Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1882-08-25
NEW YORK LETTER
THE COST OF THEATRICALS IN THE
METROPOLIS.

AuOut PfSVVV,VVV L AAO AaSt SEASON lOr
Admission to the II Theatrcs-Thc
Two Sides Of an ACTRESSES Life-A Not
Uncommon Example.
Special correspondence of the TINES.
New YORK, August Is, 1SS2.-
is dull time in the amuse-
ment way, but as New Years is the
time when we are counseled to re-
view our deeds and misdeeds for the
year that has gone, so the end of the
theatrical year is the time when the
records and the cash books are made
up among the show people. New
York spends pretty penny to keep
the wolf away from the doors of the
IA principal places Of amusement, and
yet New York city alone would not
support SO many. It is estimated that
the floating population of the city is
something like 2OO,0OO-that is, there
are about that number of nonresident
here all the time, and upon them do
the managers largely depend for the
success of their seasons. About four
millions of dollars were received at
the box offices of 13 theatres and the
opera, last season-most enough to re-
pair an iron-clad or to pay for the
wine and cigars Of a congressional
committee on an investigating cruise.
Of this amount the Madison Square
theatre Gncluding its travelling com
panies) took in over $SOO,0OO. Booths
theatre (Bernhardt played at Booth 's)
$2SO,OO0, the 14th street theatre, $780,
900; Wallack's $1S6,OOO, the Stan
dard (where the stock of Patience
rarely gave ouD 100000, Niblo's Gar
den $19S,0OO, and the Theatre Com
ique $225,OOO. l haven't time to fig
ure up how many flannel waistcoats
for the Hottentots this would buy, nor
for moralizing over the amount OF
good that the money would have done
even among the poor of our own city,
and if l did it would not make par
ticle of difference, any more than il
would to tell an old smoker that
twenty-five cents a day for cigars is
equal to $50 a year, invested at com.
pound interest will, in fifty years
amount to enough to pay a plumber.
bill for an ordinary season. He recog
nizes the yastness of the ultimate re
suit, and how gratifying it would b,
to accomplish it, but if he gave up hi
cigars, the quarter would go some
where else in the way Of self -gratifi
cation and wouldn't be saved up a
all for this sort Of luxury. So will
the theatre goer who feels an intens,
interest in the welfare of the heathcn
but nevertheless would not give tn,
money to them, even if he renouncet
the drama.
1t costs round sum, nowadays, t,
either fit up theater or to run
travelling company and the expense
for scenery and costumes, for tn
elaborate plays of the past year hav
been enormous, to say nothing O
salaries, rent, advertising, etc. 1t i
risky business and the number Of fail
ures in it has been greater than tn
successes. This, the theatrical worlo
is an enticing one to outsiders and
as general thing, they see only
THE ROSY SIDE.
Now and then sketch or paragrap
concerning leading actress goes tn
rounds of the press, giving the term
upon which the "fortunate manager
has been able to secure her service.
or gossip about her elaborate ward
robe, or the number of priceless dog
she keeps, or the elegance Of he
ponies and pony carriages. Just no
the theme is the engagement of til
noted Mrs. Langtry for an America
tour next season, the terms repute
being the same as given last year t
Bernhardt, who carried off $4,000
of American money as the result {
her six months stay. 1t is preposte
GUS and thoroughly absurd that a
amateur on the stage, not six month
behind the footlights, would be able t
command equal terms with the woma
who has stood at the top Of the thea
rical ladder, for emotional acting, ft
years, but Manager Abbey has teste
the capacity Of the American furol
. for celebrities and knows what wi
draw and so theater-goers, next autumn
will be allowed to gaze upon Il
Langtry at So per evening. Langtl
photographs and Langtry lithograpl
will soon break out all over IL
country like the measles in count
school, and every attitude that Il
female form is capable of assuming W
/, be made the subject Of picture
the professional beauty, and then W
come, in regular succession Langt
y hats, Langtry gloves, Langtry s'Bloo
: of Youth" and Langtry cigarette
And in year from now the lady NJ;
return with fortune, praising G'
and American extravaganza for t