The New York Clipper (February 1905)

February 25. THE NEW YORK CLIPPER. Ill THE PLAY BROKEH AND WHAT HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED. DI CLEMENT OSGOOD. It Is only In recent years that the "play broker" has nttnlned nny degree of prominence, for, although he has always existed theoretically. It hag remained for two enterprising and energetic young men to place play broking on a firm and reliable business basis. To such an extent, Indeed, ns to make the play broker a factor to be reckoned with In things theatrical. One of the most prominent and reliable flrmB of play brokers In America Is Selwyn & Co., with offices at 1441 Ilrondwny, conducted by Kdgar ana Archibald Selwyn, the former being n well known young character nctor. Because of the Interesting possibilities suggested by n glimpse Into pipy broking the writer ventured lo interview Mr. Archibald Selwyn on tho subject. Said Mr. Selwyn: "We attribute our tremendously gratifying success as play brokers to two causes; first, because of the absolute satisfaction afforded our clients In the painstaking and systematic methods employed In the conduct of our business, and, second, because of the publicity gained for our wares by judicious advertising, . which has helped us to reach everybody interested "What the stock broker Is to the financial world the play broker is to the theatrical world, with this difference : The play broker takes no chances and alicaus protects his clients, and what this Brotectlon actually means can only be appreciated y the unfortunate dramatist, whose early experience In the disposal of his plays to Irresponsible managers, with a consequent lack of remuneration for his labors, make lilm fully realize the manifold advantages offered him by the modern piny broker, with feelings something akin to gratitude. "In early years the dramatist sought the manager or influential actor directly, with results Invariably unsatisfactory to the dramatist. Sometimes his plays received immediate attention, but more often his manuscript was thrust Into a filgeon hole with annoyance at the author's ferocity In submitting It. Or even when the dramatist was sulllclendy fortunate to have "his play produced, the terms of his contract were such ns to preclude his having any voice In the matter of production or In the payments for bis wares. "In fact, not unfrequently he was given a stated sum (and not a very large sum either) for the purchase of his play outright, a play which afterwards has made thousands of dollars for the purchaser, or, if the dramatist was sufficiently powerful to secure terms upon a royalty Bbarlng basis, the collections of his royalties were so Irregular and unsatisfactory that the dramatist was Anally very glad to dispose of his claims for a song. '"Today this Is all changed — with the advent of the play broker has dawned the equitable business arrangement between playwright and producer, the systematic collection of royalties, the protection ngalnBt play piracy (the last being a most important Item), all without any trouble or cost to the dm mat 1st, whose only payment to the piny broker Is a commission, consisting of a smnll percentage on the royalties collected, which Is really no loss to the dramatist when the higher terms secured him by the play brokers' efforts are taken luto consideration. "It will readily be seen, therefore, that It matters not If Ihe author be world famous or utterly unknown. The play broker Is an nctu.il necessity. To the former became of tlic different singes of n plny's career, which present theatrical conditions have mnde possible. While a well known playwright umy make his arrangements direct with the manager, or, as is often the case, write a play to fit a certain star. It Is only a matter of a year or so when a new play becomes necessary. Then what becomes of the old play 7 It goes to the play broker, who promptly lenses It for a road lour, after which It becomes available for use in slock companies, and gradually reaches the repertory company, and may continue thereafter Indefinitely, but always to the financial advantage of the author. "With the unknown author It Is, of course, more difficult. To approach the manager djrcclly Is almost impossible, lie Is referred to the play reader, who, If lie be conscientious, will read the play and send a brief synopsis, together with It's salient |K>lnt8, to his mnuager, who may or may not tnke the trouble to glance at It. At any rate, the production at a play reader's recommendation is very rare. "To the unknown author, then, it Is the play broker, first, last and always. It 1b to the Interest of the play broker to find new plays. He therefore carefully rends all that are submitted to him. If he finds one that contains anything elemental to success he consults his list of clients, for the play broker represents the manager as well ns the playwright. Me knows the need of each manager, his taste, and the Btyle of play he Is accustomed to produce. He Interviews the manager In person, and discusses the play, If the manager Is interested, the manuscript Is submitted, read, and, if satisfactory, the necessary arrangements promptly made. But even If the piny lie rejected, or unsuitable, by each and every manager, the play broker prefers to retain the play and await the change In the public taste for entertainment." ♦ »» MOTLEY AND SAUI.ES. OR, The Treble Somcrsaolt. JOIIVMi: QUIGI.ICY, The original American newsboy tenor, who hna played In the lending vaudeville houses In America. Is lit present In London, studying vocal culture under one of the best masters, lie Ml t also Won n feature net with several shows In the State.. 1'rovlous to his coming to Koglnnd ho had his ovr. concert company on tour. Mr. Qulgloy Is a mm of the veteran actor. Denmnn Thompson, lie la the possessor of one of the sweetest of lyric tenor voices. After llnlah'ng his studies he may accept an offer made to him recently to piny South Arrlca and Australia. «■ » 7.ISKA ASD KINO Arc presenting, in the best vaudeville homes as a feature of some of the strongest vaudeville bills of the season, n comedy magical net of siinnisstng excellence and oue of the Jolllcst mm .(nations or Jesllvc Jugglery nnil necromancy, /ska. a magician of surpassing skill, excels for IiIr feats of legerdemain, and jprovos an excellent roll for the comedy element fthig Introduces Into Uw BJJjjl specialty. The Illusion, which Is the mystifying Venture of their specln.ty. Is the result of one years study and practice. They confidently expect their new Illusion, on which I hey nro now working, to be unoqunled lu the realms of legerdemain. JOHpJhJlE Q.UIGLEY WRITTEN EXPRESSLY FOR TUB NEW IOI1K CLIITBR. BY TUB OASLiatlT MAN. [Kcnrfnfcd from The Clippeb dated Aug. 20, 1BC4]. It must have struck everybody at all acquainted with show life, how very tenacious the members generally are of their professional reputations. Take any man In a given specialty, and granting tlint ho has ever achieved n great feat therein, the certainty is that ho will remember It mid boast of It with becoming 1*'°?. and when occasion offers, he Is emulous lo exhibit this achievement over ngaln, or If possible to do something lo surpass it. , , , . . ,j._, I ntn nt this moment reminded of an Incident In point. A show compnny was traveling in lite country. Amcng the members were two exceedingly clever acrobats, and a graceful dancer on the tight rope— the former being young men. each about twenty-live years of age. and the it liter (the manager's daughter), called Mademoiselle Ariel, only nineteen. ,, , . ,__, „„„ llcfore 1 proceed any further let mc JnatWjr that my two young acrobats had given uni Is lakablo symptoms of loving Mademoiselle. 'J" even gone so far as to speak their tl tough s to her and her father. The monarch of to slakes and canvas was n Jovial good-hearted old t c Ion. and in regard to his daughter, had no a nib Hon to see her married out of lie profossto . All he desired was that she should give her ham to a worthy man-one who would use lie r to llcil J, and not be a burthen on her. lie 1. d a in ucterlstlc expression. It was:— "II e i J« to I .ess la an honorable one, however your fine roiKS may affect o despise it,' and there Is clean i money ..n be mnde In it. I entered it when n poor orphan boy and I mean to die In It, now I •« J »'*»£« and the father of children If It Is found neees sarv to nut upon my tombstone what I «ns, ' carte he worS Showman* Let It be the boast oo. of my children while they remain In Hie craft, to own up to It. "' JTtSStr. characteristic of such n man, had been ITtotwo suitors of MndnrooiHelle Arle , piled to her father :—"lou ore Win lively young Fellows, very clever ^n.yourjirof^ when they applied ■ young fellow and cam good pay. "I should like cither Blon, a u uuiu (ju«u k-#; .—■---- i i,.Vp vou ench of you to make application lo my uiiugmcr ^TrSK-A 5c KU-ffr J*? THE KEATOXS. will he noticed Hint Ihere arc now fourjn the'fnnillv uf these clever vaudeville people. It , est addition to the net bills fair to become a v liable member. 'The voice Is 0. K. an. ucl'n « .surpassed," Ihe proud father soys. "I us or Kenton has not been liming any time mil l( Jtoadllv Improving, diminutive comedian that be Is Tl™ Keato.s are playing the circuits owraM over ngaln with unvarying success and Ihe mini cr In which "Muster" Is being I; ml "hows how iiinnngcrs estlmnte his drawing nullities. loves, and asked what hope thcic«nsror a ... the KgAtoKa Jl confessing lo something like Ihe equality of partinllty euterln.ncd by her father toward the young men, concluded by telling them he who succeeded In accomplishing the most extraordinary feat in the arena should be her husband. This seemed entirely satisfactory to the lovers, who niiulc their bows, shook hands with ench other, and concerted what wonderful tricks they would attempt In the hope of winning the hand of Mademoiselle Ariel. They a.t length decided. It ivns to throw a treble somersault. At Hint dn,r, only one ninn had attempted It, and ho had died In consequence. It was, to lay tho least of II, n perilous undertaking. Notwithstanding, the aspirants for Ihe fair hand of the showman's daughter went Into practice with a hearty good wf'l, confident. It might have been conceived, of renlly accomplishing tho feat. Of course, a llttltig occasion wns chosen for the trial — the beat day In a prosperous season In a town where the show was always welcomed ; when the snare between the canvas would be moat filled, and the audience would consist of what Is called the "best people." This occasion Itsoif, with the ii.inouiicoi.ic.it of tho "hitherto unaccomplished fent." brought more people to the pay plnco than could be admitted. For once, at feast, hundreds were turned away, and hml to solace themselves with the hope of seeing tho sight on Its repetition. 1 have not ns yet Indicated the two younv acrobats by iinnte. It Is necessary that I should do so now. It will he sufficient, however, lo merely give their baptismal appellations, Fred and Hick. The performances had proceeded ho far ns to bring the time round for the attempt of the great fvnt In question. A right merry scene wns the Immediate, precursor of tlio same. In which. Indeed, a clown lin.l wild Ihe funniest of nil In.iigltuthle or unhiiiigl liable things, and finally rolled nut of night, on i|u> sawdust. In the midst of a storm of laughter mid applause. II. ll what n deep aliened ensued when tho two acrobats presented themselves, when tltero wan n repetition of applause, mingled with cheering. And then ngnln, wl.nl n deep, profound silence reigned for a few moments, until I lie men had finished llielr respective work. There were a few slnglo somersaults. These were followed by one or two double. Then came tho last grand achievement. Fred wns the first to essay the thing. He acquitted himself with signal merit unlll lie came to the test act. In which be fulled, even In the second turn, lie en ma somewhat heavily to the earth, but wan not much Injured, nnil was led away, in the midst of a burst of generous applause. It now canto to tho turn of Dick — one, two, three. Wonderful 1 He had accomplished tho ns yet unnelileved fent, wns the conqueror, and never did conqueror receive louder or more nattering teclli.ioi.lnls of lite popular favor. Applause, which scorned lo lie ripping up tho stakes nnil canvas, wits hen I'd. (ienllemen wero seen to wnvu their lints, ladies Ihclr handkerchiefs, and In throw bouquets, ns well. In fuel, the thing had been gloriously done, ntul a glorious reward wns Ihe right of Ihe doer. Hick hml seemed to come (o the ground after his third somersault quite softly, but lie had not. It wns the elastic nature of thu board that el pod In this deception. The trull, wns, ho had ciiino upon ills feet very heavily, having gained tho (urn by a mere hair's hrriullli, and with a consequent shock to Ihe system, which Ihe acrobat said l.o could only compare to Ihe bursting of a bombshell Inside bin.. This Is one pari of my story. Now for tl.o other. • • • • • • t Hi It was married Id Mademoiselle Ariel, ami cunt lulled with the show some I line -tint appearing so often, however, as ho hml been aceiisliuiieil lo do, or performing the perilous feats of oilier limes. At length he ami his wife quitted, mid Hut next I heard of him wns Hint ho hml Joined n I roup »f "regulars," and was playing Nliakcsiicaiciiii characters, being peculiarly cxccllcul In "lliiii.lol." "Tills Is extraordinary," I said lo myself. "From Ihe sawdust lo lite classic boards — from the motley lo tho sable's. Well, as I shall wsiit be going In the place where my old iieqiialnlniici! In performing, I shall bare Ihe chance of seeing him." l-lxnrtly six weeks afterward I wns one mining the audience before whom Nliitlcospcnro'H "Hamlet" was lo be aeled, mid Kick, the ex acrobat ami thrower of tho treble soinersanll, was to show UN the melancholy I'rluec of He. in. ark. Ho came upon Ihe singe, nnil fur might Ills then aspect, speech or manner Indicated, was ns dllTereiil n person as II was possible lo conceive, from the handsome, muscular gymnast of former days, lie was pale, atleiinalcil. spoke will, a sepulchral voice, and laid mysterious, luminous circles round his eyes. Hut what a llnnilet his was I I have seen thu finest of regular actors III Dial part, but not one uf them came up lo the stanilurd of the Itinerant Dick. After Hie play was over I called on him behind Ihe scenes, nnil Ihence sccoiiipi. nleil lilm and Ills wife lo their lodgings. I'oor Mademoiselle Ariel I Shu wns nlso lis much wnsleil us her husband ; but she was still pretty, and evidently n devoted, I hough sorrowing wife. Ah 1 might have Judged, that treble somersault bud ruined tin; health of Dick forever, lie had never fell well, hu said, since; and now, there wits nothing novo a few months for hint, mid then — Ha Interrupted himself wllh a smile, and added, 'Tonic, you will sup wllh us !" Of course. I accepted Ihe Invltnllon, and should huve passed n very comfortable night hut for Ihu mclmifholy wuslc before me. There was one thing, however, which I was curious lo ascertain. How was It that mv friend Dick had thought of In.. coming a tragedian? He soon nallsllod me on this point, "liccniiso It hud been mi old ambition of initio," ha nuld. "When a mere hoy I beem.ie stage it ruck; but I was poor and n.iiib'Nl, and did mil dare to enter a fine theatre, where all the iiolnrit ntul actresses dressed fuHhlonahly and where (hero was occasionally whnt lliey called a 'Htnr' — n big iiioi whom the fnlkH seemed In contemplate will. awe. So I Joined n traveling show, from which I removed In others, at letiglh Joining Hint of mv wife's fal her. There you know whnt occurred lo me. It wns after that Ilia old thought ciiine back to mc. No longer capable uf being mi i.ci'obnt, I presumed lo hn an uclur— iipponroi! In Mlinkespeiirenii mid kindred chimiclerH, mid hoiiic folks say I ilbl t liiin well." • * • • • • * After llinl I hiiw no more of my poor friend Dick, though I I <1 u grout deal iibo.il lilm mid his how I hit I he iHeil In Hie h'nll of I ho year hi which I purled with libit, when his young widow returned to her father, upbraiding herself for having been Inst turnout i.l (ns she conceived she hud) In her hiiHliiiiid'ii iinlliiiely fule. Anoll.er Interval was cnuiilcd nwuy Inlo tho Irrevocable past, .mil lifter extensive travel mid many anxieties ami cares, I cuiiie lo a place where I could hour sotnellili.g of my former iiequnlntniircM, the show people. The old mini whh yi't alive, hut had given up Ihe concern lo his sons, mid retired lo a quiet home In Hie country wllh bis poor, wliloweil daughter. I henril, too, Hint tin luilr mi the Bliownnn'H head hml turned while, nnil thai the furrows bail gathered on his brow The gossips nlso loll me Hint Ariel, true lo Iter weeds, Is Hie iousti.nl. devoted companion and aid of her parent : nnil I ln-iir, besides. Hint II In n Imhll of llii! old man lo sit nl bis open window on lino evenings', smoking his pipe, and for Ida daughter lo be tOnr htm, engngeil In uotnn useful work d Hml from the pipe and the work th« K|i-e nnil tl hlld will oft luri 1 look out on ihe brand eartli, as though sumo scene were In I he course of eniicliiietit before I hem. Whnt Is Hint sceiieV One thai shown a hide iiinti. its mi ncro but, In the iirnna: or mini her, exhibiting a man weiilt I and marked for an early grave, as lite mimic llnii.k'l Of tho hour— who nluill say? .*-*♦ A TIIOUflllT. A strn'n of beautiful music can flout through a And i.ile'brfght'sla'r. In n cloudy sky, will surely hide the gloom. For llioiigh Mother Kni'lb be ever so dark, she lilts her hidden sun, . There Is never a heart so lone or lost lull l.ns Hh cherished one. H*«* M.*tpo»«dli