The New York Clipper (December 1903)

DRAMATIC. It VAUDEVILLE. CIRCUS. Copyrighted. 1903, by the Frank Queen Publishing Company (Limited) Founded by FRANK QUEEN, 1853. l^EW YORK, DECEMBER 5, 1903. VOLUME LI -No. 41. Prloe 10 Centl. Mi5S Clipper's Mutes, Pttsitts ail Comments, OOXClKiiTNG ST1GE FOLK and Sometimes OTHERS rllle and circus turns. The good news of fine prospective business had been sent by Schwartz, and the company, which hud been so deeply discouraged, took heart, believing their financial difficulties shout to be re- lieved. Arriving at Chihuahua at midnight, after a tmrty-slx hour Jump, they were met could be given. The money on the advance sale bad to be refunded, and, through the ac- commodating manager at El I'aso, Texas, the company reached hla city, thus ending the disastrous tour through Old Mexico. Ever afterwards, when anything disagree- able or disappointing happened to any of the close In a bargain, and with the visiting companies aa the atlnglest manager In the business, tils saving on coal bills made bla theatre not the comfortable place It should have been for a home of entertainment. With those who objected to hla mode of house heating his argument was that people BT JOSEPHINE OBO. The route of the "advance man" Is not a path of roses. Though at times it is In bis power to either add or detract from the comfort of those whom he travels ahead of. It is more often beyond his ability to control. lie la the one that Is blessed (?) by the company when poor hotel accommodations sre met with, when Insufficient space In the papers has been accorded, when the transfer man Is not on the spot, when business lx poor—In fact, all discomforts are charged usually to the unenvled advance man, who Is not present to defend himself. One of the various positions held by Fred Schwartz during bis theatrical career was that of advance agent with a company whose route took In Ashevllle. The depot was about two miles from tows, and the company's arrival there during the small to be at a temperature not far from the freezing point. Upon Inquiring the cause of I ho parsimonious local manager, that person replied: "Well, blsneaa Is bound to be good tonight —the advance sale Is good and tho house will be packed, bo that folks will hev to alt close—that'll keep 'cm warm, Ilcaldcs, Win- ter hain't set In ylt." "You'll start those furnaces and that house will bo hot by six o'clock, or I'll can- cel," was the other's reply. "Besides, I'll get out banners telling your town public here the reason." As the company was a good one, with a metropolitan reputation, and tho sale of soots already a large one, the local manager could not afford to lose the attraction. He also determined to utilise the banner Idea, and at three o'clock there appeared, stretched across the main street, a targe sheet of canvas, upon which bis own hand had painted : "Hot Opory Tonight." John J. Parrell, the leading man of the Memphis Stock Company, playing at the 0 rand Opera House, Is served by a colored waiter at tho Cordova Hotel, where ho lives. 'd mighty lalk tun see yuh act out on tlie stage, Suh," said he one day while at- hours of the morning found no means of transportation awaiting them. This meant a long, disagreeable walk to the already tired travelers. Helplessly facing the pros- pect, loaded with their personal belongings, they started off single file, and In no enviable frame of mind. Strauss, the musical director of the com- pany, was said to be the star grumbler of the party that night, anathematizing things gen- erally as he plodded his weary way. Sud- denly stumbling Into a mud puddle, he fell, at the same t'me smashing his treasured violin. Several of the company sympathetically gathered about Mm, expecting to hear some large, strong words concerning the HI lighted road, or the necessity of walking It at that time of night However, the only exclama- tion they heard was: that agent." "And the next day It snowed" has long been a proverbial phrase among; tbeatrleal people. The line which Is so expressive to them of failure or disappointment had Its origin with a company which Included Slgnor TlBBot's European living pictures. Scbwarts was ahead of It during tbe Mexican tour, and though he put forth every effort tor Its success, business was bad everywhere. He had a wreck In Chihuahua, during which he managed to excite considerable Interest con- cerning the company to arrive, and tbe ad- vance sale was not a small one. The per- formance waa to be held In the bull pit, as 'be opera house was not yet finished. This made little difference, however, with most of the company, whose acts consisted of vaude by tbe smiling ageut, who conducted them to the only English hotel In the place, and assured them that their weeks of worry were to be a thing of the past. The whole com- pany Joyfully retired to dream of the pay- ment of back salaries, money to spend, and remittances home. About four o'clock In tbe morning, how- ever, a billiard struck the northern part of Mexico, and a snow storm raged In and about Chihuahua for the two days following—an occurrence for many years unheard of In that part of the country. The bull pit was, of couree, under snow, snd no performance members of that company, tbe exclamation would be the phrase which spread from then through the theatrical profession: "And the next day It snowed." 9 The local manager of a theatre in a New England town bad the reputation among the citizens of bts town of being extremely Dialog close together would keep each other warm by contact, and that an abundance of artificial beat was unnecessary. His theory failed to work, and patronage at bis theatre fell off before he realized the true cause, On one occasion, late In November, be se- cured an attraction having one open nlgbt, whicb was to have made a Jump past his town. Someone told tbs visiting manager during tbe day of tbe local man's parsimony, advising him to see to It that tbe theatre was warm. Acting upon this advice, be visited tbe theatre about noon, and found the Interior tending to the needs of Terrell's Inner man. "Why I 1 thought you were a church ulggcr, and wouldn't he seen at a theatre," said tho actor. "I'd go any place to see you act out, Mlstab Fah'rell," was tbo waiter's reply, consequently he was made happy by receiv- ing tbat little bit of signed pasteboard bearing those magic words: "l'ass two (2)," "Faust" was the play on tbe boards that week, with Farrell as Mcphlstopbeles. The happiest, brightest face among the waiters the next morning was tbat of tbe one at Farrell's tabic "You seem to bo feeling pretty food this morning, Sam," said tbo actor, after the ac customed greeting of "Mawn'n, Sub I" "Yas, Sub 1 Mus' ssy, Bub, I'm 'bout de iuos' contentedest nlggab In Memphis dls mawnln—I saw you act like do dcbbll las' nlgbt, Bub." "Is that wbat makes you happy}" said the actor, smiling at Sam's unconscious double entendre. "No, Buh—I'm glad 'cause I found out las' night fo' shush dot dey ain't no nlggahs In hell." W. II. Ovlatt, manager of "HoUy Tolty,' which is playing through the South, Is the source of tbe following terse answer to a telegram, Tbat busy manager also directs tbe success of the "Bandit King" company, ahead of which Mr. McKee travels. Tbe telegram of the latter read: "Toronto. Theatre here burning down, wbat sball I do? McKee." Ovlatt's answer was: 'Tut out tire; must play date,"