The courier., 1903-02-14


often becomes necessary to hire a spe-
cial train. on account of a difficult rail-
road movement, where the ordinary
train service Is not adequate. A special
train of one day coach and one baggage
car can usually be had for fifty first
class tickets. but each railroad has its
own rules upon the matter.
As soon as he arrives In the city the
advance agent calls on the transfer COM
pany and arranges to have the scenery
and baggage hauled to the theater i'm
mediately after the company's arrival
Sometimes the scenery and baggage
reach the city ahead of the company. the
special baggage car being brought by a
night train. The stage carpenter and
his assistants always travel with the car.
This is to guard against any possible
side-tracking OF the scenery.
The advance agent makes hotel ar
rangements for the members of his COM
pany, reserving rooms for the important
players and the star. He also orders
carriages to meet the star at the depot.
In some cases he arranges for a piano to
be placed In the suite of apartments or
dered.
There are many small details to be at
tended to at each theater. The schedule
OF prices must be satisfactorily ad-
justed. The number of calciums required
ascertained and ordered. Certain sets of
ropes at certain distances from the cur
tain line must be arranged. so that when
the scenery arrives IL will be hoisted
easily into the proper places. There are
many plots to a production besides the
plot of the play. The scene plot tells the
manager of the theater what scenery is
required by the visiting company. The
line plot tells what ropes are needed.
The light plot gives explicit Instructions
to the electrician about the lighting of
the stage and tells him when to change
the orange sunset glow into the pale
blue and purple which indicate twilight
and then to the green. which indicates
moonlight The property plot tells the
property man what props" are required
what chairs. tables. crockery must be
furnished The theater agrees to furnish
only imperishable properties, such as can
be secured without expense. The COM
pany furnishes and pays for perishable
properties, such as cabbages, lemons
onions, eggs, etc.
The advance agent also has to oversee
in a general way the billposting of the
paper for his attraction. The different
iithographing and printing companies
send the printed sheets to each city by
express. and the agent opens the bundles
and lays OUT the paper. He explains
to the bill poster just how il can be ar
ranged to the best advantage. Then the
bill poster usually winks and asks for
pass or two; the agent gives II to him,
and the paper is upon the dead walls the
next day
III certain hotels have a prejudice
against pet poodles. and certain stars
carry dogs, the advance agent must rec
oncile the two opposing forces in some
way. If he cannot bring about a recon-
ciliation then he must promote a con-
fiict. and notify the reporters. who will
do the rest. The next day there will be
a lively story about Nine Tutti- Frutti's
indignation at not being permitted to
take her pet Unky-Anky-Ooo to her
suite of apartments.
There is one indignity which the ad-
vance man cannot forgive. That is to
hear his company referred to as a
troupe"
In spite of his association with the
theater, the advance man leads the most
melancholy existence imaginable. He
gets sick Of the theater. He has heard
all the Jokes they tell there. He has
seen most of the plays. He may have a
few friends in every city, either former
newspaper friends or theatrical acquaint-
ances, but the chances are that they will
have their time occupied with their own
duties. II he were back with the COM
pany his would be a more enjoyable lot.
Each company on the road organizes
itself into a jolly club. The stars usu-
ally entertain the players. Maude Ad-
ans was noted for the pleasant surprises