Omaha daily bee., 1892-12-18
GOSSIP OF THE STAGE FOLK
Denman Thompson Puts By Snug Sums for
Rainy Days,
BARN sToRMlNG OF A POPULAR ACTRESS
Variety Performers with Taking specinlties
Making Fortunes-Actors as Tellers OF
Fake Storics-Coming Events
Dramatic Notes.

Denman Thompson is probably the most
prosperous actor on the stage at the present
time His weekly income now averages over
$1,000 This includes the profits of his two
"Old Homestead" companies and his share
in '"rhe Two Sisters" show. Mr. Thompson
calls 5000 a week starvation business. 1t
may be interesting to know that this is the
first time in three years that Denman
Thompson has personally derived any fnan-
cial benefits from his theatrical enterprises.
Three years ago he drew up q contract
which provided that every penny obtained
from his shows should be placed in the bank
TO the credit of his two younger children.
The next year the net earnings were all
given to Frank Thompson, his eldest son,
and last year Mrs. Thompson got all the re-
ceipts.
''The theatrical business, like everything
else" explained Mr. Thompson, "is uncer-
tain, and thought I'd make hay while the
sun was shining. I've made my folks com
fortably well off, and this year Uncle Josh is
in it for HIMSELF
1t may be said that no theatrical man has
ever stood prosperity better than Denman
Thompson, With one exception he is the
same, good hearted, simple Uncle Josh as
of old, but he has undergone one great
change this year. He has a tall silk hat
~.
Few actresses on the stage have n more
distinct individuality than Johnstone Ben
nett, whose impcrsonation of Jane has been
one Of the hits of the last two seasons She
made her debut with the Willard -Tremaine
company.
ever exhibited outside county fair said
Miss Bennett in a recent interview. ~ was
the leading lady. We played Camille and
/ was Camille"
owe also played East Lynne Lady of
Lyons The Sea of lee Solon Shingle,'
Uncle Toms Cabin Bob, the Detective,
and Kit Carson, the Scout One night
would be called upon to play, Camille
and the next ''rhe Pariric Wolf
81 had seen Clara Morris play Camille,
but, of course, played it somewhat differ
emily from her way In fact, | don't think
my conception Of the part has eyer been zee
audience evidently thought the same, one
audience in particular. This made me in
dignant, and ! threatened to quit. The
manager owed me eight weeks salary. lie
handed me 80 cents.
"'Ihen | rocked the waves of the ocean in
the Sea of Ice did not have any part in
the play, and had to toss the waves at crit
ical moments and initiate the signing of the
wind. Local Indignation caused us to occas-
ionally change our repertory. On one occas-
ion, when Camille was announced, our lead
ing man was in despair
"'My Gawdr he exclaimed, i can't play
Armand!'
"sWhy notr thundercd our manager.
"'BecauSe haven't the price of a shave
and can't play Armand with moustache.'
"'That's so,' muSed the manager, we
will have to change the bill
"We did. We played Uncle Toms
Cabin"
So many speciality people from the other
side of the water have visited America this
season that some of the London concert halls
cannot get all the clever, performers they
want. Sir Augustus Harris says that he is
going TO give the best vaudeville entertain'
ment in London this season at the Savoy
theater His manager cabled Jennie Yea
mans last week Offering her $500 week foI
ten minutes work each night. Miss Yea
mans says that she does not care to do spe-
cialty work any more, but wants to act. Sc
she cablcd to the London manager that she
could not afford to go TO London for less than
sum much larger than the offer made tc
her.
She thought that would end the matter
but last evening an answer came stating
that the manager of the Savoy would accede
to her demands upon certain conditions
which We're explained in a letter now on it:
way to New York. Now she is at Il los!
what to do
''Thcre is a sermon in this" said Mis-
Yeamans. ''What is the drama coming t,
when you can get more money for a specialt,
performance than leading actress cal
draw FL venture that the young woman whit
sings 'Ta-ra-ra' receives larger salary THAI
Ada Rehan and Agnes Booth combined. /
this state of affairs continues I'm going t
learn horizontal bar act, or something lik
that"
A year ago Wilton Lackaye planted spri
of an ivy tree in the yard behind the home o
the Players club, in New York. There is
young tree there now. The branch was oh
tanned from Shakespeare's tomb by Nh
Lackaye when abroad last year and it wa
very appropriate that he placed it on tht
grounds of the club of actors. This is tn
story told by Mr. Lackaye's friends, but
better version came out few days ago ]
was reported that the actor was telling
pathetic tale of how he obtained the iv
branch, and tears ran down his face ever
time he spoke Shakespeare's name. Just a
he arrived at touching climax of tn
party said: That's all very well to tell rt
porters, but was with you in Broadwa
florists shop when you bought that iv
branch"
Theatrical Topics.
Dad Iii cd 10 ,cln