The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-20
HAMMERsTElN, lMPREsARlo.
Hasn't Dignity Enough Yet, He Says
But Feels it Coming.

The Manhattan Grand Opera House,
Oscar Hammersteln's theatrical venture,
will open on November 10. The new i'm
presario is still trying out applicants
for positions In the chorus of the Thirty
fourth street house About twenty-five
men and twenty women came to the VIC
toria theatre yesterday morning. Mr.
Hammerstein heard them run the scale
and ring fragments of their favorite songs,
while he pulled long cigar and expressed
his approval or disapprovai.
Oscar Hammerstein Is president, vice
president secretary and everything else
of consequence in the new grand opera
company; therefore he speaks for the
company. And speaking for the company
yesterday Mr.. Hammerstein had nothing
but sympathetic things to say about Mr..
Conred, the man he considers his rival.
What is his name?" Mr.. Hammer
stein asked referring to Mr. Conried, but
confessing his inability to remember his
name "Ohi Conried, that is 1t. l wish
him no bad luck. l hope ne will continue
In the condition of affluence which he
enjoys at the present time"
But the new impresario couldn't help
shaking his head doubtfully.
Far be 1t from me to wish that ne
should return to his old trade. No, no,
not that; l could not wish 1t.
He waited a moment, and a newspaper
reporter finally asked:
'sWhy what was that2p
''Well l guess 1t was making rat traps
in Hungary No, l should not want him
to go back to that"
The new impresario sat In a box In
the dim theatre few mornings ago when
the applicants were ready to sing for
him. A piano had been wheeled TO the
stage, and q single drop curtain shut off
the front of the stage from the bald
brick walls In the rear
Most of the applicants among the
women were Americans. Almost all the
men were Italians. Some Of the men
singers had the appearance of subway
guards on a holiday Mr. Hammerstein
said that the persons who sang yester-
day had had long and excellent training
In singing, though they lacked stage ex-
perience.
The try-out started with young woman
on the stage who stepped in front of the
| little dell and began life and death
struggle with the flower song from
Faust" Alter the first 10 words Mr.. Ham
merstein Tipped his cigar, turned down
! his thumb. and called out:
| 'Enoughl Away from the stage Give
the felier with the books your name"
A very tall Italian. with his hair oiled
! and his frock coat newly pressed, sang a
| note or two in most impressive style but
he too, was stopped by the impresario.
Up and down in the dark space be-
side the orchestra seats walked two
dozen italians, each whistling or hum
ming the thing he though would most
/ surely impress the new impresario. Now
and then they would bump into one an
| other. but they kept on rehearslng just
the same.
| Hammerstein cared to hear only the
scale from some of the applicants. Time
and time again the singers would hand
the pianist some music, and would begin
| to roll their eyes. whereupon the inn
presario would yell down from his dark
box:
"Cut it outl Only the scalel Only
that!
A greasy-haired, fat boy. wearing eye
glasses. paced out in front OF the gar
nered golden wheat. and let fly in
high tenor voice. He escaped his hands
and wabbled his head. He felt called
upon to act as we'll as sing. When he
had finished he seemed to stoop down
as If he would gather up an imaginary
bouquet.
Now. look at that" Hammerstein
said THAT tenor is poor by himself;
In a chorus grand. I tell you, these
American voices are grand. I shall train
them up That is what I like about
most of these men. They haven't been
on the stage and I can train them my
self They will grow up with me-"
When all the men and women had had
hearing Hammerstein called them all
to the stage to look over the contracts.
One little snub-nosed girl signed and
then hurried away with her man escort
She was bubbling over with happiness.
isn't 1t lovely. Arthur" she cried. The
man did not seem so sure OF It,