The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-07-30
FROM BOX OFFICE TO ST'AGE.D00R.

heschorus of critics, Is simply appalling,
and 1t is not strange at Ill that the
feelings OF the ticket seller are moved
4 to IAN sextent that he can. SCI ELY ex -
press In ordinary langua Sc or deny thu
necessity Of .ssfnnjgating'' ext door now.
and then TO obviate danger OF I'M ect ton
THE mum her Of baldheaded I'M en- who are
hard OF hearing only when IA burlesque
show Is b on and lie like gentlemen to-
{ get front sea is Is another source Of won
der and amazenlent to tho genius OF the
box office. Who at least reaps n o small
CONDENSATION In the study OF human ma
&tnre, which#is spread before him like an
open book. n, q ind ed, the anoblest. study
! 81 mankind$is man his opportunities for
the noble stud y are quite 5unequaled Yet
for that matter the entire business OF the
theatre Is in one sense a liberal educa-
ton. Between the eccentrlciti lies and flee
Ia lions OF many actors and the, peculiari-
ties of patrons w no eemF to lose some
Sportion$offtheirs good manners wher ley
come into touch with&theatrical manage
5n1entsasit must be ABDUL fel low VIII o. does
NOT find his wits sharpened and his knoWl--
edge Of human nal ure .perfe Ct ed 3 ss5
But lingering so long a t the box office
we shall never find on ~ way to 3 those
mysteries that lie behind the. FOOT ights.3
The cerberls a Il the dcorills too limited
In his functions to command any special
8attention5un this casual tour OF inVestlga--
Stion. Time was when "a friendly NOD ana !;
q bad cigar cast at this func tionarys
might have secured admission to many
$undeserying chums 81 But times and Gus
toms have changed In the box office and
elsewhere In the theatre Business meth.
DDS replace til e. old .go-as-you please Gus 4
toms, and there are checks on "a II EN- Il
pIoyes as carefully devised as those made
Il. %l.o a 1{0yg - OF
tutions. 4{ No j onger does the festive ana
8flashys advanc a agents rush through he
country leaving behind a trail Of igno-
rance and rope cigars. but quiet gentle
manly and OF ten learned men go about
the work Of Fl exploitation in that self I
Prospecting manner that compels respect
The old days OF vnlga bohemia have dis
appeared and the business OF amusing
people Il, once recognized as the function
OF \ rogues and vagabonds has fallen on
better times. with only now and then
5boor on horseback to remind the pro
fessiong that 1t must not become too
proud. . II. 5}
u Il Behind the curtain5is a5vertable terra
incognito to the average theatre-goer. tits
known as "the back Of the house, in con-
tradistinction to the front of the house."
which includes all the territory between
the main entrance and the footlights.
Very few who are not "inkthe business"
ever find the r way to this strange depos-
tory OF illusioning paraphernalia. oc-
casionally some of the favored few are
q tween the acts, favor so impressive that
it.cannot be everest imnted blythe fortunate
executions to the rule, who. by the way,
are still more fortunate II they escape
| bodily harm from the moving scenery md
rapidly descending drops. rs
This va st space, with$its intricate ma
Bchinery and carloads OF scenery. furni-
| ture and properties. Is the donna In of the
| STANCE mana ger through whom VA II orr
| ders from the mana cement are transmit
4 ted, and who is regarded by his more OF
less loyal objects as something Of a GEAR
whose fayor6is to be .conrted and anger
| feared II III s f85 tss 81
Within the sway OF men entirely great
| or reasonably so, since all terms are re.
VA tive this domain4of the stage Is handled
i with o,Iiet and almost noseless pre- islon
i But the small lnartlnets. the bantanls
/ puffed by "a little brief authority, the ig'
/ norant men who try to cover their lacl
Of knowledge by an Infinite !. amount 2! :, 9
\ an uncomfortable locality for self-re
A sperting actors who keep up q heap Q
i Sthinking, eyen though discretion impress
i Is silence upon heir u ips,5
4 @5 aSts ~!s ~ GA
i The working stat q be: stage man
ager. always large, is varied by, the Y, ne
Il cessities Of tho occasion. His idea
of n dramatic heaven sis q cast Of ter
!; lspeonle, and at most not more than tw'
4 changes of scenery, which c c ~
\ a ssures u compare lively serene season
4 after everything Is settled into the fore
ordaissd rut, But IN hesef days Of bil
companies ana large productions. Whel
'g1fnIiantitv rather than quality seems II
Ia the ruling motto, this dream iss seldom
!. realized M on the contrary, the. stag =
1 mana ger often finds himself eonfron e
3 BY a hewlldnring array Of scenery ! F ha
8 crowds every corner OF the stage an
!, Ihafgs from ! he gridlron3 q 5puzzllng net
work Of borders, drops. flats and " %
1 pieces N - !, q.
,rhe property room and the denths %
low tho stage are crowded With tho r.
cessars inpeditnents, Huge w !, "
boxes elbow each other IN he dim m re
cesses below stairs. Trunks and proper
q, IS chests are piled high on every '' sid'
Z and between the packs Of scenery locate
d ~ l,, FRI. ~ "a he At)rOperty ma