St. Landry democrat., 1879-12-27
LisEst ON q Dark Subject.
THE AMAZING PROFITS OF THE NEGRO
- MINSTREL BUSINESS.
ATLANTA constitutional

Il
A few nights since We had talk with
Harry Chapman, who Is managing ,1; Ral-
low. Wilson, Primrose q Vests Min
strcls. lie is perhaps the best posted
man on negro minstrelsy in the country,
and giyesIs some interesting points:
q "The highest salary ever paid to a
weak. and this has been paid but twice,
ns far as I know. Billy Emerson re-
cciyed it for a trip through the country,
and his manager made money out OF
him. Of course he had his travelling
expenses besides. We arc now paying
Cal Wagner $500 week, and it pays us
to do it, His name is immense, and he
is inimitable in his line. This is a salary
larger than Grant used to get as Presl-,
dent of the United States, and is equal
to the combined salaries OF two and a
half Cabinet officers, three Ministers to
foreign countries, and a half dozen Gov
ernors of States. 1t is over S25,O0O a
year-and all expenses paid. Aud all
that Cal has to do is to black his face at
night, crack Jokes with the boys on the
stage and sing IL character song or two.'
"Do not the other members OF the
company get as much "
"Our four leading men are partners
in the business. None of them draw
salaries, but divide the earnings. Their
profits will go to 500 a day each: The
show will easily make 100000 during
the year, counting in the salaries OF the
four partners. The other performers
get from $2J to $500 week, Sam Price,
OF course, leading them all. You see
it pays to black the face"
"What are the expenses OF minstrel
troupe!"
at would run, Ishould say, from $3.50
to 5000 day. 1t costs us to play about
S4OO day, excluding the salaries of the
four proprietors. If we include them it
would run up to 500 or upwards. One
advantage that we have is that we eau
play several nights in one city, and
change the programme every night.
This saves railroad fare and gives us
better rates at hotels. We played here
six nights and will play at Macon six
niShts."
at is Il poor show that cannot get
$1,000 often. We have played for twenty
nights and have had to turn away peo-
plc every night. I have seen minstrel
business in San Francisco go up to over
$1,000 a week, or about $1,000 a night.
We shall average this season $500 to
$500 night"
:" What was the biggest minstrel busi-
ness ever done?"
"That is u hard question to answer.
I went out with Haverly's company and
carried it from Maine to Mexico for
four seasons. paid him 100000 clear
proiit-for one season, and $4,000 for
the other three seasons, SO that in four
years he made S150,000 in net cash out
Of one company. That company of
1ninstrels is what gave Haverly his
start. He began life as peanut boy
was then appren ticed to a tailor-then
became railroad butcher, and finally
boss of variety show in Toledo, Ohio.
He was doingnothing, and didu't amount
to much until he met Cal Wagner, who
was then just beginning to make note as
minstrel. Haverly went in with him,
and the show started out under Happy
Cal" 1t made money, but Haverly and
Cal couldn't agree, and they dissolved
right here. Haverly then organized a
company with Henry Wilson as lis
leading end man, and Primrose and
West as his characters. We picked
Barlow up in Texas, where he was in a
variety show, and put him on the end
from Wilson. With this crowd, backed
up by q first class quartette, we made
Haverly's fortune. He is now the big
gest manager in the country. He gam
bles very desperately, or he would be
q very rich man.n
"Who is the richest minstrel man in
the country!"
"Cal Wagner. In spite of his failures
as manager he has put aside over $780,
900. He will be a rich man if he lives,
as he has q good wife that saves his
money. Il hiny Emerson had not
s7sassss 81 drank to such an extent
he would have had all that a man
wanted. He is still good for S400 or
$500 week, and may come out all right.
Poor Lew Benedict, who was one of the
brightest and handsomest men that ever
corked his face, has scattered a fortune
from his fingers, aud is now end man il
a female minstrel troupe. Barlow is
young yet, but will be rich man. He
has probably $4,000 slowed away, and
can add that much to it every year if he
wants to. lie has u lovely wife, who
travels with him. Wilson is married
also, and his wife is with him now. He
is better off than Barlow, perhaps.
Primrose and Westare laying up money
rapidly, and have no bad habits. As a |
dancing team they are considered the