Part 617: Theatrical Guides – Harry Miner
Before “Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide” or the “Donaldson Guide,” there was “Harry Miner’s American Dramatic Director, a complete Directory of the Dramatic and Operatic Professions and a Guide to the Opera Houses, Theatres and Public Halls of America together with much other Information of Value to the Amusement Profession.”
Harry Minor was the editor and the guide was published by the Wolf & Palmer Dramatic Publishing Company, No.s 81 and 83 Elm Street in New York. The Preface for the 1884-1885 season states:
“In compiling and presenting this work to the public I have endeavored to fill a hitherto vacant place in the useful department of American libraries.
The growing popularity of the Stage, and almost universal desire to become better acquainted with things theatrical, convinced me several years since that a Directory would be not only eagerly sought after, but, if accurate, greatly simplify the labors of both managers and agents. I accordingly instructed the agents and managers of my various combinations to forward from time to time correct information regarding theatres, halls, hotels, railways and steamers to the office of the Pope’s Theatre, where I carefully revised and arranged the volumes of matter thus collected; and I take this opportunity to furnish them for the use of the public in general, and the theatrical profession in particular.
Having a regularly organized staff of traveling managers and agents constantly employed in the working of my amusement enterprises, and being in communication with the leading representatives of the Theatrical World, I enjoy advantages that enable me to make the work I have undertaken more thorough and complete than any Guide or Directory ever published in America.
The routed around the world, capacity of public buildings, distance and census tables have been gathered from reliable sources, and if they prove as useful to my readers as they have been difficult to obtain, I shall be amply repaid for my time and labor.
Very truly yours,
HARRY MINER.
People’s Theatre, October, 1884.”
The Guide began with a “Route Around the World,” noting “The following route around the world has been taken from the private diary of MR. J. CHARLES DAVIS, who compiled it from his actual experience in the different localities – Mr. Davis having spent seven years abroad with amusement enterprises, leaving San Francisco in June, 1877, and returning in June, 1884.” The route included cities in Japan, China, Philippine Islands, Malaya, Ceylon, British Burmah, India, South Africa, Mauritius (or Isle of France), Java, Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, and Queensland.
A Professional Directory was divided by: Actors and Actresses; Managers, Agents, Etc.; Dramatic Authors, Adapters, Etc.; Musical Directors, Composers, Etc.; Dramatic Agents; and Scenic Artists. The final portion of the publication was a “Theatre Directory.” Miner wrote, “The ‘Theatre Directory’ has been prepared with the view of serving the interests of both the combination and theatre manager. Its design is to give the manager of the combination every fact about a town or theatre which he must know, or which it is desirable he should know before booking his attraction.”
In addition to the United States (39), the Directory included US Territories (Arizona, Dakota, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, Washington and Wyoming), Canada, and Mexico. After the Theatre Directory, there was also a listing of Dramatic and Musical Editors and Critics, Combinations Upon the Road, Nov. 1, 1884, and the Routes of Harry Miner’s Specialty Company. The Specialty Company Routes started with the season of 1879-1880.
There was also a section on the Time Differences, Population, Air-line and Railroad Distances from New York to Fifty Cities, and distances around the world too. This section is absolutely fascinating.
To be continued…
