Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1910-06-08
PAPERING THE HOUSE
When a Weak Play Appears In
a New York Theater.
PROPPED BY FREE TICKETS.
The Judieious Distribution Of "com.
Plimentaries" by the Manager Sc
cures Well Dressed Audiences and
Saves the Appearance Of Frost"

pimentarieS' by the Manager Sc
cures Well Dressed Audiences and
Saves the Appearance Of Frost"
Long before the curtain goes down
at the end OF u new production rhe
manager has decided. nine times IN
ten. whether he has Il SUCCESS or not.
But he does not mean 10 he caught
mapping in either event. IL he believes
the play i frost" or even n semi
success the house for the next few
nights must bear every outward evil
dence OF prosperity.
In other words. he must buck the
line" OF adverse criticism by "papcring
the house For q week ut least be
must make front in the orchestra
chairs. no matter If there is deSolafca
in the box office. Let him make tie
public believe the now pie. y has al
tracted large number 90 patrons for
six or eight performances and there is
a chance Of enough business 10 prop
up n forced run OF 4 few weeks. which
may help things on the road This
means that paper or free tickets
mus; be judiciouSly distributed.
Every manager OF a theaier has n
large circle OF friends This may he
due partly 10 his possession OF a genial
personality. but undoubtedly the bust
ness he is in has in itself an attraction
for many. y majority OF these people
Will accept passes when they are Of
fered; some are not above asking for
them. while still otherS-but these are
rare-will buy tickets when compn
mentarieS are not rendered.
When the manager has play that il
in danger OF going 10 pieces for lack
OF patronage he sends tickets 20 all
these friends OF his and whenever pos
sible obtains a promise that they will
be used by the persons TO whom he
gives them. IL Is not difficult TO ex-
tract such pledge. Being on terms
Of more or less intimacy with the man
ager. the favored ones know he will
be likely 10 see them in the iheater or
II they are not there that he will take
note Of those who do not use the tick
cts. He keeps n record OF the seat
numbers opposite the names OF those
who should occupy those particular
chairs and can tell ut once when his
hospitality has been abused
Another class which sees many plays
in New York city gratis is 10 be found
in department stores. Nearly every
director OF a theatrical company-as
distinct from theater manager-is on
cordial terms with the heads OF de-
partments in large retail mercantile
establishments. Each OF these heads
Will accept from six 10 Il dozen pairs
OF tickets occasionally TO distribute
among his subordinates.
Often il is possible 10 get rid or 300
tickets or more in n day In this way,
and when this is repeated In four OF
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 couture.
each with a respectfully attired cava-
lier and all on their best behavi
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 10
give away tickets in such an estab-
lishment. The average clerk in a
large store, especially of the feminine
gender. is suspicious. She does not
understand such open handed generosi-
ty, and there must be a 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 pull they have with the man
ager and poster him for tickets ever
afterward, particularly when he has a
success. with 1.-THE free list absolutely
suspended"
It is far less of an undertaking 10
buy hundred dollars worth of low
priced goods than TO make a present
Of two tickets apiece TO q dozen per
sons behind the counter. The iele-
phone girls. stenographerS and mani.
curists look aSkance nj free ii,kets
from n stranger. although when their
confidence is won they will generally
accept them with due gratiiu..s' -
Theater Magazine.