The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-03-12

peaiing to the sympathies of the gallery
youth. Her fortune is not large, but she
has made great deal of money, and is al
ways good for $1,000 a week and a benefit,
when she plays in popular dramas. In new
roles Miss Davenport does not make SO
much money. She purchased the play OF
OLIVIA" and with company of her own
organizing travels over the country. ORA
matte agents say that Fanny Davenport
alone is one of the best paying stars in the
list but with company and her own plays,
she is like many others; good here, bad
there, and Indifferent elsewhere.
OWENS AS a MONEY MAKER.
Mr.. John E. Owens is reputed to be the
wealthiest actor in the profession. He is
fond of playing on shares, and often nets
from $1,000 to $4,000 week, exclusive of
benefits. He has accumulated a property
estimated at 81. 000, 600, most of which is the
direct outgrowth of real estate ventures. For
20 years, however, Mr.. Owens has laid away
handsome fortune annually. Like all tine
most successful actors, Mr.. Owens is a spe-
cialIsr. As Sothern has his "Dundreary"
Booth his Hamlet" and Jefferson his rip
Van Winkle," SO Owens has his "Solon Shin
gle." Mr.. Ovens has avoided speculation in
his art, and never goes on the road with COM
panles of his own. He plays on an average
80 weeks in the year, gives his receipts for
about $50 900, and spends the rest of his time
on his farm.
Although Mr. Jefferson is delineator of
one character rather than an acter, as gen.
arally understood, he stands near the head
of the rich men in his profession. He gen.
orally plays on shares, and makes from s.. COO
to SIS, 900 week for 40 weeks ia the year.
His terms with the Fifth Avenue theater
management were extraordinary-half OF
every dollar that came in until 81 900 were
received and three-quarters of every dollar
above $1,000. Mr.. Jefferson had been a
pecuniary favorite for many years. His
| fortune is varlously estimated at from $780,
600 to 81, 100000. He owns property in New
York, New Jersey and Louisiana, and is very
careful of it all.
Miss Maggie Mitchell is another favorite
on whom pecuniary fortune has long smiled.
She can clear $50. 600 to $4,000 year with
ease, and, having cleared it. she knows how
to keep it.
Mics Lolita Crabtree averages 81 900 a week,
and bids fair to do better yet.
Mr.. BoucIcaults drawing power can not
/ be very well estimated. because he appears
in his own plays. His last engagement,
with his own dramas, netted him $500 each
performance. If he could continue the
same terms 40 weeks in year his annual
income would be $4,000 from that source
alone. He is also one Of the well-tod do men
in his profession, a great part of his fortune
being made from plays bearing his name.
OTHER ARTISTS.
Mary Anderson. Lawrence Barrett, Mrs
Bowers, Frank Chanfrau, Frank Mayo, Oh
yer Doud Byron, Rose Eytinge, Joseph
Murphy, Robson and Crane, Modjeska, the
Lingards and others less known, because,
| while they are enormously successful in
some places. they are said to be quite the
reverse in others. While they make great
deal of money in some theatres they play to
bad business in others. Modjeska, for in
stance, made a hit and fortune here last
year, but her next engagement was failure.
THE STOCK COMPANIES.
From the foregoing it may be inferred that
actors are coming. money, whether the man.
ayers are or not; but these favored ones are
the fortunates. Distinguished in every sense
from the rank and file of their onerous pro-
fession. Leading men and leading women
have 10 work hard for their pay, and in
their compensation. Here and there g
Coghlan earns $500 a week for 40 weeks In
the year, a Thorne receives 5000 for IS or 40
weeks, Montague draws $3.50 for 40 weeks
and Gilbert gets $125 for the same period,
but 500 is considered a large salary, while
many of the best artists in stock companies
work like beavers for $50 to $50 week.
Fascinating" young men and attractive
juvenile women find no difficulty in obtain
ing 800 to $50 a week, but the average stage
is a hard road to travel, and many a mock
duke and acting princess strut their brief
hour in gorgeous garb, knowing that the
sheriffs officer awaits their coming, and that
no butcher, baker or candlestick maker
counts upon fortune from their PATRONAGE.
''sHARING'' RECEIPTS.
1t would be impossible to lay down exac;
programmes for stars or stock actors as their
courses differ in nearly every city. For in
stance. Booth is known as slider. e..
he makes terms of one sort in New York, and
OF another in San Francisco. When he
played in the Arch Street theater, Pniladei
phia, he had rs per cent. OF the gross receipts
and furnished himself and his support
After an absence of IL years he net ed So,
600 in six weeks, and the management clear
ed the same amount. 1t is well kn OWN thai
he refused 81 600 a night to play 100 nights
in Booths theater in this city; but there Wa
case in which sentiment played part o
. late years 1t is a prevalent custom for certain
stars to ''shsre after expenses" but even tina
has its peculiarities in different cities LIZ
. New York $500 are allowed; in Boston. 1915
in San Francisco, $500; in Philadelphia, $3.50
, in Cincinnati $500, and in Pittsburg, 5000. The
point is here: Stars are glad to share, be
cause their selfesteem bids them look for {
, big weeks business and managers are will
ing to share, because when business falls of
they are sure of expenses in any event anl
have nothing to psy for the attraction
: Lester Wallack generally gets $500 night
, but he has made as high as s., 900 week il
; Brooklyn, where he is great fevorite
! Managers generally share with Lawrence
Barrett and John T. Raymond. Mrs. Bower
is said to be worth $4,000 Z. L. Daven
port was always good for 5000 a week OF
salary, but he was fond of travelling ant
sharing and died poor. Lolita Cfaotree, nov
mature woman, is considered good TO
$250,00O. Maggie Mitchell prefers iravelin
with her own company and in her owl
3 plays. Last season she netted abou
$ 81, 500 week. Mccullough shares after ex
/ penses Frank Mayo has worked long an,
hard, and his Crockett speciality is sand {
e have put over $50. 600 in his pocket. Johl
{ S. Clarke shares, after expenses. and is YER
3 rich. The Florences make here and los
: there; their San Francisco engagement o
s four weeks netted them $23, 900. The lat
|. Barney Williams Was fortunate in having
9 careful wife, and when he died he lett Ds
: hind him about $3.50, 900. Ned Adams mad
q but kept no money. That Montague left $
3 small an estate was a surprise to all VIII