The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-02-17


esting story to tell 1t is more than like
ly TO be prefaced by the statement "It
was on our trip of one nighters." says a
writer in the Newark On. J). Sunday
Call OF course everybody knows that
''one nighters" refers to the theatrical
road system of playing but one night In
town. There are hundreds of these one
night stands throughout the country,
and there is a branch of the theatrical
profession devoted almost exclusively TO
the entertainment OF the habtants of
these little towns But the great and pros
porous theatrical star who shines SO lu-
minousy in the cities, while detesting the
one-night stand and all the dlscomforts
IL implies, when his time comes also ap-
pears For the one night only" In the
village "opry house" You can scarcely
imagine a more entertaining hour than
one spent listening to the tales OF one
nighters.
Here is a tale told by Harry Hammill,
a well-known actor OF this city, who is
travelling with The American Girl
company. His company had long spell
of one nighters through Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois There is a small city in IL
linois OF 5000 inhabitants, with several
hotels, an "opry house" and other mu-
| nicipal improvements. Now the big man
OF the town is the owner OF the largest
| hotel, the owner OF the theatre and also
| the mayor of the city. 1t might also be
mentioned that he controls the baggage
| express of the place and all the public
cabs This old gentleman is becoming bet
ter known TO the theatrical profession
every year. but in a most invidious man
ner His name is being banded about
from actor TO actor and from one mana
ger to another as the personifcation o.
all that is low down. mean, close-fisted,
gradgrinding and despicable As the
owner OF the best hotel the controller OF
the baggage express, the general of tie
public conveyances and the absolute lord
of the "opry" house, he has the visiting
theatrical companies pretty much under
his thumb He uses varied holdings TO
| add to his material wealth, which Is not
inconsiderable at present, and is steadily
| Increasing. His chief aim in life, say the
chronicling thespians, is morbid desire
| to add to that wealth, and he IL full OF
| the Ben Franklin theory that every cent
counts and he let's no opportunity go by
| no matter how trifing, when he can
utilize IL for his gain Some incredible
| tales are told of his laborious endeavors
| To save few cents, or by his system OK
| economies to prevent the expenditure OF
| unnecessary cash.
| Here is the experience of THE Ameri-
can Girl company as related by Mr..
| Hammil: I'VE were billed to play in this
| old guys town on one Saturday recently,
| for a matinee and night. AS soon as we
were In town we began TO hear about
| the doings of the owner OF the hotel to
| his guests, OF the extortions of the con-
| troller of the baggage service and the
| economical tryannies of the manager OF
| the 'Opry' House upon the patrons and
| thespians. We had our experience very
| early i'm the day. Immediately upon reg
| Istering at the 'Opry' House owners ho-
| tel we went to the hotel owners Opry'
| House 20 get ready for the matinee per-
| formance. There was a big advance sale
| OF seats and we were assured a big au-
| dience. II wasn't very bright afternoon.
| and pretty soon from the stage and dress
| ing-rooms could be heard the men say
| ing. What's the matter with the gas7'
| " 'Nothins the matter with in said the
| stage manager. whom we recognized as
| the head porter OF the hotel and the agent
| of the express service. chorus OF
| shouts went up that the gas was turned
| of and it would be impossible 10 make up
the gloom Our manager demanded In
| stern tones, why don't YOU turn on the
gas? TO which the stage manager-hotel
! portcr-oxpress agent replied:
we never turn on the gas here at
mauness.
'w-h-a-tg chorused the entire COM
pauy.
'T'hat seemed 10 be the fact. and when
our manager declared that there would
| be no performance unless the gas was
| turned on the stage manager-hotol porter
| express agent didn't seem bit worried
| our manager went in search OF the pro-
| prietor OF the show house, but could not
| And him lie was very mad manager,
| and whom he came back 10 the .Opry'
| house and saw almost every seat taken
he did not have II In his heart to turn
away 90 much good money, so he did
not carry out his threat Of refusing to
give performance We aNerward
learned that this was nothing unusual
The people OF the town. when they went
TO the matiness. were never certain they
were going to see a performance. but
they were cure of getting their money
back N the performance was not given.
During my career as an actor l have
played under many peculiar circum-
stances and adverse conditions. but that
matinee performance In that little IL
linoIs town will be vivid I'm my memory
for many years When the curtain went
up there was standing room only. but
not n glcam OF ARTIFICIAL light was there
on the stage or In the auditorium Not
n gns ict or an electric bulb glover. II
was depressing. but we began the show
expecting every minute That our manager
would be able 20 find the owner of the
building and when he saw house fun
of people would turn on the illumination.
During the second act the twilight deep
cned into cimmerian gloom and the cur
tain came down on scene OF stygian
darkness.
As soon as the stage hands began 10
set the scene for the Third act the border