The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-07-08
DUTTED INTO A
- TAILOR'S SHOP.
There a Theatre Door Keeper FOND
Small Fortune Await
Ing Him.

Freaks OF fortune are always curious
said O theatrical manager last week. @but
one Of the most curious incidents Of unex-
peoted prosperity that / have seeh 70
gently deals with the enormous success
secured In the last season by O man who
didn't know anything about theatrical af-
fairs, yet has won q very substantial fortune
by a small speculation In o play.
Managers 90 around looking for chances
TO invest money In new plays inc usually
pick failures, whereas this man, placing his
money on d now thing, found q winner from
the start. The way he got the money to
invest In the show is quite as interesting d
story.
Five years ago this man was working
as the door keeper Of q theatre, getting a
small salary and barely able to make both
ends meet. He had saved up about $500.
ACROSS the etreet from the theatre, which
wasn't on, Broadway, though near 1t, was
a little cleaning and repairing shop OF q
poor tailor. This tailor's assistant was a
smart and progressive young fellow. who
made many friends and was liked both by
the actors and the door keeper.
One day the tailor's assistant told the
door keeper Of q fine chance he had TO start
in business for himself. He needed a little
ready money-more money, In fact, than
he could raise.
"He asked the door keeper to 90 In halves
with him, backing his business. The door
keeper thought 1t q fairly good chance, and
anyhow he liked the young tailor. He
put up his $500 for D half interest in the
| business and the young tailor opened q shop
| of his own right near the stage door.
Naturally all the theatrical trade went
to that new shop and the door keeper sent
many Of his friends there. Soon It began
to prosper. The new tailor had ideas and
Shove 1t.
soon the shop was enlarged, because
OF the increase in business. Then the
tailor moved from the side street to Twenty
third street, and picked up a little more
From there to Fifth avenue was but a
short step, and the next time the young
tailor moved, 1t was to that fashionable
~thoroughfare, where he oornpeted with
able tailors in New York. As he made
good clothes at reasonable prizes, and al.
ways kept q GUST omer he had once fitted,
the dollars flowed in rapidly.
Meanwhile the former door keeper drew
down such q handsome rakeoh from the
profits that he gave up the theatre business
and bought an automobile.
"A little more than q year ago the tailor
bought out his partners interest for SIS 900
anu tD6 IOTfneT tnedUTtCdi HidH DeBhn 10 HOOK
around for q good investment. Naturally
he favored theatrioals, for he had seen the
money come in fast when the old theatre
that formerly employed him had boasted
Of a success.
"The former business manager Of this
theatre was quite willing to form a partner
ship with the ex-door keeper, and they united
in producing a play which had been turned
down by many other managers because tho
author was an obscure newspaper man.
Most unexpectedly to the other man
ayers, the play made a hit, and ran more than
forty weeks to a good profit. The play
will continue to turn in profits next season,
n the ex-door keeper not only has his
principal back, but has cleaned up such a
tidy bit Of money that he is looking around
for new plays TO produce.
There's lots Of money to be made in
clothes, but there is eve more to be made
out Of q successful play II one can get In
right, as this lucky ~speoulator has proved
the past season.