The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-18
THINGS, ACTORS MUSTN'T DO.
CURIOUS RULES THAT SOME OF THEN
Are bound by.

manager. for there Is n part In this play lust
suited to you. But can depend on your
L haven't touched drop In month. Pom
honor"
HIM. Well. I'll do It on two conditions"
What are they?"
touch drop ofli1uor under any clrcums stances
during tho engagement: second that you
agree TO have the drink clause inserted in the
contract"
Tho old actor hestated. and his face showed
that hc was greatly agitated Evidently his
reluctance to bind himself was hard to over
como. The manager watched him In silence.
prudence finally conquered.
AN right. will" said the actor YEARLY.
Tho next day no called again. and In the
presence OF the manager and several en-
royccs took the oath OF total abstinence.
Then he sat down and signed his npme to tho
contract. in which there was clause setting
forth that If Ito should take drop OF liquor
during tho engagement without the managers
consent the latter should have the right to dis.
miss him instantly.
Things have changed since entered the
profession" lie said. rs he throw down the
peh. Ten years ago no manager would have
dared TO ask an actor to sign q contract like
that. or any other contract that interfered with
his personal liberty. for that matter. But
then the profession was not overcrowded and
tho manager wasn't 50 absolute as he IL now"
That is the way tho average actor looks at
tho subject OF theatrical contracts. The
latter have been In general use in this coun-
try only since the travelling companies re-
placed tho old stock companies. and their
most stringent clauses are Of even more "a.
cent date. Ordinary theatrical contracts are
apparently very simple. but there are a good
many catches in them which the ttro Is mt to
pass unnoticed. only to find himself hope
lessly tied down when lie attempts to FREQ
himself As they are usually drawn, by the
managers attorney. they are pretty sure to lie
favorable to him only.
Tho genius OF Abe Hummcl is alleged to be
responsible for u contract much favored by
some managers. although not all. This is full
Of stumbling blocks for tho unfortunate actor
who is forced TO sign it He might as well ro-
sign himself to any fate that tho manager
may wish to inflct upon him. once he has
signed. sealed. and delivered" this terrible
document In the very beginning tho actor
Tor actress is caught by this very Innocent
appearing phrase:
Hereby reiindnishng all claim to COM
rensntion or salary il said services shall not
be rendered by said party Of the second part"
The innocent. OF course. surposes that the
meaning OF that is that il no fails to do his
work he will not be paid. but that otherwise
no is all right. But let the company be caught
in blizzard or a washout. or be DELAYED In any
other way. and he will find that his salary Is
stopped because he is not rendering the said
services. 1t is not his fault to be sure. but
that makes no difference.
Tho first paragraph contains provisions
which require the party Of tho second part"
to do what the manager may require Of him
~ n nv tSfo fo In ~
rehearsals and nightly. "and at the matintes
usual to the theatre in which performances
take place. Hero two negroes appear behind
the neatly constructed fence. The services
must be satisfactory to the manager II he
does not like them. no matter though they
be enthusiastically supported by tho audi
erces. the contract may be ended. The per-
former must appear " at the matinees usual to
the theatre II tho latter happens to be Of
the Third Avenue Theatre class. that means
four matin,:es n week. Tho same paragraph
also prohibits the performers appearance at
any other theatre or for any other company.
That refers to benefits and Sunday night 'sa-
cred concerts" In paragraph 3 the motor
agrees not to demand any compensn ton while
travelling. In Il long ocean voyage TO Aus
tral;; or even trip 70 san Francisco that
iarHGraph 4contans the famo us 'two-weeks
clause" This allows the manager o d ismiss
ter giving him two weeks notice The two
weeks clause has usually been upheld by the
courts. and is therefore favored by managers
who are DUBIOUS about the ability of the per-
hoie in case they feel it advisable to get rid Of
originated by VIM. Macdonougl. himself an
motor. shortly after tho old,time stock compa-
mics. were superseded ny tho travelling com
panies which is less than ten years ago. Prior
to that time actors and actresses were en-
gagged by tho season. and could not DO dis
Il
poor lot he had to suffer the consequences.
hut that rarely happened. as, there wore
OF a stock co,npamy and Tie humber INK e Of ' per.
formers was So limited that the character and
ability of each was pretty well known. With
tho managers, Tho latter wero put to greater
chances Of loss. 70 be saddied with a com.
meant rnin. ara thS manasers let Dat i was
Hence this clause. As Mr.. IIummel said tho
other day. contract containing such clause
might purpoort to be for ten wears.
Paragraph gives tho managers the power
formers the amount Of any lines inflicted upon pom
them for violation OF the rules and equations.
1t also restricts the managers liability for the
performers railroad expenses to transporta-
ton between the places where this first
and last performanceS were given. Thus, II
season suddenly in some place remote from
tho .nctors home tho latter may Unexpectedly
find himself stranded in u strange town. In
the next paragraph the performer releases
tho manager from all liability for damage to
himself or his nroperty through accidents or
injuries OF any kind. sustained in any manner.
even through the acts Of the manager or his
agents. and also bars his heirs and executors
from claiming damages. Finally. the per-
former agrees that IL the manager produces
the play in this city and has to pay $500 or
more 1; week for tho rent ol the tllcntre before
he can have any, portion Of the recripts. then
the manager will not have to pny him more
than ST. for the first weeks services.
As tn is contract. or others similar to it. is in
general use in this country. il will be seen Tint
the performer has tho small end Of he handle
al the way through. But some contracts give
the manager even greater powers. some bind
the acto or actress to obedience Ia such rules
and regulations ms the manager may deem
necessary. This gives managers the opnor-
tunity to demand almost anything. but bitter
experiences with iuries have made most Of
them cautious about asking anything unrea-
sonablc. The rules and REGULATE onsars usually
posted IN in the green room. hut sometime.
the manager does not want everybody to REQ
them. in which case no serves copies upon
those whom l." intends 10 bind ythem. Au-
gustin DAILY IN said to have enforced rules
forbiddnC the members Of his company 10
ti