The sun., 1910-02-27

cling Salesman The Chorus Lady OF
The Third Degree signifies.
Taking one Of the biggest successes
not my biggest. however-'The Lion anC
The Mouse, by Charles Klein. that created
plant. az they call II In the profession
IL means that had on the road the seconc
season four companies. and beginning
with the one playing in New York II
grew into six at the climax OF its popular.
ity and now has three companies in the
nth year. - -.-.- ,'-.-.'
The Travelling Salesman James
Fortress clever play. evolved into three
companies. and from these during It's lon Q
run have averaged between 5000 and
$1,000 a week. approximately. Strong
heart had three companies the second
season and The Third Degree has 1--WE
at present, all playing to good houses"
Asked when he finally makes up his mind
that q play Is failure Mr.. Harris says
that his conclusion is not drawn from
intuition, prophetic fears or even first
morning criticisms =. n
Nothing decides me but a close study
OF the box Office" he says. Il have beer,
told by some playwrights and stars that
get cold feet too quickly, I have been
informed by other managers that / hang
on beyond the limit OF common sense.
l want to preserve temperate mean he
tween those two conditions.
when see the receipts steadily falling
on and theatre ohairs yawning drearily
night after night l. accept the sit,Iation
even though the ambitious star and author
condemn my so-called hasty action. /
hung ON four weeks before The Lion and
the Mouse made good
Il have no pet superstitions or mas
cots to help me decide or place stumbling
blocks In the path Of NV resolve. Ofte,,
In my career as manager have, p,,t ON
q play on Friday night and have ignored
the fact that the 18th Of the month and
the opening OF new run came together
Some Of my plays have had thirteen
letters IN the title. for instance, The
Chorus Lady, The Widow Jones and
many Of them have had thirteen charac-
ters in the cast. No. do not believe that
superstition IN necessary to success anv
more than, a disregard for refinement
and morality.
Another thing I pride myself on i,
that my Office is absolutely free In every
way from the effect of influence. Peon;e
are not put into plays OF any kind because
they have friends or outside null
never cast people. l always cast the piay.
i try II possible TO keep man and vife
together, for know how hard the stage
life u at its best. but win not cast them
together unless they prove themselves
capable. All the people. who have not
since then been cast as stars. who were
in the first company / had with Robert
Edeson as lead are with me to-day
MT. nhrTIs bpoAkb OF Jno noip his Ow n
wife has been TO him.
always talk over tho plays with her.
both before and after acceptance he
says. II l were not married I should
certainly seek the advice Of woman OF
good Judgment and experience. believe
the woman's point Of view 10 necessary
There are many details that q man over.
looks and a. a theatre audience is more
than 80 per oent. feminine my policy 4
not dictated by sentiment and habit
would be by conDa9n sense. ~ F. ,
Mrs. Harris Always travels with me
about the country, 70 ace the openine
nights outside Of Esw York and TO visii
the pleys that are on run O..
Mr.. Harris opens drawer after drawel
In q corner chifonier hhowing about
1900 manusoripts waiting TO be read
They come In by the SCORE nearlJ
overy mail and In due time eaoh viii
receive attention. he says. MY ex
perience has been that the percentage o.
plays that prove available from this sourc,
u practically negligible.
| The great majority or plays produo'
have hss1 o.dCTed from tie p.&ysy.iahts
In fact In seven years have not acceptes
q play that has come In from the outsid,
unsolicited although I should be verJ
glad to find one II could In that way
The mere ordering OF q play does no
imply success either: but when hav,
ordered play. have continued 20 like /
] through the alterations and the rehea-s