Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-06-17
system IN Amusement Business.

i system ID AmuSemeut OoSsuSoS'
(This article from the Philadelphia telegraph
be TO South s psoP Of iKesS
Philadelphia theater. is South Paris boy)
Every piece Of work done, every thing
accomplished, has as forerunner,
Thought. Il is always the man behind
the gun, the muscle behind the punch,
that produces. Emerson emphasizes
this when he tells US, "That in all the
worlds Of God there Is no escape but
performance"
This is q basic principle and it is posi-
sible TO apply the things which we see
about us, in whatever field OF activity Id
which they may occur, to our own par
ticular needs.
1t was In local theatre and the show
was about to open. The leader raised
his baton, and the orchestra played the
introduction for the opening act. Out
in front the spectators settled themselves
to be entertained. In back, or "behipd
the scenes" the conditions were revers.
ed. Here was concentration, action and
labor with definite end in view-tO pro-
duce something and TO produce II 10
such way that those who had spent
their money to see it would feel that
they were compensated.
At a given signal by the stage manag- |
err, who called out: 20. K. GEORGE"
stage hand hauled down on rope, and
the curtain rose. The electrician with |
his hands on little levers, played on
them as q skilled pianist manipulates
his keyboard. The orchestra broke into
catchy rag-'ime, team OF comedians
made their appearance, and the show
was open, and was to be kept open and
in constant motion for exactly two hours
aud twenty seven minutes from the time
the leader raised his baton until the last
note of the exit march had been played.
There was no commotion behind the
drop, but like piece of well-oiled ma
chinery, act followed act with preci-
sion that was little short of marvel.
Like we'll troops the stage hands
built and tore down houses, constructed
and demolished interiors, laid gas and
electric light mains, hauled on ropes to
which were attached pieces OF scenery,
carpets or any other bulky material
which was to be removed and put out OF
the way. Up, up they went until they
seemed to melt In thin air.
Every where you 60 you are confront
ed by system. 1t peeps at you from the
dressing rooms, the wings and flies, and
in every angle and nook in the building
you see the evidence of forsthought |
made efficient by system, which is the
result of experience and the force OF
quiet, but insistent intelligence.
When the manager, Harry T. Jordan,
was asked to explain his methods OF
pleasing the public, be said:-
You can understand that, with the
thousands of varie , acts which are Of
fered, it takeSsome powers OF discrimi-
nation and large amount OF knowledge,
to keep in touch with those which are
most suitable Uusided, one could nat
do this, and for this reason has been
formed the United Booking Offices in
America, located in New York. This 10
a clearing house for the business Of the
Eastern Circuit, numbering about 200
theatres, and for the other circuits in
the West.
Every manager of these houses
makes weekly detailed statement of
every act, showing how it was received.
The hopes of many of the performers
have been disspated by these words at
The end of the criticism: The drop is the
best thing in the act ~
Every employe has bis or her duties
and each one knows exactly {
that he or she must do at certain times
md on rtain days, and these duties
must be rigidly performed so that the {
comfort of the patrons will be secured in
avery way.
1--WE coul not run such an organiza-
lion without system. II you will look
over the stage managers shoulder, you
will see that he has before him sched- 8
,le. Every Monday this is made out y
and you will notice that from the time
The lights 90 on, which according to this 4
particular schedule ia 1928 P. NJ, until Y
hey are off at 1856 p. NJ, fevery act liz
timed. At every subst quent performance {
hetime is put down in order to see how
It compares with the figures placed there
At the first performance. Look over the (
weeks work and you will see that there y
has been a variation of only three min
ltes in the entire twelve performances. =
"Also notice how nicely and smoothly
is working Every perform
sr ia assigned dressing room and the 4
list of rooms is posted. Then there is a
list showing the time when each act goes
On. There is also scene-p plot for each 4
act, list of properties needed, and
else that gives the things nec-
essary to add to the effect and bring 4
out all the points"
4 haaIt 10 Ina In nxrn right.