A Star for a Night

the Knickerbocker Theater Building b

or W

ical M

wo long benches served as havens of rest for weary stage-folk in search of engagements. Ever and anon one, two, or even three players, perhaps chorus girls, perhaps actors, perhaps character women, would enter timidly, look ar

don engagin

, invariably without looking up

g doing

eldon, for reasons of his own, wished to have his office

ow, but if you want to wai

ne known as "making the rounds," knew to their sorrow that invitations even to sit down and wait were few and far between. The "Call to-morrow" slogan was the more usual excuse in getting rid of applicants. In a profes

ness and were instantly admitted to the inner office. Then the stenographer, having had her cues, would drop some casual remark about "The backer of the new show," whereupon the professionals would become more

ccessfully to interest certain financial gentlemen of the Wall Street district in the merits of two or three plays he had read. One of them in particular, a simple little comedy of peasant life in Germany, with two or three songs, had greatly impressed him. It was of Viennese origin, skillfully translated and adapted, but preserving the Viennese atmosphere and characters. Entitle

ith the public. There's a plot that must succeed, because it has never been known to fail. I can produce thi

cquaintance with Martha, and further explains the fact that three days later he was closeted

ything is Viennese this season, so we must get the correct atmosphere. Advertising and printing may take up two or three thousand more, and then we'll probably have to guarantee at least twenty-five hundred to the theater we select. I'd like to get a c

more or less mean nothing if the thing is a hit, and if i

in certain directions, belonged to the category of "wise people." No one ever wasted postage to send him green-goods catalogues, and Weldon had been extremely doubtf

ldon thought to himself as he clasp

ney will be deposited with the Commercial Trust Company to-morrow morning. You will han

asked Weldon,

e leading r?le a young

rstand-" began

hing the money. Furthermore, at any time I see fit-if, for instance, the young lady cannot, in my judgment, play the part sat

he show if it's a hit, wo

for reserving that right. Otherwise, however, you are the manager, owner, producer an

usiastically. "But," he added nervously, "can the yo

e fact remains that she is going to play the part, and

ook his h

they try to force an unknown on the public," he sighed. "But I know you too well to try and

lanced it with one hand while he too

tears if it isn't. Like the respected founders of the New Theater, I am not producing this play to make money. I am simply endeavoring to give a certain young lady a chance to play