Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-07-29
TRICKS or THE DEADHEADs-
Prctexfs Of Men ana Women 70 Ge-
cure Free Theafer Seats

Prctexfs Of Men and Women 70 S.
cure Free Theafer Seats
Every pretext under the sun a re-
sorted 70 BIZ both men and women 70
procure seats without payment for
them. says q writer in LesIie's Week
~. Many cards are sent f. With .
request for seats. the cards repre-
senfing papers which have long
ceased 70 live. Other applicants bear
cards from prominent publications.
but upon being investigated. they
are found 20 be outsiders entirely
and. az a rulo. absolutely unknown
20 the papers which they profess 20
represent. At the New York Hippo
drome. some time ago. a respectable
looking. middie-aged woman called
at the press department and explain
ed that she was writing . book abouk
animals. and she requested the priTt-
lego OF studying the HippodFoms
animals behind the scenes. To he
question Of Why she did not choose q
larger field, that Of Central or Bronx
Park, for her nature study. she made
an evasive reply. but went On 70 say
that in the proposed book she would
make mention Of the Hippodrome.
and she wound up with an additional
request for two seats for that even
ing's performance.
Another story IL Of a man Who
called with a request that he BE- given
the privilege Of the theateT back Of
the scenes for q stated time. that
be might gather studies for =
picture he contemplated painting
His request also ended b. asking for
two seats. when the press agent
wished 10 know upon what ground
he expected seats without paying for
them, he replied that the proposed
painting would advertise the thea
ter. Another and this time a rather
pompous-Iooking man, called ~ the
press Office Of a prominent theater
and asked for four seats. He said
that he lived in Albany, and his sole
claim upon free tickets Iay In the
fact that he had q friend a captain
on one Of the steamers plying be-
tween New York and Albany. This
captain friend allowed his 20 fur
nish scenic views for the books which
usually lie upon the saloon tables 81
river and coast steamers. In several
OF these books the man, acting upon
hts own Judgment. had pasted views
OF the plan which he wished seats
for. Upon being refused BY tho
agent the man replied: Well. yoa
and your tneater win never make
cent out Of me for / vii not pay 70
see your snow"
A good-looking young woman rep
resenting a prominent newspaper u
Savannah, Ca. and bearing a letter
OF Identification from tho editor.
formed the habit Of collecting ex-
tenslye theatrical news, including IN
terviews, etc, for her paper. For .
considerable time she continued 20
amply for and 10 receive tickets on
faith. but when after year had
passed and not a line appeared in
the paper which she represented. she
was put on the black list. a favorits
scheme OF women IL 10 call upon
theatrical celebrity under the guiss
of representing some publication.
and to proceed with an interview.
and to finally end the visit with q re-
quest for tickets. and ten chances 70
one they receive orders for seats IN
less the matter comes to the ears OF
the manager, or Of someone who is
wise to the game"
Not long ago such a case occurred
II tho Madison Square TheateT, New
York. A woman, weIl-dressed and
with engaging manners, called on .
popular actress, and claiming 70 rep
resent a prominent local daily, tried
10 interview the actress. Having
given a representative OF the same
paper an interview only short time
before, she did not care 70 go over
the ground again. The young woman
eafoIed, pleaded, and threatened, and
finally wound up By asking the
actress to give her an order on the
boxofHce for seats that she might
take her mother to see the perform
ance. By telephoning to the editorial
rooms II was found that the Young
woman was entirely unknown there
The cases OF getting tickets By
forging the name OF some actor Or
actress Of prominence while they do
not come under the Jurisdiction Of
the press agents, are also Of interest
in the list Of fakirs. The name Of
Olive Berkley, an ex-actress, IL
| fair example Of the workers In that
particular line. Her method was 70
send a messenger with note con-
| tanning a request for tickets, and
| these notes were always signed with
| some wcll-known and influential
name. Just TO vary the method, she
| called several times IN person. al
ways representing the maid Of some
| well-known actress. a ruse which
never failed TO bring results until she
/ came 10 grief ''by overdoing the
graft" as the association expresses t.