Evening star., 1913-11-23


there was,-they had got their tickets for
nothing.
THE effect of this method is demonstrated
in any large city where three or four
plays, running at the same time, have to be
supported by suburban deadheads. Once
there was play being given at Chicago
theater. The manager wanted to have
months run in that city, for the sake of the
impression on surrounding Western territory.
But there were three other managers in just
the same fix. The manager of the first
show did not know of this He consulted the
people in the front of the house-that is, the
manager, treasurer, etc.-as to the best way
of "papering' for the first week. 1t is a
general custom in theaters in big cities to
give away a majority of the tickets for the
first night. Now, the first night is usually
Monday, which is light anyway; but when
new play is produced people wait until they
hear from some of their friends whether or
not it IS worth going to see. Every theater
has list called the "frst night list" The
idea is not only to be sure of filling the house,
if possible, but actually to turn people away
from the boxoffice, which makes good i'm
preston and often inclines them to buy seats
then and there for some other night. When
they have done this they go out and tell
and urge them to "get in line"
The manager alluded to knew that his
first night would be provided for; but when
it came to "papering' for the entire week
the authorities in the front of the house
looked very dubious They told our friend
that three other shows had been deluging
Chicago to such an extent that he would
likely find people already supplied with all
the tickets they could take care of. How
eyer, they gave him the usual list of places
the Y. NJ. c. A., the Y. w. c. A., dry
goods stores offices that employed vast
staff OF stenographers, and similar concerns
that they usually relied on. Now, the
manager was very new in the business, and
SO he went forth with much hope, and with
his pockets full of free seats. The first place
he called at was the Y. W. c. A. He asked
for the woman in charge, and was received
very politely; but she told him decidedly
that it would be impossible for her to use
any of his seats, that everyone directly or
indirectly connected with their association
had been abundantly supplied by other
managers, and, furthermore, they had neither
the time nor the desire to go out and become
purveyors of free seats about town. He met
with no better success at the other organiza-
tions he visited. Even the big drygoods
stores turned cold eye upon him when he
came III W1In his seats. Tie simply COulQ not
give them away. When an ambitious young
manager gets to that point, there is nothing
left him but the barber shops and the bar
rooms. grieve to say that on this particu-
lar occasion even these, the managers last
friends, mostly remarked, "Sorry, can't do
anything for you today"
Think of the deteriorating influence of
such process on any business!
ONCE the deadhead bacillus has entered
- the system, the disease advances so
rapidly that even men and women of wealth
and position who would be ashamed to ask
for anything in any other market take pride
in getting free passes to the theater, and
brag about it to their friends. A manager
showed me one day letter from promi-
nent banker. This man had sent a messen-
ger boy four times in one day with letter,
instructing him to deliver it to no one but
the manager. If the manager was not in,
the boy was to wait certain time and then
return to the attack until he should get a
direct answer. The four trips of the mes
senger had considerably exceeded the cost
of the seats the banker wanted. The only
way to explain such an absurd proceeding
was that the banker had a curious, vain am
bition to prove to his associates that he
stood in and could get seats for nothing
1t is the same vanity that prompts men
to spend money in an ostentatious way en-