New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-13


full editorial friends, whose future endeavorS
in her behalf must have an appreciate effect
on her renown. She may count them as
valuable part of her assets and doubtless
does.
THESE five illustrations of the workings
of the latter-day press agent may, OF
may not be interesting to the reader; put
they are indicative of the change that has
come into publicity methods recently. Sixty
years ago, William Wood, an eminent the
atrical manager and actor, published his
recollections of the stage, and in the course
of highly interesting volume took occasion
to decry the undgnihed tactics assumed by
press agents as far back as the days OF KEN
BILE, the elder Booth, Forrest, and MaCready.
Evidently the good mans advice was I'M
needed; for, until the last deCad, the adj
vance agents of distinguished players and
reputable plays have INDUCED in publicity
measures that, while they may have had a
temporarily good effect on the boXottlce re-
ccipts left lasting dents in the regulations
Of the artists advertised.
Sindbad the Elephant, the little lady OF the
musical comedy, Mile. Dazzle, and Margaret
Ellington were advertised in a dignitied man
her, when one takes into consideration Their
respective merits. | doubt if Mrs. PatrlcI;
Campbell is as big drawing card today as
she would be if the public had never heard
of Pinkv pankv Poo. Sarah Bernhard
would gladly wipe cut the recollection Of the
coffin that She was alleged TO cart about the
country and use as bed. Anna Held would
be received more readily as an artist, II the
atcrgocrs could forget the milk baths heI
press agent made her take. Oscar Hammer
stems experience as a grand opera lmpreS
ario in New York and London might have
been different had he worn an ordinary nat
and never locked himself in a room TO grlnc
out a musical comedy in twcnty-tour hours
1t is almost impossible TO erase publicity
once it is landed. Even though the detail.
Of the stories are forgotten, the color, flavor
and tenor Of them remain.
The undignifcd and cxtravagant cXplolta
ton Of a play or players is generally referred
TO as "circusing" ian unfortunate expression
that dates back to p. 7. Bamum and far
thcr). The vcrbalizatiOn Of the noun CIR
Gus" undoubtedly grew out of the iamboy
ant and exaggerated vOcabularlcS used by
agents Of the white tops. The honest ten
shows the Ringing Brothers and Barnun
& Bailcv's circuscs are conducted as de
Gently as any bank or department store
suffer greatly from indiscrctions Of the past
Three-card monte and the shell game hav,
ceased to exist as circus money gctters, JUS
as level thcits and milk baths have lonj
since been discarded as good advertise
mcnts for musical comedy stars. But tn,
memory Of them still fingers and hurts.
To clcnch the argument that honest, dig
nifcd advertising is the only kind that pay
in the long run, look at the records Of Mis-
Maudc Adams, Mrs. Fiske, Miss Julia Mar
lowe. John Drew, William Gillette, Oti'
Skinner, David Warticld, John Forbes Rob
crtson. David Bclasco, and Charles Froh
man. The statement that they are so IA
vorablv known and so firmly established tina
they need no advertising is ridiculous, 10
. III q