Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-04-23

| tnaC tnaJ star GlQnt get the eighty per cent.
| 70 g certain extent class of stars" are paid
too much. The division ought to be more
equal in very many cases. The fault is chiefly
with the managers named, who bid against each
! other. and spend all for the star, and don't
care much for the support. So you often get
all star and no stock.
Q.-What place do you think has comic
opsra, now so popular in the dramatic stu
alton of the period, and what is its tendency
and its influence On the drama proper?
A.-Ihe same place as the sensational
drama. 1t can do little good, and may Go
much harm. 1t does not to any notable ex-
tent cultivate the taste for mzsic. l don't
think it the friend of art
PRINTERS INK.
Q.-Is it not true that some of the great
scesses OF artists at the East are Que quite as
much to the liberal use Of printers ink as TO
real merit?
Decidedly, unquestiouably. That's
what l complain Of That's one Of the specu-
lative managers tricks. 1t INIT talent, but
| big type, you see.
Q-Is it, or is it not true that in cities and
! towns Of the E .st favorable notices of artists
are often secured by direct payment of money
to the press and critics, or by adrojt manage
rneut in influencing the reviewer? Here let
me say to you, that it is fact that very fire.
| quently Eastern companies come to Sacra-
mento, and their managers, and the artists
themselves sometimes, request favorable
mention, and Immediately offer to pay for it.
Being told that such practice is not toler
ated here and that the offer is offensive, they
| uniformly express their surprise, and do not
hesitate to say that they "tip" the press at
the East and have to do it.
A.-Yes. What your question suggests is
true. BIT the methods of doing the thing
are many, and you'd have hard work often
to prove it. You have heard of the artist who
paid large sum to one of the leading critics of
New York, and paid it by check, and when
the critic subsequently, went back on him,
he brought proof of the check being cashed,
ami held it over the critic More frequently
the thing is done by adroit management. and
oftenest by the speculative managers. Why,
one prominent actoris now being taken around
as they do circus, and everyone knows what
il is to have agent who can manage" the
press. Sometimes the dramatic critics wife
is brought direct to the artist to be introduced,
and receives a handsome present. Very often
the bribery is bypresents to the writer-a ring,
a chain, etc. On, there are plenty of ways.
know of no instance of proprietors of papers
being parties to these things; it's all with
their subordinates, and probably they can't
help it, even if they know it. It's confined
mostly to the style of dramatic companies |
l have spoken In condemnation of So you |
see why ability is not equal, often, tn adroit |
management, and why the "notice'" are in
excess of worth sometimes. l don't think it
can be said that these newspapers, however,
PUFF UP REAL FRAUD.
No; l mean they over-prsise. Why, Bern
hardt has press agents all about her, and
brought one all the way from France. No
doubt her success is due greatly to the way
newspapers are worked" She gets whole
columns and CON slant pofioa wh;la CaIyini
the greatest artist of the day-oh, such
grand actor, such a constant meteor-is
passed over with ordinary notice, such as
is given most any ordinary actor.
True, they acknowledge and praise
his genius, but then there is no such putting
OF his claims before the public as in the case
of Bernhardt, who is not to be named in the
same breath with Salvini. You see Bern
hardt is well and Salvini poorly managed
Q.-Many Eastern companies, lauded at
the East, come here with a vast spread of
paper aud the most enthusiastic press in
dorsements, but more frequently than other
wise we are disappointed in them. What do
you think Is the California public dull of
It's appreciation of art, or is it morbidly ex
acting?
A.SNo, it is not; but some are so lauded |
that your disappointment is natural. But | |
know Of no real star of standing who has
failed in California of full appreciation One |
failed in sense, but it was largely due to |
other causes. The California public is much |
imposed on. but probably not more so than |
in other States. One thing, it is not so |
easily taken in as are some others. I think |
your people fully appreciative of merit.
Q,-Have you noticed whether the children |
of dramatic artists follow in the footsteps of |
their parents, or do they mark out new paths |
for themselves
Al do not think the children of people |
of genius generally develop in the same |
lines. 1t is not hereditary. There are some |
exceptions, as Booth, for instance, and Kean /;
but even as to him. many claim that he only |
copied his father, and lacked originality.
VERY PLAIN STATEMENT.
Q-To return to the old question, you find
small apology for the star system?
A.-You perceive 1 am radical for the old
school. am an advocate for thorough stock
organization. Why, believe me, think if
Barrett, Raymond, Crane, Miss Anderson,
Fanny Davenport, Miss Dargon, Miss Eyt-
inge Mrs. Chanfrau, and such as and host
of others starring it, were all put into one
settled company, each in proper lines, so as
to create such stock company as you regret
the absence of, and the organizations through
out the Union were made up on similar
basis, that then the people attending on such
companies would only get their moneys
worth and that's the truth of it, and we'd
all be az much better for it as art would be.
Q.-You have seen Sslvini?
Ayes. He'is the greatest actor have
ever seen in America, and the greatest have
ever seen since was old enough to fully ap.
preciate art. [ never believed the dramatic
art could be brought to such perfection as is
manifest in him. He is of magnificent pres
ence, wonderful personal magnetism, splendid
voice, and marvellous el9eution. All, if I
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