Omaha daily bee., 1882-12-30
o Actors A q
What 1t Costs TO Run a First-Class
New York Theater.

"Youn have to be pretty smart, my
boy, to get at the true inwardness of
actors salaries" said o theatrical
manager. The Star reporter was in
search Of information on the subject,
and having found the actors them.
selves as dumb as oysters, tried to get
something from the men who paid the
salaries Neither managers nor actors
seemed inclined to talk.
You see, it isn't the 'squsre thing
to give way another fellows salary,
and you wouldn't expect me to tell
you what l get myself" said a swell
actor, who was loupging near the
Criterion.
But" remarked the reporter, 1--WE
do hear occasionally about fabulou,
sums being paid to actors and &C
tresses."
"Just so; but these stories are for
the public, and are capital advertise.
ments for theatrical managers. When
they want to get up a boom for q star,
they work the salary racket. A rival
managers offers the star q big salary by
telegraph; it gets into the papers,
and . terrible commotion Is caused in
the theater; stories OF broken con-
tracts are repeated to the reporters,
and, finally, it is announced that the
great actor, the favorite prima donna,
or the popular actress has been cen.
gagged at a largely-inoreased salary,
and the gullible public rush to see the
performers who are thus doomed In
the amusement market"
"Then the salary raise Ia only DO.
gus, frequentlyT queried the reporter.
"You've hit it. Why, in many
cases double contracts are issued by
shrewd theatrical mar agsrs. One
contract shows the real salary paid and
the other Is for exhibition. l tell you,
big salaries are not the rule in the
profession"
care actors paid according to thei,
meritsT
"You should understand that 9
beautiful woman, with o charming
figure and elegant costumes, who can
play to the swells in the orchestrs
boxes, is worth to o manager more
than any artist not so bountitully in
dorsed by nature. The truth of THU
statement is borne out by the msnag.
erisl talk just now about legs and
beauty. Handsome men and beauti
full women are at Q premium on the
stage, and they car secure exceptions
salaries"
"To what class of players are the
highest salaries paid2'
swell, charaoterter actors and
eccentric comedians get the best sal
aries; as high and often higher thar
leading men,"
"John E Owens, who is playing al
the Madison Square theater, is said t.
get $3.50 q week. Do you thinl
that's true2'
"Not by long odds. He was a star
and has made a fame and reputation
and I dare cay he's a good card for thu
management; but he don't get much
more than 800 a week."
From other sources it was learned
that the salaries lnder the Mallory
management take a wide range, no
only at the Madison Square theater
but on the road with the various com
panies. Agnes Booths salary wa
quoted at about S15O, common repor'
makes it $3.50; Charles Browser's $75
w. j. Ferguson's $75, perhaps 500
Tom Whitfen's $3.50, Efis Ensler'
$75, another report made 1t $50; Mis-
Turner's (now playing Young Mrs
Winthrop $75, on a three years Don
tract; Louise Dillon's (now on thu
rosd) $50, Sydney Cowell's $50
About two years ago George Cayvan
who then played Daisy Brown in 9Th
Professor" signed at this theater TO
$35 a week. 1t is now reported tina
Miss Cayvan, who Is playing in Cali
fornis, has been specially engaged b,
BARLEY Campbell for his new plays
"The White Slave and "Siberia," q
a ealary of $3.50 a week. This Is
however, thought to be a manager
story.
At the Fifth Avenue theater tn,
John Mccullough combination i
playing. The company is supposed Il
cost the star between $500 and 5000
week. Edmund Collier is named TO
500; Joe Haworth 800, John Ian,
$40, and Barton, the old man, abou
the same or perhaps $50. The salar,
list would be made up On a curiou
sliding scale downward with the re
manning support.
"Daly has a large company, Blu
pays smaller salaries than arc paid a
Madison Square theater," said a,
agent. "Perhsps Ada Renan Is pal,
$l25 and James Lewis, the comedian
800, but these would be the h'ghes
figures. Harry Pitt gets about $76
John Drew $75, and the others wouls
run from $45 to $15. The member
of the Union Square companies ma!
be put down something at this rate
Charles Thorne, $3.50; Frederic d,
Bellvelle, $125; ]. Fl, Stoddard, $3.50
John Parselle, 800; lara Jewett
$3.50; Maud Harrison, $75; Valdez
Ramsey, $88; Mrs. Phillips, $50. Al
Wallack's lower salaries all round arr
paid than at any other theater excep
Days. Wallack gets his actors from
the other side, before they have mad,
any reputation, and secures them OF
three years contracts and compare
lively small figures. Rose Coghlar
began at 500; it is now reported tina
she gets $500, but then she's a kicker
and if she was cast for a part sh,
didn't want to play she would refus,
until she got something extra to make
it worth her while to play it. Tn,
veteran John Gilbert gets 5000, ant
Osmund Tearle, who began at 500
now receives 5000; Harry Edwards
800; William Herbert, 500; Will
liam Elton, $50; Edie Germon, $40
aud the fgurers for utility psopl,
would BIO about $l5 and $50 for in
genues, soubrettes and the like.
At the Standard William Carleton
the baritone, gets about $500; Selinr