Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1912-08-16

to make the distinction of operate life clear it
ought to be-
There are, roughly speaking, three classes of
stage work vaudeville, comic opera and grand
opera, each catering to its audience aud there
fore requiring different kind of equipment on the
part of the performer.
In both vaudeville and comic opera the ability to
act often brings one to the front quicker than all
other qualities but vaudeville audience is much
harder to please than any other for the that
a vaudeville audience is composed of all kinds and
classes of people. 1t is common expression among
all theatrical managers that IF you make good
in vaudeville and have good voice, you need not
worry about opera" The people who go to light
opera are much easier to please than vaudeville
audience, the being that light opera is usually
composed of popular music and usually has popular
theme which draws its one class Of people, namely
people who go for the love of popular music alone
The requirements in the line of vocal ability for
performer in light opera musical comedy also
much lower than in grand opera In this class of
work there are certain positions girl can hold if
she possesses nothing but looks though there is
satisfaction in it because it leads only to rut For
instance all musical comedies require three distinct
classes of chorus girls namely ponies, chorus girls
proper, and what they call show girls. BY a pony
is meant girl who is very short in stature weighs
not over ITO pounds, who is fairly good fancy
dancer, but does not necessarily need much of
voice. A chorus girl proper must not be five
feet five inches in height, must be fairly good
dancer, must have fairly good voice and above ALL
must know how to make up that is, she must be
fairly good looking when made up The third class
the show girl needs absolutely nothing but looks
Her only duty is to stand by the second and third
wings and grace the performance by her beauty
This is one place where girl s looks will bring her
a good, legitimate living. One great drawback is
the danger that she may accumulate too much av0ir-
dupois while yet young; then her dream is all over
for she must not weigh over 140 pounds The salary
of a pony is $15 to $18 a week chorus girls
salary is from $18 to $25 week. although the head
chorus girl may get $27. A show girls salary if
with one of the leading companies averages about
$50 Of course, it is understood that when travelling
they feel under obligation to stop at the same hotel
with the rest of the troupe, and if it is expensive
it takes all their salaries to live; but they
are always living in hopes of becoming one of the
principals and so their hopes usually their
of real happiness, All the salaries have mentioned
are only those paid by the best companies such as
the original Pink Lady - "The Balkan Princess -
The Burgomaster,' Chocolate Soldier" ETC.
There are many other concerns who pay their chorus
girls not over $12 week, ponies So and the show
girls $13 to $15, it depends entirely upon the
company as to the standard of the salaries.
In grand opera, conditions are entirely different
Of course the first and last great requirement for
all grand opera singing is voice. 1t is what the
audience pays its money to hear In all other stage
life faults in voice often overlooked but the voice
itself in my opinion is the thing which decides just
how far one can get in grand opera 1t is often said
that the number of good singers fail is be-
cause they have acting ability In many eases
have found that this is not true. | have seen any
number of famous operate stars who do not even
possess good stage conduct. | have seen tx m walk
on and off of the stage with the same Indifference
they would have if they were doing ordinary labor:
IN fact, have of the most successful sing
ers play the most ardent lovers parts as though they
were dealing with sacks of salt instead Of human
beings
Many girls deceived in their ideas about the
stage because they think they need nothing but good
looks, but they find out that their good looks
will not carry them very far when they try ont for
grand opera. There are no show girls in grand
opera unless for such part as queen S maid or
page, or something of slight Importance A vol e is
always absolutely necessary in grand opera If you
nave the looks, then much the better but large
number of stars are anything but good looking If
an mpressarlo Is putting spectacular produc-
ton, such as aida" or 'Mephstophele. and he
needs n certain haIIa+ ha hoe q cooo,o4. ILL.,.