The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-07
STAGE vERNACULAR.
What Actors Mean by the Slang Of
the Profession.

Very often a layman listening to a
group Of theatrical men discussing shop
is at a loss to understand half of the con
versation owing to the peculiar vernacular
Of the stage world which is Greek to an
outsider. Among some of the oft-used
phrases the following are the better known
and their full significance has been com
piled by one Of the eastern theatrical jour
nalSs
Roast-This is not appertaining to a fire.
put simply means that when an actor is
assalled by the press he is usually roast
ed There are various kinds of rOaets,
but they all look alike to actors.
E1t-IhlS applies to the word success.
When an actor makes a hit it means that
he has succeeded In his own estimation
he is always hit, but in the public's mind
he sometimes is and sometimes is not
Cold Feet-This is a slang phrase used
in an expression of disgust when a man
ager takes out q company and either leaves
The words will not be found in any of Ten
nyson's poems but IN a poetieal sense may
Two weeks the manager got cold feet and
the shaw closed.
Ange1-An individual who does not live
in the celestial regions but usually man
Of means who stands sponsor for q pro-
ductiOn. There are various kinds of them.
some good and some bad. The good ones
part with their money without a murmur.
Nolhlng need pc saiQ ABOUT the bad ones
Press Work-Ihis term applies to the
publicity given the players in the newspa-
pers- The man who does it is called a press
agent The value Of press work is great.
The methods pursued are not always orig
iual, and such things as losing diamonds
diyOrcing husbands come under the cate
CORY of press work. For further particu-
lars apply to A: Toxin Worm, care Of Tan
barl--ille, N Y
Morgue-A theater best known as one
doing no business. There is nothing dead
about such house save the mana cement.
At present there is but one in New York,
although throughout the country there are
several.
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
theater ticket takers box. "Papering a
house means that it is filled with dead
heads 1t is a practice frequently resorted
to on the opening Of a new play
The Ghost Wa1ks-Ihis means salary day
and frequently he has failed to walk. That
is why there are so many unemployed ac-
tors
S. R. O.-An old time abbreviation for
Standing Room Only. In the larger cities
this term has been obliterated in favor Of
House Full or Full House.
Juinp-Applies to the difference. between
the town a company IS playing in and a
town company is to go to.
Three Sheet-An expression used to deS-
isnate certain style of paper. It requires
three certain sized sheets, which. when
pasted together. form one complete one, to
be pasted on what is termed a stand,
Tine-The dates booked and contracted
for the appearance of travelling companies
Gala call is a notice placed generally
near the stage door on which Is posted in
formation or instructions to the players.
Open Time-Dates not booked or con-
tracted for.
Turkey Snap-An organization especially
made for Thanksgiving day.