Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-20

Managers Will not come on simple in
! vitations or notices that the house Is
rot engaged for certain nights. They
must know something about the city
and the section they will have to draw
a crowd from. They want to know
what the capacity. location, conven-
| fences. etc. of the house are IT it IL
a good or bad show town they are
pretty sure to know il and govern
| themselves accordingly.
| If the people of any town do not care
| for shows the managers do not care tc
risk their pocketbook in cultivatina
their taste. They are looking for til.
| towns that like shows and will dodge
| the ones that don't. So il can readily
be seen that it is the local manager
business to stand by his town and make
| ii look just as well as possible in order
| to have it selected for a booking. The
| reputat ton Of the manager, his house
| and his town is the secret of good ci
| bad attractions.
After the booking is made there are
scores of details TO be looked after III
| order to make the visit of the company
as pleasant and profitable as possible
| If it is not pleasant the towns reputa-
! tion suffers. The bulk of the prelimi-
| nary work falls to the local manager
| and a good many people will doubtless
be surprised to find how varied and
numerous his duties really are.
Tut let Manager Maxfield tell the
story himself He says:
IF Il town is not well known in the
atrical circles the local manager. by
sending out literature and advertising
in the theatrical papers, attracts the
attention of theatrical managers
throughout the country and induces
them to open negotiations for bookings.
This may cover a period of six to eight
weeks during which the questions OF
percentages and various other details
are taken up. If terms are agreed upon
and conditions met contracts in regu-
lar printed forms, are sent. In these
the party of the first part 0ocal man
ager) agrees to furnish his opera house
with all its scenery and imperisha BILE
properties, properly lighted heated and
cleaned: all attaches on stage, ushers,
policemen, coupon tickets, regular Or
chestra. all newspaper advertising al
least seven days in advance. house pro-
grams. bill boards, bill posting, and the
distribution Of all bills.
The party Of the second part Gravel
ling nanager) agrees to furnish his
full. Give company in whatever play
he is producing free from all royalties
etc. music, dresses. all advance pic
torial printing. window work with
dates. etc.
This contract taken on q percentage
makes the local manager Il partner in
= 49, t 81 1
advantage to get a hustle on and full
fiji his part as early as possible. After
these details are attended to or until
ths appearance of the travelling man
aGcr. usually 10 months from the sign
ing OF the contract. the local manager
should have occasional mention in the
newsra pers from time to time in order
to arouse interest in whot is coming.
The travelling agent arrives on the
scene seven days in advance of his
show. bringing all the posters and adj
vertising matter pertaining to his cont
pany This is properly arranged and
delivered to the local manager who dis
tributes it over the town. On this visit,
also. the agent makes contracts with
the ira nsfer man for he delivery of all
baggage and scenery at the stage door
and gets prices at the hotels for his
people.
THE agents usual stop in 4 place is
but one day and after he leaves tn
business is up the local manager and
on him depends to very large extent
the amount Of business done as he re-
ceives no further help from the COM
pany.
In addition to seeing that the adj
vertising matter is faithfully distri-
buted from house to house it is his duty
to work the newspapers every day IN
order that there may be proper notices
as we'll as a standing advertisement for
the entire week.
by the time these duties are attend
ed to the company arrives on the date
mentioned in the contract The local
manager then sees to it that there is n
proper number of men on hand to
handle the baggage and scenery. The
hauling and placing in position of the
property Of a rep or weeks stand |
compan! is no small matter.
The company has meanwhile located
al its hotel and the members have look
ed the theatre over and in our case adj
mired its beauty and many conven-
iances. During the afternoon there is
usually an orchestra rehearsal lasting
for an hour to an hour and o half. On
the evening OF the performance the To-
cal manager has to see that there are
about eight stage hands behind the
curtain and sufficient ushers in front to
attend TO all the wants of the patrons.
As | have said it is the duty of the 10
cal man to furnish all the coupon tick
cts and these are placed on sale three
days in advance of the attraction.
when the doors are about to open
the travelling manager usually appears
to look over the tickets and note the
different solors, their numbers. etc,
calls for the ticket box and pass out
checks and when all these are provided
takes his place at the entrance of the
hall where each ticket is collected as
the people pass III and are seated by the
ushers At O'Clock the overture is
started by the orchestra after which
The curtain goes up and the play goes
on, all the actors having meanwhile
made up and prepared themselves To
take their several parts. After the
first act is completed the travelling
70 40 HOY nffSra with tht.