The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-01-05
GOSSIP ABOUT ACTORS.
rheir wages and How Thcy Ll,n.


It is estimated that about $4,000 Il
paid out for amusements in this cit,
every night during the season at thea,
tres, museums, negro minstrels, ETC., anc
although this cannot be averaged the
year round, yet it may be reckoned tha,
the amount annually expended is moi
less than seven millions. OF the class by
whom this $4,000 is nightly earned but
little is known. The community of pub
lie performers is little world by itself
and has a graduated scale of characters
from the call-boy and scene-shifter up
to the first-class tragedian. In point Of
numbers it will present an array Of
5000, which is equal to Washington
army at the battle of Long Island and
yet, notwithstanding its size and i'm
portance, but little, as have said, is
known of the inside life of these people,
their trials, their sins, their conflicts and
their misfortunes.
HOW RECRUITED.
People often marvel how the ranks of
this class are recruited, or, in other
words, what leads mankind to pursue it.
The question is raised, ais this life one
of choice, or are people bred to it, Just as
they are to other tradesy" 1t may be
answered that both methods are in ope-
ration. Some take up the players trade
con dmore, as did the celebrated Garrick.
He was bred wine merchant, but
abandoned this calling for the stage, and
required no other preparation than his
astonishing genius. Some are born of
histrionic parents, and drank in the
spirit of the drama with their mothers
milk. Charles Kean was distinguished
illustration of this. His parents were on
the boards of Drury Lane for several
years, and while yet child he stood be-
fore the footlights. Another illustration
is found in the famous Kemble family,
including Mrs. Siddons, who could not
speak the simplest thing except in
dramatic style. Others, less gifted,
study long and laboriously for the
stage, but cannot, of course, expect to
rise above what is called "stock acting"
which is at best very low attainment.
THEATRICAL "sTARs."
These characters are very rare, and
hence command the highest rate of pay.
They belong to the order of genius, and
hence have stand from which the
stock actor is debarred. STARS" have a
reputation which, like that of great au-
thors, is part of fame. Hence such
men as Betterton, Garrick, Kemble.
Kean, Macready and fletcher, of the
British stage, or Cooper, Forrest and
Booth, of the American, are beyond the
oblivion in which others are lost. All of
these men have appeared in Hamlet"
and SO far as one may judge from tradi-
ton, the finest delineations of that char
acter were those of Betterton and Gar
rick in England, and our own Booth,
who is supposed by some to have sur
passed all others. In the role of comedy
England has furnished Liston and
Matthews, while the American stage has
had its Hackett, its Yankee Hill, and.
Just now can illustrate Grip Van Wrinkle"
by the humorous Jefferson. "Stars" are
supposed to enter into the spirit of the
author and thus give his words the force
OF living impersonation. The great au-
thors would be surprised at the grandeur
which fine impersonation adds to their
creations. Shakespeare probably never
saw a tirst theatrical performance,
and his own "Hamlet" as rendered at the
Globe Theatre, with himself as the
Ghost, must have been very sorry af-
fair. What would have been his feel
ings could he have witnessed Hamlet"
as rendered by Kemble or Booth
"Stars" ought to get rich, for they GER
tainly receive enough pay. Forests
terms formerly were one-half the gross
receipts of the house. No wonder he is
rich, and no doubt on this point he. is
4 10 most f,,1 oo&o,- of Al ,.o T.
is now old and rheumatic, and will never
be able to do justice to his parts again.
Indeed, he may say with one of his own.
characters, "Othello's occupations gone"
Booths price, when not in his own the
atre, is $500 per night, which is very
cheap when one considers how much he
makes for his employer. Booth, in
" Hamlet" will fill any house in Ameri-
ca at the highest rate of tickets, and his
performances are the most profitable
this country has ever seen, with the ex-
ception of the Jenny Lind concerts.
STOCK ACTORS.
Every season a theatrical manager
makes up a company" whose engage
nent is for its entire duration. These
are either contracts by
means of advertisements by agents, or by
personal application. Stock actors are
If different grades, and some, Placide or |
Chippendale, get into very good society, |
while others are of a very low position. |
Indeed, play-acting is considered low
business, and only genius can wipe away
jhe reproach. ''Stars" can 20 in the
pest society in the land, but none others
AN do this Good stonk ACTORS cap aarn
rom : rs to $50 per week. This may
eem handsome wages, but one must
the cost of costumes and other
A first-class dress for char
lcter will sometimes cost $500, and
ametimes ten times that sum. Stock
'ctors, when favorites with the public,
will remain in one service for years.
thus in old times the Bowery had
}ates in low comedy for at least fifteen
ears, and death alone severed the en-
At the same time the Park
lad Fisher year after year. But the
tock actor must maintain his popular
ty. If he be hissed once in a decided
manner it is fatal. Hence no class de-
'ends so completely on public opinion
IS this, for which reason they pay great
ourt to all connected with the press, be-
ause the press rules opinion. Many of
ur stock actors are married, but do
nestle life cannot flourish in connection
Nth theatrical afinities, and hence they
re abundant in matrimonial intellect
les.
STAGE WALKERS
re those who simply fill up the ranks
II. e