Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-01-31
WHAT GREAT ACTORS EARN.
Madame Jane Hading Writes Of
the Sums Paid Theatrical stars.

the Sums Paid Theatrical stars.
We are long way off from the meagre
2 sots ParisiS q cents) charged by the
Confreres de la Passion, as actors were
called who played the mysteries" in
the fourteenth century. The times have
changed since the royal comedians of the
Little Bourbon theater, under the man
agement of Moliere, drew only pitiful
salary of 800 livres whenever there was
enough money in the cash box for them
to do 80. Paulus, the music-hall singer,
makes az much in few hours, Faurre
with three bars of music, Madame Theo
with a couplet and Patti with a note.
The famous tenor. Tsmerlick, who
died in March, 1889, at the age of 80,
was offered $2S 900 annually to sing at
the Grand Opera in Paris, which offer
he declined. Madame Malibran used to
receive $3.50 in London every evening;
Grisi and Persiani would not sing there
under $1,000 a night; while in Paris
divas like Falcon, Damoreau, Csbel
Sasse and Carvalho, who were unques-
tionably as high gifted, never came
within measurable distance of euch
pri ces.
When it became known that Duprez,
the marvellous tenor, had asked $29, 900
from Dupouchel, the director of the
Paris opera. the news almost caused q
revolution. The whole press WAS in
arms, the bourse grew alarmed, and
lively questions We're addressed to the
prime minister of fine arts at the cham
bers. Duprez held out and won the day.
In the provinces he had never sung
under 5000 night.
Patti was the first cantatrice who de.
MD nd in, aric ,iuht 1xy
salary of $4,000. Her example was at
once followed by several of her rivals 80
that to sustain her supremacy in the
operatic market, Adelina gradually
raised her price to So 1000, which sum
she received for each of her
three concerts she gave in one week last
year at the Eden theatre in Paris. In
North and South America she received
$5 900. Quite recently the tenor Tam
agno, whom we shall no doubt some day
hear in Paris, if we get rich enough to
pay for his glory, was engaged at Rio
Janeiro for $4,000 night, at the rate of
ten performances month during the
operate season.
AS regards actors, there is also an up
ward movement in the salaries of the
dramatic profession; l mean the salaries
OF men and women who have made rec
ognized position. Quite recently heard
of young actor who had signed fresh
engagement with his manager for 1925
a week, and he is by no means the most
important parsonage in the theater,
which owes much, | must admit, to his
intelligence and industry. He is the
jeune premier, or ''leading man."
who is, of course, very conspicuous
member of good company. AT
least 5000 a week must be
paid at any respectable house for a lead
ing man, and a good second is worth $3.50
week. In America the best leading
men are paid better than anywhere else
in the world.
There is too much competition in man.
agement, say the directors, and it is this
competition that raises the price of sal
aries. But the great singer as we'll as
an actor or actress is worth what
he or she will bring. If che COM
mands public attention and brings
$1,000 or $4,000 a night she is always
worth So, 900, while if she is only the side
light to big play she may not be worth
$50. 1t would no doubt have startled the
OLD time actors if they had been offered
the salaries that today are paid out to
members of their profession.
1t is hard to strike an average when
talents vary 80 much, and rewards ac-
cordingly differ, but a general idea may
be given, leaving out the exceptions. A
heavy man in Paris may be contented
with $40 to $50 week, while his oppo-
site, the low comedian, laughs and
dances to the tune of $50 and $50.
Soubrettes, if bright and pretty, obtain
$35 to $50, and polished Williams little
more for their crimes. Old men and
old women are content on $50 to $50,
while the minor lights shine for SIS to
$50 each.
When Gabrielli, the celebrated singer,
went to Russia in 176S, she astonished
Catherine ii by demanding 5000
ducats as salary for two months' en-
gagement. The Empress demurred,
saying the sum was larger than the pay
of any Of her field-marshals. To which
Ga5rielli simply replied: tIn that case
let your majesty's field-marshals sing for
ycu!" The Empress paid the 5000
ducats. .-[From letter in the Philadel-
phia Praan