New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-10
FORMING THEATRICAL COMPANIES
HOW ACTORS ARE ENGAGED.

In the report Of A. NJ Palmer president OF the Actors
Fund.- which printed In all the city newspapers last
Wednesday, particular reference made TO the rcesab
llshment OF the Funds dramatic agency. Many people
probably then heard for the time about such nst
tutOn and naturally felt curiosity know what and
how extensive are its workings dramatic agency is the
Intelligence Office OF the theatrical profession and there
the names and addresses Of the majority Of people
connected with the stage registered AZ one such
Office there are ovr 1000 names the books These are
arranged according the line OF business and agent
can turn instantly to department about which there
is an inquiry. Not only actors supplied by these
Offices but business advance agents. property
men, carpenters, wardrobe-wcmen dressers etc. Many
wel-knOwn actors and actresses whose services In
demand very seldom get engagements through
agencies, managers write to them making offers The
great majority Of the engagements however made by
the agents manager who wants u company gives an
idea OF how many people he needs the respective
lines Of business and the salaries he is willing to pay.
The agent goes his and submits list Of Names
and the makes his selections and then meetings
arranged and offers made and accepted rejected
the may be- Naturally great deal OF power has
become vested in the theatrical agents There only
Of any considerable importance in this city
They have their likes and dislikes, and practically have
been for time the arbites Of the destnes of
who have become sufficiently famous 10 be in
general demand 1t is with View Of conducting this
business with equal justice to all that the Actors
Fund has established agency, controlled by commit
tee and which, while Offering superior advantages In some
ways Will charge less commission than Is exaced under
the old system As rule, that was for a seasons en-
gagement one-thrd TO half Of weeks salary and on
short engagements or Jobs" they technically
| termed per cent.
agencies the walls generally lined with the
portraits OF and actresses and these necessarily
great helps to manager In picking 1ut persons he may
desire to Salaries range all the from $40 TO
$3.50 per week. There few people who get more
than higher figure but they not those who have to
agencies. Leading men and women may be pro-
cured all the way from $40 TO $3.50 per week This Is
wide difference, but equally different is the amount OF
ability secured For $40 respectable actor may be
obtained for cheap companies playing in small towns or In
cities used be called the dime museums In
companies playing the high priced theatres leading men
and generally receive from s75 to 1925 week
rule the get little more than the men, and
this is only fair their dress is considerably more ex
pensiye hotels they need better and more
fires than the men. Juvenile ami women are OBJ
aned from $40 TO 500 Comedians at about the same
rates. unless OF exceptional merit The heavy man and
the best paid after the leading people
receiving anywhere from ESQ to s10c. Old men and
women rarely get much $50 and the small people, or
aers.up, paid nom $50 to s35. Unquestonaby the
and file OF the profession are undepad while many
OF the leaders far than they deserve or than
the amount of ability would obtain in any other
business While even the small figures quoted may seem
LIBERAL it remembered that salaries very often
uncertain and that even when they are paid regularly IL
is rarely than eight months in the year Dress
expensive and living in secondelass hotels Is
costly who is economical rarely keep his
weekly expenses below s15 and has, therefore, all be can
do to enough carry him through the long summer
vacation Husbands and wives are seldom engaged In
company, managers have learned that any dis
pute or trouble with the with both. II
Is no easy matter replace people in the middle OF
season. and perhaps distance Of thousand miles
from New York Nearly all the principal companies are
made up this city and the work begins with
the summer and till the opening Of the
Engagements the local stock companies rarely made
through agents Positions in these the prizes OF the
profession and the managers inundated with personal
| and written applications