Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-15

IITSUPPOSE you are glad your trou-
bles are about over, now that the
opera season is nearing its
close" observed a grand opera patron
to Ernest Goerlitz, whose blond Van
Dyke beard and perennial smile are
known to all the thousands who enter
the portals of the Metropolitan opera
house in New York city. Mr. Goerliiz
was preparing to tell of the troubles
necessary to take the Metropolitan COM
pany across the continent again.
about overt exclaimed Mr.. Goer-
litz. why, my dear man, my troubles
have only begun. While you may soon
sit down to a calm operate retrospect
l face the nerve racking proposition OF
taking a troupe of $50 singers, mu-
sicians and mechanics and several tons
of scenery in a special train of sixteen
cars over nearly eight thousand miles
of territory for the purpose of giving
forty-seven productions of opera in
eight cities, from 100 to 1000 miles apart,
and all without losing an hour of time
in six weeks, and without letting amy
one of the $50 get sick or even tired
The solicitous friend had no answer
to make.
Has the Details
While Herr Director Conried thinks
in broad outlines, Ernest Goerlitz thinks
in q thousand and one details. Off
cially he is general business manager
and personal representative of Mr..
Heinrich Conried." In reality he is the
gray matter of the business brain of
grand opera-the only man who carries
power of attorney from Herr Director
in his vest pocket. His forte is to
produce harmony of notes quite unlike
and far more substantial than those
which float from the stage.
The business end of local grand opera
is child's play in comparison with that
of grand opera ION the road" AS soon
as New York's operatic season was we'll
under way, Mr.. Goerlitz began to lay
his plans for the annual transconti-
mental tour of Mr.. Conried's company,
which began Monday, March 10, at $3.50
p. M, at the Pennsylvania railroad
station in Jersey City, and will close at
the same point on the evening of May B.
Three months of arduous work were
required to prepare for this musical
junket of 1900 miles to Baltimore, Wash
ington, Pittsburg, Chicago, st. Louis,
Kansas City, San Francisco and Los
Angeles. Contracts had to be made
with eight thea trical managers, ten
railroad corporations, a score or more
OF baggage transfer companies anu DIS
many livery stable proprietors.
The Start
"On Monday evening, March 10, we
left Jersey City in special train of five
day coaches, two parlor cars, dining
car and six special sixty-foot baggage
cars for the scenery" said Mr.. Goerlitz.
when we travel by night our train
is made up of five regulation Pullman
sleepers, three tourist sleepers' for the
members of the chorus, two regulation
baggage cars, the six baggage cars for
the scenery, dining car for the lead
ing singers and military dining car'
for the chorus"
A Travelling Lunch Counter
The military dining" car is a sort of
travelling lunch counter. The members
of the chorus will sit about an oval
counter, while the food will be served
to them from the space in the center.
1--WE take with us full force of stage
hands from the stage manager down TO
the call boys" added Mr.. Goerlitz. I'VE
even take along libretto boys, who sell
their books in the lobbies of the various
theaters."
In addition to having the stage