Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-10-20
NNEY MADE FROM PLAYS

UONEY MADE FROM PLAIb.'
Realized and Great Opportunities
x...Sd bv-Authors as Rule Not Paid
-. Prices thew Deserve-Working on the
n>valty Plan-How Plays are Made ana
unanade by Chance.
New York Mail and Express.
Dramatic authors are beginning to loom
~, in formid able proportions, and the field
nasng large one, the number OF writers
fsr the stage is very great. Every new
lay which is a pronounced success, adds
Fresh fuel to the fame. Now,whlie there Is
n branch of literature which pays the
latent toiler better for his labor than
writing plays, yet there is no other branch
n which so many failures are experienced.
Thsse are so many circumstances OF
a.svial nature which may affect the pro-
ianosion of play that it is scarcely to be
wandered at that there are SO many fail
urse. The whim of man ger, rainy
nsxht," unfavorable criticisms, all aid in
oxnshing the hopes of an aspiring dramatist.
Many a good play has never seen the light
# day. simply because some manager,
flesh from a failure, has condemned it and
HOS disheartened the author. Even man
ayers are not infallible, and large num-
har of plays which have pleased the taste
n managers have met cruel death at the
hoods of the critics. Then again audi
s.css are tickle; they oftsntimes kill a
hay by staying away from the theater-
and yet the playmay be good one. Such
distances are not rare. On the other hand,
xzany plays of inferior quality have struck
sane responsive chord in the breast of the
vGhlic and have secured rich harvest to
He author.
@Does play-writing pay?" is question
often asked. In order to arrive at some
9a6nite conclusion q Mott and Express re-
Razter sought Bronson Howard, whose dra-
nEAsic productions are SO well known. Mr..
Howard was busily engaged with David
Aolasco, stage manager of Madison Square
Heater, arranging for the production of
HIS new comedy drama, young Mrs. Win
throp,' but found time to chat with the re-
porter. He said: ''The question is very
broad one, and the range is very great
ITO author who makes the most money
from his plays is the one who combines
acting with authorship. He then receives
pay as a star, and thus greatly increases
MS cash account. Next to hin comes the
zuthor who writes plays and manages the
company playing his productions. 1t is
IA this way that BARLEY Campbell has
made so much money. He is a very good
manager. Now, in my case, management
vould be my ruin; have not the slightes,
QeDacity in that respect"
"Dces not a manager incur 2 risk in pro
dncing new play:" ''Yes, bat there i:
also risk incurred by the author, if he !.
paid royalty. l am royalty author, sc
ID speak. There are three ways in which
IN author may be paid for his production
80 much money down for the play out
right, a royalty or a percentage of thu
profits. A good percentage can often bt
Had, whereas the royalty may be small. Ii
he latter case, whether the manager make.
"a loses money, he must pay the fixed roy
atty, but if percentage is paid on gros:
great a loss on himself if the play proves
unsuccessful"
What royalty or percentage do you re
seive for your plays?" THAT is adelicatt
qaestion. I prefer to tell you what 1 re
oeive in England. My terms for Old Love
and New are five per cent. up to ESQ OF
Eross receipts. If the amount is beyond
ahis am to receive 10 per cent. up to e125
and above that amount Is PEI cent. on thu
gross receipts. Here in America it ia verJ
difficult to arrange terms on the percent
age plan, managers preferring to pay {
STATED royalty
'What amount do you receive in tina
vsy?" THE usual sum is $25 for eacl
representation. Years ago it was only $40
bat Mr. DAILY paid me $75 royalty for Sar
asoga in 1870. He paid this, too, withou
any solicitation on my part, as expected
10 receive only $40. He was tbs first man
agsr to pay an author something like /;
proper sum for his work.
@Have you any objectiod to stating tn,
amount received for your latest play
Yeung Mrs. Winthrop" 81 dislike great
fs to speak of my private affairs, but I pre-
snne it will come out sooner or later, so
viii tell you just how the matter is ar
ranged. The Madison Square theater man
agsment has taken all the risk in the matter
.They wanted a new play land before the sub
lscs was chosen they paid me s. 900. Iwrot
Tia play, choosing my own subject, an,
VIXEN it was accepted received check TO
$4,000"
s,Then you received S., 900 for the play !?
eyes, thus far; but there is contingency
Z lam 70 receive more money, the limi
icing $4,000, which is to be paid in in
skailments every three months. In othe
words receive $4,000 for every $50 nights
up to $4,000. The management of tn
tAeater own the right to the play in tn
United States, but own the right 70
Great Britain. In my opinion success
gul play ought to bring the author, in roy
a1sy, from $4,000 to $2O,OoO"-
Having learned the views os Mr.. Howar,
asse reporter next called upon the veteran
amthor, actor and manager, Charles Foster
who has written hundreds OF plays in hi
tsrne, none Of which was ever dead fail
u1e. On being asked whether play -writin,
WIS profitable Mr.. Foster ran his finger
Sarough his heavy white locks and replied
THAT depends, my boy, have been writ
mig plays all my life, and am not mil
Eonaire as yet. A great deal depends o,
she public. If play happens to pleas
tAsater-goers the manager keeps it run
Hang, and if the author has agreed to TAX
asoyaity he may coin a great deal o