The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-20
Golden Path of the Manager
Is StreWn With MANY ThOrns

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the curtain rises, she sends har maid.
shrewd woman of experience to
count up" the house. If it is a large
house, and one that promises to be
cordial, the singer does not change
her programme, but if the house is
small, word is sent to the musical di-
rector that she will not sing one or
more numbers and that no encores
will be taken. Even after the per-
formance begins, if the house does not
fill UP with late corners, she is apt to
send the same message whistling
through the speaking tube connecting
| with the leader of the orchestra.
The actress, above all individuals,
will insist upon what she chooses to
term her rights" The starring tour
of prominent English actress is said
to have been temporarily interrupted
during it's New York run by the dis
covery on the part of the star that she
| was not receiving certain Difference
which she considered her due. 1t was
announced that the actress was i'll;
the theater remained closed for three
nights; then the actress suddenly re-
covered. Those on the inside main
tain to this day that the star, on being
presented with a bill from the cab
| company for a hanson to and from
/
ment should provided the cab. But this
| particular manager remained firm. 1t
was not so nominated in the bond, he
/ declared, and the star could provide
her cab and play, or break her con-
tract and pay the penalty thereof.
| The most troublesome of stars is she
/ who backs her own show or secures the
| financial backing. In this case the
manager is in reality merely figure
| head. receiving a salary or a certain
! proportion of the receipts for the use
| of his name and his anagerial abili-
| ties. He pays a high price for the
| financial returns, for the star, unless 1t
/ be otherwise stipulated in the contract,
| is sure to interfere in the management.
! AS the business abilities and expert
! ence Of the average actress may be
represented by zero, her interference
| surely begets trouble. This was shown
| by the experience of "a new star, book
ed by her manager to play at one of the
| New York houses noted for its digni-
! fed policy Two weeks before she ar
| rived in New, York a Jealous friend
| wrote to her that there were no signs
| of her coming appearance. She was
4 not advertised, Her paper was not on
| the walls. 4-@
| Directly on receipt of this informa-
| ton the star, who was playing in Bos-
] ton, called up her manager in New
] York, and the wires fairly sizzled.
What was she paying him for? Why
| was it not heralded upon the walls and
ash barrels and junk piles of New
York city that she was coming with her
| great success? When the manager
! succeeded in getting in a word he ex-
| planned that the conservative policy
| of the house at which she had insisted
| upon playing would not permit of his
putting up any of her paper until the
| Thursday before she opened. And
again she walled: "Why am 1 paying
| you good money if not to overthrow the
| stupid policy Of such house?" And
! to this day she blames the failure
| of her New York engagement upon the
| fact that she was not properly billed.
The social life Of the actress is al
ways source of anxiety to her man
| ager. While popularity in the drawing
room helps the box office, 1t taxes the
| strength Of the star. A legitimate
| star was recently playing in Washing
| ton, where she is socially as well as
| dramatically popular. She was show
cred with invitations, ranging from
| breakfasts to cotillons after the cur
| tain fell. Finally the manager in
| charge of the show on the road wrote
| to his chief in New York that the
| young woman was so tired that her act
| ing was becoming mechanical, her
| voice 1ifeless and nervous prostration
was stalking at her heels. The mana
! ger in chief, man of many affairs,
! took the next train for Washington and
| had an earnest conference with his
| star. She was the best paying attrac-
! ton of the season, and he could take
no chances on closing the show. What
! ever the outcome Of the conference, he
appeared to be far from satisfied, and
| on his return to New York the book
| ings were altered. The young star got
| a course in one and might stands,
| instead Of week stands. In this way,
/ while she Travelled almost continuously,
| the jumps were easily made in sleep
| ing or drawing room cars, and she was
| placed beyond the temptation OF after
| noon teas, receptions and dances.
| Nervous prostration, dreaded of all
women in private life, is the never
| failing ally Of the actress. Several
| seasons back a successful star opened
| her season with production that was
| a financial and artistic hit, but unfor-
| tunately the hopors went not to the
| star, but to her leading man. When
! the star found that the calcium light
| was wandering from her own slender
] figure to that of mere man she re-
| belled. The manager flew to the city
| where she was playing. Here was
production that would run all season, a
| production which had pleased press
/ ana people, dHu ne Couio AoI oholu "
close for the mere Whim of woman.
| But the woman had Mysteries and said
| she had not worked all these years to
| give the center of the stage to her lead
| ing man. The manager did not mind
| Mysteries. He issued his manifesto.
| The production would proceed, the ac-
tress could play the role or-cancel her
| contract and give the role to some
| one else. The star wasted no more
time on futile Mysteries. She let the
manager return to New York. growing
over his victory-and then proceeded
| to work up fine case Of nervous pros
| tration The company closed abruptly.
The actress went to a sanitarium, from
which she issued later armed with a
| brand new play. in which she held the