The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-03-01
HOW ACTORS MAKE FORTUNES.

/ 1t is universally known that acting is
very hard work, aud that the dramatic pro-
/ fession requires, even in the most favored
Instances, an immense amount of tosl, ne
ces>itating constant activity and, ION the
road, irregular hours and all sorts of in
/ conveuIencss. Professionals - NAV be
divided into three classes Stars who ma Ike
enormous rrUli's; leading men and other
specially favored members of stock COM
panies, who work for a good salary. from
800 tn $500 per week. and the minor
members Of the procession, who belong to
stock company, or have Intermittent en-
ragements III companies and combinations,
whose I.muneratIon varies from SlJ to
about So per week, and whose labor is
harder than any other.
OF the frs; class there is Edwin booth
Hau.ist on and OF the stage hose terms
are always 500 night, paid before he
+ goes OF. except when lac chooses t" share
and whose working year of ihiriy weeks
nets him 800 900. L. y Sothern also
lakes 500 al each performances, acrpt
when he shares getting often 80 per cent
/ "f the receipts and furnishing his own
plays and company. In his forty five work.
ing weeks he nets. exclusive of his fire.
| queut benefits. $i57.l0O annually Miss
/ Nelson has made fiom 81 600 per week to
+ 81 600 per night, bu' easily makes engage
meuts for iifiy-two weeks al $500 each per-
/ ayers. As is Fanny Davenport when She
travels without company aud in her old
repertoire. 81 600 per week aud benefit
are her average terms. Owens plays on
week for thirty weeks, summeIiug an his
farm. Maggie Mitchell clears $50 GnN so
$50 600 per year. and Lolita gets 81 600 per
week. with still improving prosp. cts
B"ucicault plays in the dramas h-ariug The
trademark Of AIS name. at 500 per night.
making about $40 O00 pei year o. her
stars, Mndi">ka. Clara Morris. Mary Auier
son, Lawrence Barrett. Rose Etyiugr. Rob.
son and Crane. eto are uncertain. but
play enough successful engagements To
bring them ont at the end Of year with
good profit
ti these prominent artists many often
share after expenses, the sum deducted by
the manager varying from 5000 To 500 in
different cities. Jefferson gets half of the
gross receipts up TO = 600. and - per cent
beyond that. Lester WaIack commands
at the lowest $500, while the FIo1ences
and others who travel with then own com.
panits make and lose her. aud there. but
usually come out far ahead of expenses.
OF the fortunes made by these ladies' and
gentlemen some are very large. SoiLern
owned, tw" years ago. three quarters Of 4
million. but pays heavy taxes gu unremu-
lucrative real estate. Nelson owns real
estate valued at 500 GOO Owens has pro-
perty Of <. .000 0G0 aud is a special.st,"
like J, ifrrsuu. Booth, etc Jeiirrsuu's pro-
pcr;y is about 81 600 Gao. Barney " Villains
left $3.50 eco, and the others have property
At nearly these figures.
az our ;aynrItr stock actors. Coghlau gets
$500 per week, Montague got $2I0, Thorne
gets 5000. Gilbert Sl2J, and So on There
is money and fame aud pleasure in the
dramatic profession for those who have the
ability aud the industry tn work their way
to the top and keep there; but hard work,
small pay. an uncertainty and something a
/ little better or 4 little woIse than obsculiiy
exist for most actors and actresses