Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-10
XTHO can pick up a maya
w zine without finding lot

twelfth rehash, and most of the pictures being
identical with those printed in some other peri
odical or current earlier issue? So far as the
general public is concerned, the theatrical pro-
fession is as much overadvertised as the lyceum
business is underadvertised. To read current
publications would never suspect how
nearly the latter approx1mates, II 1T does not
even surpass. the former in the number of per-
composing its audiences and In the 1nf1u-
ence it eXertS.
Here are some conservative approxima
lions compiled from facts given by managers
of lecture and entertainment bureaus the coun-
try over.
There are some 365 lecturers listed by bu
reaus. These lecturers fill an average of $50
dates a year, including SUMMER Chautauqua
dates, making total of "a $50 audiences adj
dressed by them annually. These audiences
average about 600 people making an army OF
81, S50,OOO listening attentive or sleeping
souls within the year These men average
to the lecture something like 500 in cost
to committees, making a total of So, 475OOO
a year to oral purveyors of thought, near
thought, instruction, platitude. and anec-
dote. In filling these dates, with an average
travel distance of 100 miles entirely too con-
sentative. counting distance travelled at begin
ming and ends of seasons in reaching and leav-
ing lecture fields from their homeS) the lee
turers ride $4,000 miles. at the regular rate
of fare, bringing to the railroads not less than
$109, 500 in coin of the realm.
There are also some 164 listed One-man or
one-woman entertainers. such monologists,
magicians, etc. averaging. say. $50 each to the
date. In their average year of 200 dates these
persons would be paid much as 81 ,64OO 600.
Also they would address total of 81, 500 audi
ences, with an average attendance of some 600
persons, giving grand ensemble of 19, 1885, 600
people. In filling their dates they would travel
grand total OF 8. $50, 600 miles year, at cost
of not less than S65, 600.
There are 1874 listed concert companies (the
similarity in numbers is only coincidence)
with an aggregate membership of 1882 people
more or less artistic in their work. These
people receive a compensation conservat1vely
put at SIS each to the performance, making
total for each date of $40 $50: while $50 dates
give them all OF 81, 997 600 a season. In max
ing their dates they travel perhaps l5,OOO
miles season for each person. making total
travel for the concerters OF 19,9SO,OOO miles
a year, at cost of not less than S399, 600.
These concert companies would entertain
total of "a, 600 audiences of an average OF 700
each Concert audiences run larger, as rule)
footing up to 1920, 600 people.
The total number of persons entertained by
lecturers entertainers, and concert companies
in year. therefQeeie not less than SO, $50, OOO
Compare that = population OF these
United STATE Ill see that few guilty
persons eScaI ne of these entertain
ments.
Doing a lit he numerical line you
will note that tn Eeumites travel total of
%, 735, 600 miles. at cost of not less than
$574 700 in railroad fares. to which might be
auQeQ a gOOQly SUN LOT nNeTy TlSS dIlu dutO-
mobiles: for often these lyceum entertainers
go where railroads do not q We ideal service. If
service at all. 1t is also estimated that they
receive an annual total of pay approximating
SO, S32, 600.
Best in the Backwoods
THE best lyceum territory is somewhat remote
from larger cities where theatrical attrac-
tons good and bad cloy the public taste; yet
even in the largest cities Y. M. c. AS churches
and fraternal organizations, women's societies.
citizens committees, etc. conduct lecture
courses" each supplying to patrons series of
from four to ten or even more varied entertain
ments for a nominal sum.
In the Central West and Farther West in
Kansas, Nebraska, the Dakotas, etc., it is not
unusual for entertainers or lecturers to have to
make long cold drives, to reach their destina-
tions, or as soon as the entertainment is over,
in order to catch train for some distant point
to fill the next nights booking. To miss is fatal
and queers the business of the bureaus to de-
plorable extent The competition is fierce be-
tween bureaus, often four or five representa-
tives of as many agencies meeting the purchas-
ing committee. So, if an attraction fails to
arrive or, arriving, fails to make good. the
affair is heard from in manner most unpleas-
ant and improbable to the agency selling the
a, frr,0 her