The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1880-01-03
The Black Art.

From the Atlanta tGa-} constitutional
Few of our readers can remember the
negro minstrel business as it used to be.
In the old days before the war had been
fought, and the negro had been made
famous, minstrel troupe was a poor
concern. It consisted of a banioist, q
dancer and man to do the 1.essence.
business, as it was called, which was
simply the singing of old plantation
songs and the retailing of plantation
jokes. The more ambitious of the
troupes added chorus of corn-song
singers and brace or so of Jim Grow
dancers. The show was always rated as
low class, and the manager was happy
over $50 to $40 night.
The most of our readers, though, are
familiar with the progress that has been
made in minstrelsy since the war. After
sc, ,000, 600 Of people had fought for five
years over the negro, he became an OBJ
.iect of interest and everything pertain
ing to him was seized with eagerness.
The minstrel troupes of the present day
are immense concerns, and the old time
| minstrel gang is excelled by the stroll
ing combinations that perform in the
streets for the magic soap men. Indeed,
| negro minstrelsy has come to the most
| lucrative branch of the ashow" business,
outpaying the drama or the opera. Lolita
| took in 1886 her best night. ''B. w. p.
| & W g" minstrels took in 1884 one night,
and Cal Wagners Company has had as
high as S1180 in one night in this city.
A troupe of minstrels that falls below
$500 in Atlanta is playing to poor busi-
business, while the average dramatic
| company does not get more than $500 to
S4O0.
A few days ago we had talk with
| Harry Chappan, who Is managing Bar
| low. Wilson, Primrose & Vests Min
strels. He is, perhaps, the best-posted
man on negro minstrelsy in the country,
and gives US some interesting points.
ssChe highest salary ever paid o negro
MINSTREL he said, .'is $500 a week
This has been paid only twice, as far as
I know Billy Emerson received it for {
trip through the country, and his man
ager made money out of him. OF course
he had his travelling expenses besides
We are now paying Cal Wagner $500 (
!, week, and it pays us to do it. His nam,
is immense, and he is inimitable il
his lines. This is salary larger thai
Grant used to get as President of tn
United States, and is equal to tn
combined salaries of two and hal
Cabinet officers, three Ministers to for
| eign countries, and half dozen Gov
, ernors of States. 1t is over S25, 900
! year-and all expenses paid. And al
that Cal has to do is to black his face O
night, crack jokes with the boys on tn
+ stage and sing o character song or two.
). stDo not the other members of th
, company get as much?'
: "Our four leading men are partners i
t the business. None of them draw salal
!, | les, but divide the earnings. The profit
: will go to 800 day each. The sho
y will easily make 500, 900 during til
4 year, counting in the salaries of the fou
partners. The other performers g.
9. from $25 to 5000 a week, Sam Price {
course, leading them all. You see,
. pays to black the face.
r "What are the expenses of minstr'
4 troupe?"
n sit would run, should say, from S3s
IS to $500 a day 1t costs us to play abol
S400 day, excluding the salaries of Il
n four proprietors. Ii we include them
/ would run up to 500 or upwards. Or
that we have is that we ca
e play several nights in one city, an
changethe programme nightly. This say,
railroad fare and give US better rates
hotels. We played here six nights, az
:. will play at Macon six nights.
,e What are your receiptsg"
ssIt poor show that cannot get ov
$500 night. Ours goes up over $40
II often. We have played for twenty nigh
e. and have had to turn away people eve
8. nieht. / have seen the minstrel busine
Is in San Francisco go up to over $1,000
ie week, or about $1,000 night. We shs
" average this season S700 to $500 night
ssWhat was the biggest minstrel bui
ness ever done?n
id That is hard qeestion to answer.
8 went out with Jack Haverly's compal
Ie and carried it from Maine to Mexico !
Z. four seasons. 1t paid him S60, Wy Gle
profit one season, and SU,uou for q
other three seasons, SO that In four yea
q he made $3.50 900 in net cash out Of OF
3 company. That company OF mlnstreis
q y what gave Haverly his start. He beg'
y life a. 4 peanut boy-was then appre
:, ticed to d tailor-then became rallroi
butcher. and finally boss OF varie
j. show in Toledo, Ohio. He was DOH
= :. nothing, and didn't amount 70 much q
:, ill he met Cal Wagner, who was TIL
IS Just beginning to make note as minstrs
* Hayerly went in with him, and the she
% started ont under Happy Cal. 1t ma
money. but HAyer1y and Cal couldl
- agree. and they dissolved right he1
y as Hayerly then organized a company, vi
r George Wilson as his leading end M
N and Primrose and West as his dancel
nt We picked Barlow up In Texas, where
z xvau r, n variety show and put him