Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-10
When Conried Was a Hustler

A S director of the Metropolitan Opera House
L n and backed by the richest men in the
town, Heinrich Conried is to-day noteworthy
figure in New York life; but the time was
displayed in their management of Sonnenthals
first New York season a capacity for hustling
and strategic finance that made them the envy
of all the native managers in this city.
Nearly twenty-five years ago, at the close
of their two years management of the Thalia
theater, they found themselves broken in
purse; but with a most enviable reputation
among European artists as managers who
could be depended upon to keep their con-
tracts They had brought innumerable play
ers to America-Geistinger Gallmayer, Knaack
Barnay, Stubel-and each one had returned
to Europe unrobbed, although Hermann had
been obliged to devote the proceeds of his own
testimonial benefit to the payment of his
chorus and minor people Now all that the
two men had to do business on was their good
reputation.
Among their assets was provisional con-
tract with Sonnenthal, one of the greatest of
German actors, for a short season in New Y ork
and as soon as Conried could raise money for
the trip, he departed for Vienna, and when
next heard from was driving through the
streets of the Austrian capital with a small
African perched on the seat beside his coach
man. Colored people were rarity in Vienna
then, and it not long before the town rang
with tales of the wealthy American manager
and his black satellite; for it was agreed on
every hand that man who had such servant
as that must be worth millions. Having al
lowed this impression to gain ground, Conried
knocked at Sonnenthal's door and said: well
are you ready to come over to American"
The famous actor was ready, provided. of
course, certain thousands of marks were de-
posted as a guaranty of good faith.
A mere bagatelle," said Conried That
part of the bargain will be all right and three
weeks later he turned up in New York, bear
ing with him a precious parchment by which
Sonnenthal covenanted to give twenty-one
performances in New York under his direction.
There was nothing more to do except to
provide for the Il mere bagatelle, which must
be deposited in Vienna before the artist would
start on his journey, and this sum amounted
in American money to several thousand dol
lars, the problem was by no means an easy
one. At last they hit upon a scheme. They
caused number of subscription blanks setting
forth the dates of Sonnenthaps appearances,
to be printed, and placed these in the hands of
canvassers, with instructions to call on the
weather. German citizens and ask them to
buy their seats six months in advance if they
wished to see the great Sonnenthal.
Germans do not, as rule, part readily from
their money for entertainment that lies six
months ahead of them but this time they
yielded fearing that if they did not buy their
seats then they would be unable to get them
at all. So it came to pass that long before
the time set for Sonnenthal's departure for
this country the house during the entire term
of his engagement was practically sold out,
the thousands of marks were deposited in the
bank in Vienna, and Hermann and Conried
were once more on the road to prosperity
And there are some who say that if it had not
been for the impression given by the African
attendant, the famous Sonnenthal would never
have played at the Thalia theater in New York.