Schoeffel, was for years 'in advance" of
Frank Mayo, and a noiser, more hustling
agent you never saw. He struck the small
towns like a cyclone and the big cities like
a full-fedged circus.
The late Jack Haverly was illiterate and,
besides, innocent of all technical knowledge
of the stage. His success could be out
short lived. The men who attempt 10 make
fortunes out Of cheap theatricals by con-
tinuous performances, etc. must be we'll
equipped for work and thoroughly familiar
with the business in every line Those who
succeeded in that line enjoy an enormous
capacity for work and a knowledge of hu-
Country managers are queer beings as
a general thing. Hundreds of times have
walked into an opera house in small
town a few hours before the performance,
and found it entirely deserted. Sometimes
1 discovered the manager in a saloon or
| livery stable; frequently did not see him
until it was time TO open the doors and turn
on the gas.
The late Lawrence Barrett told me once
with fine indignation that the manager of
| a small opera house in the West informed
him one day at noon that "he ought to
hurry up and start the street parade"
When visited Arkansas with Mccullough
1 was assured by local manager that I'VE
were all right, the people had not forgot
| ten McCullough's Rip Van Wrinkle, not by
a long shot"
NEWS MATERIAL USEFUL.
OF all producing managers, he of spec
tacular presentations, dealing largely with
topics Of the day should be the most YER
satile, the richest in resource Above ALL
he should have the faculty Of keeping his
hand on the public pulse, to see what is
wanted and what will please and attract
| crowds at particular time. BY studying
| all the incidents of the day and current
events generally, by listening to the gossips
and anticipating new fads and conditions
he will get notion in what direction he
/ must strike out And having the advantage
of this information. he must seek to dis
| cover the best means for cultivating the
| fashions of the moment by engaging liv-
| ing and inanimate material to please the
greatest number of patrons. in short, he
must combine with "a nose for news an
editors ability to "cut" and enlarge, i'm
| prove and feature"
Just now beauty is the thing. We have
| George w. Lederer's word for it, that not
| only men attracted to the box office
| by the fascinating charms Of the chorus
girl, but women in an equal degree. Many
| times, he says, Il found that mediocre
ability was overlooked by an audience. en-
tirely fascinated by the alIuring beauty OF
| the performers"
Mr.. Lederer answers the question: What
| is stage beauty?" equally well: Beauty
| should be natural. 1 am often treated 70 the
statement by young ladies DESTROYS of Sc
] curing engagements. oh, but l make up
| very we'll No. thanks. I want beauty of
| the natural order not that which can be
| purchased at % cents per box. Beauty,
| Beauty! Beauty! Given two women OF equal
| ability, so far as voice is concerned. the
| prettier woman gets the engagement every
| time. Nay. more; fine figure and attrac-
tive appearance will outweigh superior
musical qualification. and will go better
with the theater-going public than any
/ other stock in trade a chorus girl may
| posses"
And why not? Beauty is divine, God
| given; talent is acquired-the flower of hu-
man effort. What man ever appreciates
! what he understands. Nobody understands
| beauty. 1t is. II fascinates
AN ENGLISH EXAMPLE.
The late Augustus Harris was one of the
most competent managers for the reason
that he was thoroughly and absolutely
| familiar with every detail OF the theatrical
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