The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-07-30
END OF
STAGE SPECTACLES
Hard TO Dispose of Scenery and
Costumes
CAN'T GIVE THEM AWAY
Sometimes in Desperation Managers
Beg the Poor to Destroy Useless
Trappines-What Becomes
Of Circus Costumes.
CAN'T GIVE THEM AWAY

From the Washington Post.
Now that the theatrical season Is over
it is an interesting question what pe-
comes of the great spectacles?
1t is a long history one hears when this
special mystery of the theatrical world
is attacked--a history which is almost as
interesting as the productions themselves.
"what will become of 'Humpty Dump
ty?" answers the representative or
the management which brought over the
Druary Lane theater pantomine. 1T will
probably be sent back to England, ac-
cording to the custom laws which allows
us to bring it over in bond. This bond Is
good for only six months, but 1t can be
renewed twice, which gives an opportun-
ity for a couple of seasons, which is
about all that a management cares to
stand for"
Two years generally elapse before the
production of a pantomine in London
and it's production here. During that time
it has made good as the saying is, and
when it comes to New York certain new
features are inserted which add to the
expense which is originally something
like 100000.
Take a long step backward, and span
the chasm between this last great spec
tacle of "Humpty Dumpty,' whose fate
is still In the balance, and remember, II
YOU can the furore created by the slack
Crook" that much maligned and tempt
ing spectacle Ii was at that time the
most expensive spectacle that had ever
been put on the stage, and closed lis
long career in Boston. The management
simply did not know what to do with the
remains. They offered it for SALE no.
body wanted it, They would not store it,
for they realized that they wouid De
throwing money away.
Finally scenery, boxes of paraphernalia,
the litter and rubbish, as well as the
beautiful bits of setting, were put out on
the sidewalk In hopes that somebody
would take them away. The policeman
ordered 1t removed within a fixed time
After that the responsibility would nave
been borne by the management.
What happened? Advertisements were
inserted In the papers, and following
them came a crowd of the poor with
axes and baskets and the scenic effects
were destroyed and used as boniires.
An Expensive Outfit.
One of the most expensive outfits that
is purchased for any production is the
one provided for the circus that comes
yearly to Madison Square Garden, and
then starts out on Its annual VISIT
through the country. 1t is great mistake
to suppose that the materials for circus
trappings are cheap stuffs; quite the con-
trary for the circus has had to keep pace
with and even go beyond other spectacu-
lar efforts 1t is no unusual thing for
the wardrobe woman who has charge OF
these matters to spend SIS or $40 yard
for velvets or satlns. and trimmings
rarely fall below IS or So yard. An
elephant is frequently fifteen feet tall,
and his cover may contain fifty yards,
and SIS yard is not an exorbitant figure
to pay
What becomes of all this, the gold bull
ion, the silver ornaments, the velvet, and
the brocades that can stand alone?
In the great storage warehouse in
Bridgeport Conn, which would cover the
entire block where Madison Square Gar
den is situated. all the costumes that
have been used In the circuses for the
last thirty years are packed away In
great boxes. Nothing is ever sold or
auctioned off; 1t is one of the TRADITIONS
of the show, and so year after year they
accumulate, enough money being spent
In moth balls and camphor alone to run
a smaller circus and then have a margin
of profit.
And yet, say circus officials and theat-
rical managers. what is gained by put
timing up stage properties at auction
after play has run its course? There
is not enough gained to pay for the adj
vertlslng and the running expenses
At no time was this test shown more
conclusively than when the DAILY stage
articles were sold; they were largely adj
vertised for weeks; the newspapers had
been filled with accounts of them: 1t was
l<x..
but to the public at large, and DAILY was
connoisseur, that what he used on the
stage had not only the merit of being
the right thing in the right place, but
had either a historic or sterling value
II made no difference in the total.
tankard. which was used in the Merry
Wives of Windsor" a beautiful old affair
for which Daily had paid $500, sold under
the hammer for 81. 60.
When II comes to selling off costumes
and accessories the tale of woe Is more
hcartrending. Secondhand shops whose
closets and shelves are filled with the
productions which have done service for
a season or less. and are fresh as ever
coud unfold this page of the tragedy to
the reader. In one small shop alone, out
of the beaten track of travel. known to
the profession. and to but few of those,
some of the most gorgeous gowns that
have ever been exhibited on the stage
are now the companions of cobwebs.
waiting for some one to buy them or for
some grand costume ball to send the par
simonious TO the secondhand shop rather
than to the expensive modesto
A gown that had figured In comic opera,
a gorgeous blue satin with long train and
yards Of embroidery, worn by Lillian
Russell brought 1890 when sold ut auc-
ton: it had cost $500 and was slightly
worn.
Had No Real Assets.
In the annals of stage histories many
a stage manager has been declared bank
rupt. with no assets, when in some ware
house hundreds OF packing cases repre-
senting materials that cost thousands of
dollars are marked with his name. But
they are not assets, for they are value
less.
When "Romany Rye" was produced at