New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-23

in some cases gets out OF the business or
leaves the profession.
\ sham" is poor actor He was for
mcry called "ham-fattcr. Just as ham-lat
was formerly regarded as poor meat by
housewives
We used to hear a great deal about think
ing parts. TO the profession they are
"bits" \ thrcc-sidc bit is a part that,
when typewriter in the regulation way
covers three sides or parts Of typewriter
paper: that is. three pieces Of paper each
about four by eight inches. single spaced.
These are the bits YOU see actors studying
on trains.
OF course there are technical words Of
stage mechanics: the borders. drops. flies,
nv galleries. ioo,lighls lamps. wings, proper
ties. tormcntors. tcaScrS. and 50 on down
the line. The grips. ilymcn. clcarcrs. props,
operators. and others take care Of these
stage necessities. They have their terms.
too. They "hang" Il show. set the scene
or strike" il. they "clcar" the stage, and
50 on.
~Thc front Of the house" have their terms.
They take care OF the professionals by
letting them in on their cards When they
are specially profusc with complimentary
ticket, they are "papcring the house.
paper" i, also "biling. or display adj
refreshments that decorate the billboarlS.
\ Show has good or bad paper. y town
!, billed heavy" or light. with innocent
disregard for grammar.
When professionals talk shop their speech
hri-ilc, with these term, mixed up with free
lance lang. IN actor who learns his lines
and cues easily is q "good study. some
words are "rcpca'cr,. Sometimes Lines "
moan kind Of work AN actor i, doing. some
'ru,, 'hc speech he delivers, AMI sometimes
wrnklc,
A"odl" can be- a scolling. The notice q
departure /, Away, posted on the "cdl
boarl", bu' the meaning dearest to the
heart Of the actor Is the curtain call.
\ clever stage manager, 10y the WAY.
when working the curtain, can get Il sur
pr.'ug number Of calls. or more usually
",ur'alu.. from an audience only mildly
enthusiastic: for An audience never permits
ID curtain to go mp and IoWn IN dead silence.
And even when the curtain Is stolen.
some i'm the audience will dutifully clap
their hands.
y burs, Of applause during scene is IL
WAYS a "hand \ we'll known Snakes
pcarc4n actor became Jealous Of the amount
Of applause the Ghost got III "llamct
when II made its exit: So. instead Of waiting
ior the applause 10 die out, he would % on
with his line, and business. The other &C.
tors would come in. and this would cut
down the Ghosts glory 10 almost nothing.
The Ghost grew tired Of this; So one day
me- me, the man in the lead who had been
stealing hi, thunder and said. "\ow. Gov
crnor. You re- the Hamlet Of this show. and
you know can't take anything from YOU;
50 don't see why YOU should spoil my
hand. The Ghost got his hand every night
after that.
IN actor does or does not "look the part.
y wiz easily detected from the front part Of
the house look, "wggy." An actor cuts
"a line Of In, OWN and sometimes gets himself
into trouble: for il often docs away with
the next persons cue. IN actor who acts
as though he felt above the part i, sad
to be "up stage Stage directions some
times sound curious: "IIc kisses the girl mp
left"
y Broadway policeman moves on the
crowd OF professional, who gather along the
Rialio by stage directions. "Up stage. Boys
up stage" Or sometimes. Exit down left,
Boys"
The grccnroom and the official promp,cr
have gone. The official callboy lives only
in the vaudeville thcatcr. The old stage
divisions made by the grooves in the floor