The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-26
BY Pendennis.
Copyright 1902, by $. $. Mcclure Co.


Copyright. 1902, by s. S. Mcclure Coz
So long as footlights twinkle and cur
tains rise and fall the chorus girl will
be enveloped in a glamour peculiar to
herself. The offices of New York the
atrical managers fairly TEEN with ma
terial of a romantic flavor, for here the
chorus girl, real or potential, makes
her plea.
These stories are extremely human,
because there is no branch of artistic
labor that draws on the hearts, the
humors, the feelings of its people so
strongly as the theatrical profession.
Even the managers. commercial to
their finger tips, acquire something of
the unusual excitement and tension
which is part of the correct tempera-
ment for an actor. However, the OBJ
ject of this article is not to analyze
the psychology of dramatic art, but
to illustrate the practical conditions
which confront girls who come to New
York with the intention of getting on
the stage-of becoming real actresses.
When / recall the numerous and va
ried incidents encountered during my
theatrical connection as a scribbler /
am always tempted to moraliZe with
these young women, but my greatest
effort would count as naught against
the glitter of spangles, the sheen OF
silks and satins and the beautifying
result of grease paints.
The theater is not a frivolous insti-
tuition, nor Is it conducted by human
monsters who desire only the utter de-
moralization of the men and women
employed on it's stage; but 1t does serve
as an opportunity for encouraging all
! the vanities and follies born in some
! women.
The great majority of girls seeking
positions in New York are pretty,
! bellies in their native towns, perhaps,
and all hoping to shine in burlesque
or light opera.
They bring a few clothes, a few dol
lars, q pretty face, figure or voice, and
trust to finding a place among the
thousand young women employed each
season in the chorus ballet and en-
semble of comic opera, burlesque or
musical comedy. They eventually drift
into boarding houses of the cheaper
classes, which i'm themselves exert a
more mischievous influence than does
ike Denlnd the scenes.
Soon they find their way to Broad
way, where the ragged edge of propri-
ETY. is plainly evident, and where the
great and the ''little" actor, the
prima donna and the chorus girl brush
past each other in the scurry of that
broad way to histrionic fame.
Individual statistics gathered from
managers who organize musical COM
panies show that fewer girls born in
New Yorw apply for positions than
from any other city. The West and
New England send the largest quota,
and the South comes next in the list.
Canada and Nova Scotia provide a
few. The New York girl is so worldly
wise when she reaches her teens that
she either enters business or tries to
solve the matrimonial problem.
The graduate or student in the dra-
matte school does not adopt this meth
cd of acquiring a foothold in the pro-
fession. She has her eye on the "legiti-
mate" 1t is acknowledged that the
musical organization appeals most
strongly to the inexperienced girl suf-
fering with stage fever.
The combined weight of gray matter
In the chorus of a musical comedy for
instance, would scarcely suffice to make
a passably good legitimate actress.
There are a few instances, but very
few, where prima donnas have risen
from the chorus, not because they were
in the chorus, but because Providence
had given them the voice.
There are also instances where chorus
girls become famous, not because Of
their profession, but in spite of It,.
They make brilliant marriages or dis
cover the existence of other talents
improperly applied in the first place.
The girl divinely nodded, of gener-
Gus proportions the tall athletic girl
has the best prospects in musical COM
panies. She requires neither educs ton,
voice nor reputation to secure an en-
gagement, and once have gotten II,
she promptly finds herself in the front
row, where, admired by men, young
and old alike, she can modestly cry,
with Monte Cristo, 1.-THE world is
mine!"
Sometimes the"star" selects the front
row, sometimes the manager, but the
manager always keeps an eye on 1t.
When Anna Held organized her COM
pany for 1.-The Little Duchess" she per-
scnally superntended the selection OF
the "beauties" for the chorus, and as
an expert I'm seeing true beauty from
a classic standpoint, she has no rival
/ saw her select two young women In
the famous fencing chorus and she be-
gan this way:
II don't think either OF you are very
pretty. but-how do you make up?"
Having been on the stage before,
they carried photographs In costume
which secured them the engagement
temporarily.
saw them later at dress rehearsal
and scarcely knew them, they looked
so pretty.
Beauty on and off the stage are Diff
ferent propositions.
you know / divide 'cm into two
kinds" explained stage manager.
II thought there were more than
that"
Maybe so. but I divide 'em In Just
two. the chorus girls and the show
girls"
And the chorus girl"
"Ail ! ask her 20 do is to sing. I
don't care how unattractiye she IN.
dent care whether the show girl can
sing a note ! don't care n she can't
even ialk. but she must look like the
handsomeet thing made-in woman
see Tf
re grabbed one gorgeous young wo-
man by the arm. She was dressed Ia