The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1910-06-01
PAPERINC THE HOUSE
When a Weak Play Appears In
a New York Theater.
pRoPPED BY FREE TICKETS.

-" ~HNtNttA~ HfNNfFNNtt|tt y HHttt-
plimentaries" by The Manager Sc
cures Well Dresrsd Audiences and
Saves the Appearance Of Frost"
Long before the curtain goes down
at the end Of q new production the
manager has decided. nine times IN
ten, whether he has a success or not.
But be does not mean to be caught
mapping in either event If be believes
the play is a frost" or even a semi
success the house for the next few
nights must bear every outward evi
dence OF prosperity.
In other words, he must buck the
line" Of adverse criticism by ''paperiDg
the house" For a week at least he
must make front in the orchestra
chairs. no matter if there is desoIation
in the box Office. Let him make the
public believe the new piece has at
tracted large number OF patrons for
six or eight performances and there is
chance Of enough business to prop
up n forced run Of a few weeks, which
may help things on the road. This
means that paper or free tickets
must be 1udIciously distributed
Every manager Of q theater has
large circle Of friends. This may be
due partly to his possession of a genial
personality. but undoubtedly the busi-
ness he is in has IN itself an attraction
for many. A majority Of these people
-
fered; some are not above asking for
them. while still others--but these are
rare-will buy tickets when compli-
mentaries are not rendered.
When the manager has play that is
in danger Of going TO pieces for lack
Of patronage be sends tickets to all
these friends Of his and whenever pos
sible obtains promise that they viii
be used by the persons TO whom be
gives them. 1t is not difficult to eS-
tract such a pledge. Being Oh terms
Of more or less intimacy with the man
ager. the favored ones know he will
be likely to see them in the theater or
If they are not there that he win take
note of those who do not use the tick
cts He keeps d record of the seat
numbers opposite the names Of those
who should occupy those particular
chairs and can tell at once when bis
hospitality has been abused
Another class which sees many plays
in New York city gratis is to be found
in department stores. Nearly every
director OF a theatrical company-as
distinct from a theater manager-is on
cordial terms with tlle heads of de
partments III large retail mercantile
establishments Each OF these heads
will accept from six 70 dozen pairs
Of tickets occasionally TO distribute
among his subordinates.
Often it is possible TO get rid OF 200
tickets or more in day in this way.
and when this is repeated in four or
five stores the manager is sure Of the
attendance Of an appreciable number
of well dressed young women in the
newest millinery and style Of coiffure.
each with a respectfully attired cava
lier aud all on their best behavior.
These people may not be ultra fashion
able. but they will not disgrace their
environment.
Unless the theatrical man is ac-
quainted with the department heads,
however. it is not an easy matter to
give away tickets in such an estab-
Iishment The average clerk in 4
large store, especially Of the feminine
gender. is suspicious. She does not
such open handed generosi-
ty. and there must be lot OF, expla-
nation TO convince her that in offering
something for nothing the manager
has not some sinister design. AS for
the male clerks. if he gives them any
directly they are sure TO tell every one
what a pull they have with the man
ager aud poster him for tickets ever
particularly when he has
success. with ''the free list absolutely
suspended"
1t is far less OF an undertaking to
buy a hundred dollars worth Of low
priced goods than TO make a present
of two tickets apiece to dozen per
sous behind the counter The tele-
phone girls. stenographers and mani
curists look askance at free tickets
from stranger, although when their
is won they will generally /
accept them with due gratitude