The manager of any theatre employed a number of people to keep it running smoothly: box office personnel, ticket takers, doormen, ushers, cleaning crew, house electrician, engineer, and night watchman. Some cities required that theatres hire firemen to be on duty during all performances. In some cases, policemen were on hand to calm unruly spectators or to protect the treasurer in the ticket office.
The Historical Dictionary of the American Theater. James Fisher.