New-York tribune., 1911-04-02
"SUPERS" As THEY ARE
George R. White Calls Them
Extra People of the Stare.

Not once was either Of tilese words us.s
by George r. White during the courSe a
a long conversation about Extra peon1.
OF the Stage" The "extras" were alysy.
referred 70 by Mr. White as extra lads.,
and gentlemen'--not men and women. rns1
you; but extra ladies' and gentlemen,
George White ought to know what h.
call these stage people. for he has hrh
them and "frei'' them for tDenty-eixh,
years He is tire King Pin over them. ps
Is to this class Of performers what Jav.,
T.. March Is 10 the political and indus,r,I
Italian lower East Side. He has all thsr
names in his big book. he can tell son
what each one is able 10 do. and what ss
or she can't do And he will put the IN.
dividual on the spot for you In a few
hours. II you are a theatrical manager
and want one hundred men for Broad.
way mob scene-as Henry w Savage dA
in "Everywoman" at the Herald Square
Theatre-call up George White and he Will
have the men there for you to.morrov
morning. And they will not be men picked
up on the street corners. They win h
selected men. who know their business.
even though they receive no more than =
n
for Southern plantation scene. and George
White will get them for you. ASK for three
dozen Italians for a Puccni opera. and
., George White will deliver them. Tell rim
YOU want a Chinaman foy stage valet.
hear what he says. Here's what he told
Tribune writer:
The Chinaman is a hard man 10 set
william Collier wanted one for Caught IN
the Rain a few years ago. went all
through Chinato town, but | couldn't get one
They were all suspicious. They didn't Ike
10 be laughed at. Finally found one who
thought more favorably OF my proposition.
But he was not going 20 take any chances
He wasn't satisfied with - cents night
He wanted s35 week. And he vas 10
have not word TO say Furthermore. hs
wanted Charles Frohman. Mr.. Golfers
manager Al that time. TO come over 10 see
him. And he insisted upon contract fc
| a specific number OF weeks. After all this
trouble he was hired and lived up 70 his
contract
What do think Of college students a.
extra men? Not much. They kid 100
much They don't take the matter SEN
ousiy. They are good for opera. Those wha
love music will stand in the wings reading
a libretto. But in a mob scene they Hd
TOO much.
DO my employees have other means @
support? Oh yes Most OF them work a.
other things in the daytime. But some of
my people earn enough on the stage 30 that
they don't have TO work al anything else.
DO | pay any OF them a living wase'
Why, certainly. Some of them get - or
s2o week These men are general Utility
men I can call on them for most any
,hins. They are picked out because OF their
intelligence. They can't sing or act. per-
haps. but they can do certain piece OF
business we'll / had man in The Merry
Widow. for example. He was very tall
feet inch-and could wear uniform and
J look the part He received 20 Week
have i've men in Everywomdn earning
SIS a week They are Watershed walters
| mean. Theatrical managers to-day usa-
ally want everything TO be just right IN an
Of their productions and they are wilhns
10 pay a man properly for what ne does
! And IL doesn't matter whether he u an
actor or an extra man. have over nun
dred people in 'Everwoman. Some OF 'hs
people who mingle with the mob receive M
week They are types. They can do GER
tain things well.
Are there other PLAYS in town IN whic"
have men? Yes. / have forty-nNe ~
| Get Rich. Quick -Walingford. They aN"
old men have seventy-five in 'Ihe neA'
Pecks In Mrs. Leslie Carriers latest p'AH
TOO Women. I had a lot Of young infh
who had 10 look we'll in dress SUITS !"
which they were paid good salaries
oThe character OF the play detern'ihe
the kind of extra people. iuthiS" ''
types. -. .
| ..r har. men who do nothing but seFs
4, ,,r, scenes There are others who taks
onIv The parts OF soldiers. The iattor aae
men who must have had mll'af! eNprs.
.,ce either IN the militia or the army i'
var plays and the moving picture seen"
,roouiye many OF these men. 1nere Is a's.
oui,e a demand for Jews. They are nA''
people 10 handle. They are eAttemeN &c"
sitiye TO being laughed at and theF "sh.
TO know exactly what they are 10 90 a's
, how much they are TO get lot II ~.
considerable difficulty in getting men ~
The Children of the Ghetto a ieW Neai'
ago. :,
| The extra people are reheafseo' '"
course before they appear on the s1AN'
Much thought and care are given 10 'ne'1
I-sually we rehearse for week before
new production This was the case !"
Every woman for example. tooA Wy
extras away with me on the ROAD 'ou'
that piece. "a,
| What is the largest number ~ men u's.
...l.f
was ever called upon to tuinlsh' -.
Thousand three hundred and sixty, TOT '''.
Maude Adams's production of Joan OF ~
N the Harvard Stadium They were '.
soldiers. and | got them from the var'O~
military organizations OF Boston i"'
were foot soldiers. artillerymen-hsh'
'heavy-and cavarymen. These 'meh'
course, could not receive pay. put "'"
company funds were replenished
What class Of men and women 40 u.s.
u. my ranks? Three Ambitious young y.
tie who wan, to make OF the stage W..
profession. the actor who has seen oe".
Gays. and the man who wants 10 get =.
sether a little extra money 10 pay ia"~
expenses.
"Nany Of our actors have begun as eA"
people. should say that two-th'r"s
,n, men and women Of the stage have ~
! cut Of the ranks OF the extra people
Is the best school Of acting that We h-.
rowadays In 4 season OF forty -.
rlors people go out Of our ranks ln''
different DEPARTMENTS Of the theatre lhe'N.
ing the property, scenery. electrical anu -
ing depsrtWents. than come from any o''~-
source. | could name for YOU many o.
leading actor. and actresses 81 to-day ""
have risen from the ranks OF the extra -
ple. But won't do II. They m!yn' -
like II. And SO, for that matter. eou'S