Mr. Snooker writes to Mr. Resident Manager

Empire News & The Umpire, Sunday 29 August 1897

Stage whispers.

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Then, too, came another trial of patience.

A number of youthful speculators, when they saw that a “London success” was really such and did not belie its name, would offer a large sum for the provincial rights of it, hoping to recoup by the engagement of inferior artists and the consequent material cutting down of salaries.

The provincial public had heard so much of the “Bazaar Beauty” at the Hilarity Theatre, let us say, that it had made up its mind to see the piece on the first opportunity. Mr. Snooker writes to Mr. Resident Manager and says he has secured the sole rights of it, and would like a date.

A date is suggested, and then terms come to be discussed.

“Sixty per cent, of the gross,” airily writes back Mr. Snooker.
“Bosh!” replies Mr. R. M. “You haven’t got the Hilarity company.”
“True,” replies the unabashed Snooker, “but I’ve got their posting, and the name of the theatre is something to go on with, I fancy.” …