The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-10 00:00:00

SALARIES OF ACToR,.

Dowton's salary at Drury-lane, in tfie season of 1801-
2, was 81. per week ; he subsequently received 121., but
never more than 20/, It is curious to remark the differ-
ence in the salaries paid to dramatic performers during
the last hundred years. In the better days of the drama
these salaries appear to be small, hu•, there can scarcely
be a doubt that a healthy action was then sr j eyed, which
the "star" system tended to impair. If we In de into Ger-
rick 's theatre we find the Roscius himself at the head, with
a stipend of 2/. 15s. 6d. per night; Birry and his wife,
31. ss. 83. ; John Palmer and his wife, 2/. ; King, the
unrivalled Sir Peter Teazle and Lard Og:el,y, 1/. 63.
83. ; Parsons, 11. Os. Bd. ; Mrs. Pritchard, 21. 6s.
83. ; Mrs. Cibber, 21. 10s, Od. ; Pope, 13s. 43.;
and Signor Guestinelli, the principal singer, I/. 13s.
4d. Succeeding the days of Gerriek came a host
of distinguished performers, including Lewis, Quick,
Bannister, Munden, Mrs. Jordan, Miss Farrell, cum, mulfi4
calls, not one of whom ever received " star " salaries.
John Kemble, as actor and manager, was content with
561. 14s. per week ; George Frederick Cook received
251. ; and Mrs. Jordan, in her zenith, an average of 311.
10s. Drury-lane, in seasons 1812-13, boasted of au
excellent company, including John Johnstone, who was
retained at 151, per week, and Dowton, will received 101.
Covent-garden, at the same period, numbered among its
members Emery (whose highest salary during his career
was but 141. per week) Mathews, Fawcett, Blan-
chard, Liston, and Simmons, and their united
receipts from the treasury were lese than has since
been paid to one actor at a metropolitan
minor theatre ! Edmund Kean's first engagement at
Drury-lane, in 1814, was for three years, ranging from
Si. to 101. per week. This was subsequently converted int
a contract at 501. per night. Eight yt ars prior to this
great change in the fortunes of Kean-in the year 1306-
he was playing at the Haymarket, unnoticed and unknown,
his salary at that tame being 21. per week. T•ven'y years
later, when wrung in heart and fame, physically and
mentally weak, he received at the same house 501. per
night. Who will Pay he was a better actor then he was
in 1806 t As a contrast to the sums paid during the past
century, we may state that at Drury-lane, when tin,'er
' the management of the late Stephen Price, the nightly
salary of Edmund Kean was 601., and that of Madame
Vestris and Liston 251. each ; whilst Farren received 351.
weekly, Jones 341., James Wailack 351., and Harley, 301.
In 1838, Tyrone Power was receiving 961 weekly from
the Adelphi, and Farren 401. from the Oympic. It
was once remarked, in reference to the enormous sums
lavished upon " stars," that the President of Ame-
rica was not so highly paid as Mtn Tree ; whilst
the Premier of Great Britain had a less sal-try than Mr.
Ma.cready. Madame Malibran was Paid by the same
writer to draw five times as much money as the Colonial
Secretary, and Mr. Farren nearly twine as much as the
representative of the Home-office. There can be no
question that this extravagance of salaries has been one
of the means of the depreciation of the dramatic) art,
alike fatal to the interests of managers and the prospects
of the profession.

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