Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-03-21

nov MWch Ahey MhAo Hn0 NOW
They Make IL - what II costs 90
New York Sun.
Lydia Thompson took home
100000 in cash after her burlesque
tour in the States. Other artists
Booth, Boucicault, Sothern, Neil
son-are doing just as well to-day.
The sums paid to drawing stars are
enormous, and if actors were as
proyident as the average grocer,
their profession would be noted for
its wealthy members.
In the dramatic armament one star
differs from another star, not alone
in glory or popularity, but in two
radical points besides--saary and
economy. Men like Owens get
rich every year and keep so. Men
like Florence get rich often, and
spend all they make.
Booths history covers period
of twenty-five years, yes, thirty
years, but until he made his hit in
Winter Garden, coached and direct
ed by VIM. Stuart, neither he nor
his history was Of the least account.
From that time till the day of
his bankruptcy he lived on the very
crest of popularity, and coined for
tunes every year. He failed and
lost all. His flther-in-law, Mr..
McVickefs of Chicago, recently
compromised Booths debts, to the
amount of S25o,000, at the rate of
five and quarter cents on the dol
lar, so that once more the actor is
free to make and save. His regular
terms are 5000 a performance or
S2400 a week. This sum was
paid him during the last long
and proftless engagement in
the Lyceum Theater, from which
Manager McVicker retired a
loser Of $4,000. With Booth
and one of the worst companies
ever known he went to the Aca-
denny OF Music, Brooklyn, and in
four weeks cleared $25, 900, so that
when he returned to his Western
home he was not ont dollar.
Booth is known in the profession
as "a ".slid2r." That is, he makes
terms according to his market. For
instance, he plays now in the Arch
Street Theater, Philadelphia, where,
for seyenty-6ve per cent, of the
gross receipts, he furnishes himself
and his support. When he played
lin the Brooklyn Theater he had
| $500 for each performance. In San
Francisco, alter thirteen years alb
sence, be netted $4,000 in six
weeks, and the management cleared
the same sum. The places where
Booth draws best are New York,
Philadelphia and Boston. The re-
cent experience here was unique
and would not probably be repeated.
Brooklyn is not a theatrical town,
aud no manager ever counts on .
certainty there. The good is as
likely to fail as the bad to succeed.
Booth declined $1,000 a night for
100 nights, he to play in Booths
rheater. 1t is thought, now his
difficulties are settled, he may play
in his old home yet
Sothem has had an extraordinary
run of luck. lie is not young
man, nor indeed a middle-aged man
any longer. He yerges on old age,
with grown up children and locks
like the damaged snow. His regu-
lar terms are $500 each perform
ance. or $4,000 q week. These term:
he commands in New York, Bos-
ton, San Francisco and Chicago.
There is a great difference between
Booth and Sothen in money mat
ters. The former is stingy and
close, the latter reckless and extray.
CANT. He not only lives while il
this country in most prodigal style
but keeps up a great establishment
abroad. He gives freely and spend
foolishly. The "AmericanCousin" j
the biggest bonanza, although
Z" Garrick" has paid him hand
somely. In novelties Sothern is no
IA draw. In Dundreary he is simpl,
immense.
Q In different cities sharing
terms" vary. 1t is often the habi
of stars when husiness isuncertain