“My dad always said, ‘The first rule of theatre is to always leave them wanting more’” (joke)
The first rule of the theatre (show business) is ‘always leave them wanting more” is a saying of unknown authorship. The premise is to leave the audience on a positive note, wanting more of the product.
“Knows when to quit and always leaves his audience wanting more, is what critics say of him” was printed in the Wetumka (OK) News Herald on March 2, 1906. “Always leave them wanting more is a good point to keep in mind” was printed in the New York (NY) Clipper on June 23, 1920. “These boys have learned one of the most important rules of showmanship, ‘Always leave them wanting more’” was printed in the Brooklyn (NY)
“The audience cried for an encore, but the canny band members knew the first rule of show business - always leave ‘em wanting more” was printed in Newsday (Long Island, NY) on July 23, 1993.
“My dad always used to say ‘The first rule of theatre is to always leave them wanting more’. Good man, terrible anaesthetist” was posted on Reddit—Jokes On March 23, 2017.
Newspapers.com
2 March 1906, Wetumka (OK) News Herald, pg. 3, col. 4:
There are many imitations but only one original Charles E. Stoakes, “King of the Crayon,” the greatest Chalk Talker in the world. (...) Knows when to quit and always leaves his audience wanting more, is what critics say of him.
Old Fulton NY Post Cards
23 June 1920, New York (NY) Clipper, “Vaudeville: New Acts and Reappearances” by R. W. M., pg. 11, col. 4:
Always leave them wanting more is a good point to keep in mind.
Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections
12 July 1922, New York (NY) Clipper, “Vaudeville Reviews” by G. J. H., pg. 9, col. 4:
Mlle. Diane is charming, and a delightful comedienne of the French “Chanteuse” type, but the best policy is to always leave them wanting more.
August 1922, Smart Set (New York, NY), “His Public” by Herbert J. Mangham, pg. 58, col. 2:
Unfortunately, Simons had never heard of that infallible axiom of the theatre: “Always leave them wanting more.”
Google Books
6 January 1923, The Saturday Evening Post, “Lyrics for Molly” by Walter De Leon, pg. 40, col. 3:
“Always leave ‘em wanting more, you know, Fred.”
Newspapers.com
30 June 1926, Brooklyn (NY)
, “Outside Listening In” by J. T. W. Martin, pg. 5A, col. 6:
These boys have learned one of the most important rules of showmanship, “Always leave them wanting more.”
24 July 1932, The Sunday Courier and Journal (Evansville, IN), “Say Kay” by Karl Kae Knecht, second sec., pg. 6, col. 5:
Joan Crawford says she plans a screen exit, while she is still on top—that is a good way, that has always been a stage slogan, take a bow and “always leave them wanting more”—never wear your audience out.
10 February 1935, The Sunday Item-Tribune (New Orleans, LA), “A Woman’s New York” by Alice Hughes, Society-Fashion sec., pg. 2, col. 6:
ONE of the soundest and most famous slogans of the theatre is “always leave them wanting more.” Pass from the customers’ sight while their hands are still hot from applauding and their eyes are still alight with admiration!
Newspapers.com
4 May 1936, Indianapolis (IN) Star, “The Microphone,” pg. 21, col. 2:
George M. Cohan also had the right idea when he insisted that part of his technique was to always leave ‘em wanting more.
23 July 1993, Newsday (Long Island, NY), “Closeup: Music’s Golden Age Shines on the Stage Retirement home revue takes show on the road” by David Plank, pg. 31:
The audience cried for an encore, but the canny band members knew the first rule of show business - always leave ‘em wanting more. And they did.
Newspapers.com
21 January 1996, The Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ), “Family tradition” by Jim Gintonio, pg. C13, col. 5:
The cousins have dozens of other stories to tell. But they know the first rule of comedy and coaching:
“Always leave them wanting more.”
Google Groups: alt.support.shyness
a lil success
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
1/11/99
(...)
First rule of performing arts: always leave the audience wanting more. In the case of the mutual performance which is social interaction, leave yourself wanting more as well.
Google Groups: misc.writing.screenplays
A question about the other question
Ovum
4/18/00
(...)
Gentlemen,
Isn’t the first rule of show business: “Always leave them wanting more?”
May/June 2002, American Record Guide (Washington, DC), “Cimarosa: Overtures” by Steven J. Haller, pg. 93:
Paisiello would have appreciated the first rule of vaudeville, “always leave them wanting more”.
23 April 2006, The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC), “‘Rummy’ not alone in missing exit cue” by Frank Wooten, pg. A13:
The first rule of show biz: “The show must go on.”
The second rule of show biz: “Always leave the audience wanting more.”
Twitter
Eric Bramlett
@billshazzar
One of @daveferguson
‘s lessons learned had better be “always leave them wanting more.”- the first rule of burlesque.
12:42 PM · Oct 15, 2008·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
BH
@diverbh
Replying to @bluedevilmsn
@bluedevilmsn She’s practicing the first rule of showbiz. Always leave them wanting more!
10:31 PM · Apr 7, 2009·Twitter Web Client
Reddit—Jokes
Posted by u/PaytheDevil March 23, 2017
My dad always used to say “The first rule of theatre is to always leave them wanting more”.
Good man, terrible anaesthetist.
Twitter
me
@not_actuallyme
My dad always used to say “The first rule of theatre is to always leave them wanting more”. via /r/Jokes http://ift.tt/2mx8xyG
3:33 PM · Mar 23, 2017·IFTTT
Twitter
Steve_Scooby
@steve_scooby
My dad always used to say “The first rule of theatre is to always leave them wanting more”.
Good man, terrible anaesthetist.
6:54 PM · Mar 23, 2017 from Dundee, Scotland·Twitter for Android
Twitter
Shit Jokes
@ShitJokes
My dad always said “The first rule of theatre is to always leave them wanting more”,
Great bloke..
Terrible anaesthetist.
9:19 AM · Apr 24, 2017·Twitter for Android
Reddit—Jokes
Posted by u/jadelancer8 November 20, 2018
My dad always said
” First rule of theater is always leave them wanting more”
Good actor, bad anesthesiologist.
Twitter
🤣 The Dad Joke Man 😉
@DadJokeMan
My dad always said “The first rule of theatre is to always leave them wanting more”
Great bloke…
Terrible anaesthetist.
11:44 AM · Dec 18, 2019·Twitter Web App