New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-10

al have u number of expensive people. but think
there Is at least manager in New lork whose Ist
must amount more. Aud tins docs not include
supers la plays forty or fifty OF those are re-
uured nightly, and in rstclass theatres they get nifty
cents Il night. You viii see my company numbers only
fifteen but in plays like the Lights o London SILVER
KING etc. there from twenty-five to thirty people
in the cast and minor actors have to DO engaged 1T
salaries ranging from SO ~ $50.
" The box OHice Is run by business manager,
treasurer and bOy-salaries S1l0. The orchestra OF
twelve men, including leader. costs $500 Each ordi-
nary musician gctS $l7 % week, and the three or
four sOOists u tribe extra. Newspaper advertising Is
very expensive but never grudge It, Tor 1t pays lar
better than wallpaper or autographs There are at
feWCst twenty daily and weekly papers IN when al
yertse and "A moderate length ad. will cost me from
$500 10 $3.50 a week. The rates vary from five cents
10 orty-ve cents line and the hghestpTiced papers
the tost-paying for the circulation IL greater IN
proportion TO tho charge. Other advertising, such as
largo stands OF woOdcuts and window Autographs.
very little though, with the cost OF distributing,
they probably average 500 q week. ~
The mechanical and artistic depar ments swell the
total very considerably. The chief scenic arlst gets
500, au assistant $50, and u boy who primes ana
grnds cOlOrs Sl2, Tho master carpenter has S4O,
Drst assistant $50, and second 80 Inc property
man-one OF the best in the business who can make
everything from iron safe TO Seyres vase-gets $40,
and his assistant $40 Then to run the stage at night
| have ten extra men. or grips and two extra
property each receiving 81 performance, or IN
all SS4 week. gas man ana ssSls.ant TAX INC PAU
and calcium lights rarely cost less than twenty-five
dollars weekly, aud often more than double that
The head usher receives 81 u week. each OF his
five assistants So ADD three cleaners get the same
Gas averages about 500 week, but often runs much
higher, especially as when getting up new plays We
burn great deal the pantrames. Ii Is diihoult 20
get average weekly cost for scenery, under which
head will lump paints. lumber, canvas hardware,
gas fixtures carpets curtains and furniture. Hand
some carpets TOR good-sized stage often cost from
three TO four hundred dollars and unfortunately they
will wear out. l have given $3.50 for Moquette
Some furniture is very expensive, and we must change
occasionally. | have four suits OF drawing-room
furniture, two for dnngrOcm one for library ana an
kinds of odd cabinets secretaries, desks pedesais
ETC. and all tho appointments of j. house from dog
kennel to "a babys cradle and yOu 81 ould happen to
want such things, two or three property babies.
shall be long way inside tho correct hgures Ia putting
the scenery at $500 per week.
ROYALTIES for American plays generally run little
under $500 a week, bat considering that am usually
playing the works Of foreign authors 1t would be safe
20 reckon royalties at $500 Insurance IS very heavy
item in theatre expenses the risk being considered
extremely hazardous. Each manager nsures Tor what
he thinks his stock worth therefore won't give any
figures, bat you add tidy weekly sum for insur-
ance.
" II recapitulats the figures gave you, think you
will find am uot far out in saying 1t costs mo over
s., 900 week to run my theatre.
- Those figures don't include costumes for costume
plays which furnish TO all the male characters, the
supers and the lados of the ballet. Neither does it
include the salaries for those auxariss make any
allowance for the engaging OF extra people when caste
are long. There alsO many minor items which
cannot think of-evon my water tar Is $40O Year,
and the cost Of heating the theatre fully sl.Ooo.