The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-16
THE AMUSEMENT BUSINESS.
Revelations to lie u In he Profce-
sionai Advertisements.

Acting and the production Of plays are
very much business propositions nowadays.
The theatrical directories show this, with
theif Lists Of dramatic agents n Of theatres
with the names Of the business staff con-
nected with each, even down to the bill
posters, and the number Of seats and the
money value Of every theatre set out
explicitly. From in 'front.' or the audi
torium, acting may seem merely a pleasure.
and theatrical management may appear
TO be confined to counting up money:
but from behind even a comedy Is a
serious matter, When Covent Garden
theatre was burned In 1908, It was found
that 700 persons depended for their uveli-
hood on that playhouse.
Some recent advertisements appearing
In theatrical papers In this country and
England give a very recent view OF the
business end OF the amusement profession
or art. One manager advertises thus
wANTED-solo sinrers. also chorus singers, two
property men and one wardrobe man who can
double In band OF dancing acts; also ten buglers
who can sing and dance
Evidently there will not be many bars Of
rest for these people. Change Of occupa:
managers are calling for what they want
with more particularly h this adver-
tiser. as witness these notices from a dra-
matte paper:
WANTED. for F1t-up Tour. meVt OF Nets
rood good Heavy Man, Comedian short two good
RcsponSblcs. cSpAble Of lines, First class Chamber
maid TO double Ansiocratic Old Lady In Act 2. and
good FIT up Man 10 play small parts
wANTED-Two Black faced Comedians, with
Specially. Must patter well and produce Negro
Farce, Two well dressed scrios, good Ballad
Vocalist (femalel. good Tenor or Bsrytone. Spec
lalty Act with printing preferred, and Pair Sisters
Long Tour. Money sure. but terms must be low.
WANTED, TO open at once, Gent for juveniles
(youngl capable OF Turs Also Gentleman 20
play ReSponsibles, combining Stage Carpenter,
getting up sets, and attend to stage generally
MANY Of these advertisements call for tall
gents" or tall ladies' applicants must
be tall; send photos Is the way some of
them read. The comedian for the first adj
vertisement above, however. In to be short,
probably as a foil to the tall heavy man,
WANTED. for Tit Penalty Of Crime Artists Of
Reputc. as follows: Tall Heavy Gentleman toroken
Englishl. toll Juvenile Gentleman. Irish Comedian
and Chamberm1id TO sing and dance extremely
well: Intense Character Actor. also Lady for Walt,
TO sing and dance well.
Notice the refinement Of these require
ments: the Irish comedian and the cham
bermaid are to dance Extremely well, :
the Lady for Walf- needs only TO sing and
dance well.
Over in England they still have portable
theatres" shows which trave In ans, and
give their performances OF stages built up
out side the wagons, which are used as
dressing rooms. IL Ia for these shows, and
for other small companies. that local man
ayers advertise open dates and end their
notices with the ma gic words pay week
Of "pay day." or market day
The actors OF course advertise for en-
plovment regularly. Miss Marie Weston,
iOriginsl Lady Banjo Pedestal Slab
Dancer" will be "a, liberty" and would
like an engagement; Mr.. Duse Mohamed
seeks a Job. and that he il "a
natural Othello and Prince of Morocco"
Perhaps he is q negro possibly a second
Ira Aldridge.
Then the makers OF stage furniture sd-
~vertise; they have -ft-ups." minstrel first
part (set stuff and zone first part setting,
Hanging stuff" and band uniforms, -one
set Roman drill costumes and street
parade coats" Tights and costumes ard
paints, plays and songs, are TO be bought
or hired. One charming domestic drama
Uhe name variesl may he had at $40 a night
or $50 n week: another one, sensational.
can be had on shares. Augustin Days
fight in the courts for the ownership of a
sensation scene in The Streets Of New
York" lasted a long time, but he won II;
Charles Reade, most business-llke Of play
wrights and novelists, warned all persons
from producing a sinking ship on the sta ge,
as he had copyrighted the effect in his
.Scuttled Ship
Everything else on the stage Is run on
a business plan nowadays. 'Steadiness
Indispensable SAYS one Advertisement
referring to the actors wanted; AID sieadi-
ness in the amusement business 10 AZ in
d~ispensable as II Is in ordinary occupa-
tons. Amusement making is a business
proposition. in very truth.