New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-14
EVILS OF THE STAR SYSTEM.
LESTER wALLACK SPEAKS BY DEPUTY
THEN AND NOW.

Lester Wallack. the Nestor Of NewIOrk mana
gers, is sill so i'll that be is unable 20 attend to
active business. lie therefore deputed his son, Ar
thur Wallack and Theodore Moss. his business
manager to speak 10 a TRIBUNE reporter IN HIS
stead with the assurance that they would present
his own views fully.
Yes" said the younger Walack, there is no
doubt but that the rise in actors salaries is
thing awful 10 contemplate. And that's not oil.
We.pay more for lumber for canvas for paints.
higher wages TO carpenters, higher salaries to scene
panters-in every thing there has been an increase
in the last ten years. But actors salaries show the
most marked advance, and the time seems TO be
cmong when a leading will make much as a
prima donna. What is the reason Of il Com
petition, and competition alone. Twenty years ago
my fathers theatre was the only theatre in Now
York with regular stock company. His success
was great, and a host Of nitators sprang up. the
demand became greater, while the supply remained
the same"
"But why should actors be exempt from the law
which governs every one elseW
Because the conditions exceptional. Acting
is art and you cannot subject it's opponents TO
the rules winch govern commercial transactions II
you will find some means OF supplying leading
actors to order then we can safely promise n re-
duce their salaries and not TO suffer ourselves by IT,"
"Do you think the abilities of actors have in-
creased in direct proportion to their salariesiD
Certainly not think my father had as good
or better men in his company when he paid them
$50 or $40 a week than he has now, when he pays
them 800 or $780,
90 Do you think any combination among tho man
ayers would reduce the evil
mo, 1 do not. | do not think any
such combination possible or even advisable.
There is nothing to DO DONE for as |
said before there arc not enough good actor, p tho
profession. and the few there are can make their
own terms Managers never will pull together, and
there is no use trying the experiment winch has 30
often failed"
Don't you think tue prevalence of the com bina-
ton system has done much harm y
do most decidedly. II reduces the amount Of
raw mateIlal from which our leading men used to
be made A young man has no chance of learning
his business, and remains Tor years, perhaps PLAYING
more OF less subordinate parts at the rate OF
the support Of a star. In my fathers days
things different. minor member of the
company had TO work hard and play many and
varied parts IN a single season. that all the good
IN him was bound to be brought out and he had
chance of showing his ability in the line which
suited his talents best. BY this means no very
found his level"
AT present then,I suppose yOu see no possibility
Of reducing the prices OF admission ~
mot the slightest. AS IL rs do not make
fortune for you must remember that the expense
of stock company does not consist only in the sal
aries OF the actors the stage but have TO pay
every week members of the company who are walk
ing about and dong nothing. Anyhow, | think
people Will as soon pay 81 90 81 10 the plays
we present played IN the way we play them"