The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-09
Army Of First Ni2hters
Modified for Its Duty

The army OF so-called first nightsrs hns
mobiliDed for the season, and In tho per-
formances already given has shown that II
will be as active as ever this winter. II
cannot be said that its members have
changed in any important particular from
preceding years.
There are some new faces. That was
to be expected, for bookmaker may strike
1t rich long enough to desire the social
distinction which. to his mind. attaches To
membership In the noble company OF first
nightsrs, or another Western millionaire
may move to New York and still be labor
ing under the impression that to belong to
the first night ooterie Is going to advance
his social aspirations. After while he
will learn his mistake.
One sees occasionally at first night per-
formances men and women whose names
will be found in the lists OF guests at social
events; but they are rare apparitions.
There used to be In the older days OF Wal
lack o, when 1t was situated at thirteenth
street and Broadway. a distinctly fashion
able atmosphere about the audiences that
gathered to 500 tbs first performances Of
the new plays. But that Is no longer true
Of first nights. Strangers who go to the
theatre on first nights might suppose from
the brilliancy Of the audiences that they
really represented fashion. But the brill
isncy 10 not that OF fashion, but OF money,
which. however, 10 just as important to
the management Of the theatres.
OF course. the first night audiences di.er
In some particulars at different per-
formances, although the saiient features
are the came. Certain actresses appeal
TO some elements OF the community much
more strongly than others.
TheTs vas amusing evidence OF this
partially the other night. when an actrese
who had been in retirement for several
years appeared again In public. It used to
be ssid during her prime that nobody ever
gathered such audiences as she.
Peroxide blondes and clearly shaver,
black eyed men went to All the theatre,
until it was commonly said that there was
not fat in the precinct with anybody at
home on this actresses first nights. She
gathered the came crowd on her reappear-
ance, although there was the came increase
in age to be noticed in NJ ost OF the spectators
that could be seen in her.
The foreign artists as q rule attract the
most fashionable audiences. When Eleo-
more Duse plays here she Is greeted by
mixture OF fashionable and intellectual
spectators.
Sarah Bernhard Is certain 70 get fash
ionable audience, and Elsie de Wolfe will
beat all her rivals In dl awing first night
audience that looks like a section OF Mrs.
Astor's visiting list. This Is possible be-
cause Miss de Wolfe has large acquaint-
anoe among these people.
When Nine. ReJane came to New York
first, she played for four weeks 10 small.
but very fashionable audiences. II their
quantity had been up to their quality,
she would have been great financial
success.
But the social side OF the first night audi
ence is 50 unimportant Gs TO be scarcely re-
garded nowadays. The picturesque regu-
lars are the really significant Characters
ties OF the first night audiences.
There are the three guardstnsn. as they
are commonly called, comprising the art
vides his time and money between backing
theatrical productions and conducting Q
racing stable. Occasionally this devoted
trio. which never fails to make Its appear
ance at all first night performances. Is
increased to quartet h by IL, the presence sa t o.
artistic photographs.
Just as indispensable as this quartet
among first nighters is the little lawyer
who u so well known that he receives tickets
for every first night IN the city, however
great the demand for them may be. The
money IL well invested, for the enthusiasm
with which he applauds all the good shows
and does the best he can to root for the
bad ones ought to crafty the heart OF any
The fat bookmaker and his wife, who 80
resembles Loie Fuller that they have often
bearded betting commissioner and his or
nately dressed wife: the slim, youthful look
ing FIFTH avenue milliner, In impecca
bic evening dress, who is said to ca n
1000 Q year; the pale young husband and
bored after such long succession OF first
are familiar figures every
time a new play Is presented.
They may be compelled at the beginning
Of the season to go every night for a week
when the managers, TO avoid clash, string
first nighters. feel it their duty
to follow the crowd, however tired and
red eyed they may look by the end Of the
week.
The managers that used to give out lists
OF the persons to be found at first night
After while because 1t kept away the
sl.nsnt that gave these GATHERINGS social
lug W lno~ rl'e p.f'e who hAn J - ~
the .-ant o. ,Go.lr st nights because
they enjoyed the suppressed e1citenen
OF the occasions, or were really interestes
In the plays, found that they were pilloried
the next morning with people belonging to
another world. This they. did not like.
Another circumstance that helped to
rob the hrst nights of all social restige
was the so-called first night list wi .ch all
the managers prepared. Persons Who
wanted to be Included In the audiences
wrote % the managers requesting thu.