Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-09-17
ACTORS CONTRACTS.
Cast-Iron documents that Mem bers
of the Profession are Required by
Managers to Sign.
Philadelphia Press.

| Managers TO sign.
Philadelphia Press.
The darlings of the stage, worshiped
from the front of the house, have a
side to their lives, irrespective of sex,
with which the public is not familiar.
Back OF the scenes no one worships
anything, and the manager has no
veneration for anything but large re,
ceipts. When the curtain is up the
leading man seems TO own the earth,
while nothing in the world is too good
for the leading lady and the fascina-
ting fair ones who attend her, yet the
fact is that under the system of trav
cling Coca bInatIons actresses are bound
as tight as galley slaves.
The contracts signed by the mems
bers of tae profession have always
beea jealousy concealed from the
public eye, the result being to very
largely create the impression that
with a favorite of the people the agree
ment with the manager was the merest
formality without the slightest binding
force. 1t may surprise sore Of the
initiated, even, to learn upon what
shal &c g fcsl,, & a.tiic:,s this opinic:a zssst.
ed.
Recently p Reporter secured 2 ecpy
OF the contract signed by every mem-
Der of minstrel combination for the
season of 1885 6. It is a fair specim en-
of the cast>iron collar worn by the
profession to-day. 1t is remarkable
for the absolute surrender Of all lib
erty which it exacts from those who
sign it. It gives everything to the
manager, and leaves what he can get
to the performer.
In tie first clause 1t binds the per-
former not only to his original en-
ployer, but to the heirs and assigns of
that employer, to serve him or them
in the capacity in which he or she was
engaged for specified period. It also
provides that this period may be ex-
tended at the option of the manager
or sharply curtailed, also at his option
upon few days notice. The mana
ger also reserves the right, in the
same clause, absolutely to annul the
contract, capriciously Or otherwise,
the single consideration given to the
performer being notice several days
in advance OF the event that upon
certain date his head will fall into
the basket.
The performer also agrees that he
will not assist in any performance
charitable Or otherwise, without the
permissinon of the proprietor, and
finally he valves every right guaran>
teed to him under the law by sub
scrlblng to covenant, of which the
following is copy:
| And for the frIJa narf0rn1onon IF al IT
and every the covenants and agree
ments aforesaid, the said party Of the
second part doth hereby bind his Cor
her) heirs, executors, and assigns to
the party of the first part, his heirs,
executors, and assigns, in the sum of
$500, which is hereby agreed upon as
stipulated damages, and not penalty
for the breach Of the above contract
and agreement. And the said party of
the second part hereby authorizes an
attorney of the courts Of this commons
wealth to appear for him, his heirs,
executors, aud administrators, in the
said court, Or elsewhere, In action OF
debt, there or elsewhere brought
against him, his heirs, executors, and
administrators, at the suit of the
said lsproprietor. his successors or ass
signs on the said obligation, as of any
term Or time, past, present, Or any
other subsequent time, there or else>
where to be held, and thereupon cons
TESS judgment for the sum of $500,
debt, besides cost of suit.
A paragraph follows acquitting the
proprietor of all responsibility for
errors of any sort that might have
been made in his proceedings against
his employee, and this clinched BY the
concluding clause, waich sounds ike
the exclamation of a Hnan about to
plunge into the river. The clause
reads:
Hereby waving all rights to the
benefit Of any la now made or
hereafter to be made exempting all
their personal property from levy or
SALE"
After the artist has signed the iron
clad his attention is directed to the
rules of the combination, by which ne
must be governed. Article 1 apprises
him that rehearsals will be called
whenever 1t is deemed necessary. IF
he is late he forfeits 81; if he is absent
he forfeits $3. There is a stated day
in each week for the payment of sal
aries, and 20 per cent. is charged for
advances. A fine of SIS is assessed
upon anyone sighting a perfor En-
ance, refusing TO accept any part ass
signed by the manager, or for reading
part at the last rehearsal.
| There are other rules OF the same
tenor, but of less general interest, and
the entertaining document closes
with this declaration for the propries
| tor:
II shall use my utmost endeavors
to make it comfortable for the mem
bers Of this combination, and in doing
SO shall expect proper reciproca~
| ton"
'What does that meant" inquired
member of the company.
''If he knocks you down he won't
kick you for falling" replied another.
The Tanama Canal.