Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-08-12
FooTl,ohT FORTUNES.


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The Chicago Ti0es haD hen reckon
ing up the incomes derived from .-the
actors calling" which, All things con
sidered, is now oas Of the best-psid
businesses that . bright man or woman
can engage In" A few items" present
some points Of general interest:
The average leading man or woman
In america receives from 500 TO $50 .
week. The second man a woman
fiuvenile) in . frst-class company is
paid from SIS 10 ete0 . week. and the
comedian and soubrette about the
same. The leading people Of the variety
stage are all well paid Harry Kernell,
when in health, WAS always SIRE of $3.50
weekly. and Gus Williams, before he be-
cams a star, used to demand and receive
a salary of $50 a week. Carmencita's legs
earn her 500 week, and the late Pat
Rooney, the prince Of improyisatores.
for a long time demanded 800 a week.
But it is upon the kings and queens
of the legitimate that the golden re-
wards of the theatrical profession are
bestowed. Daniel Frohman, three or
foHr years ago, paid Modjeska tl,T55 a
week for her personal services, and
considered that he had made a profit
able investment Booth and Barrett.
Al the end Of the first season they APP
p..ared together. divided up eS6e 600.
Henry irving on his first American
tour under Abbey's management played
u si0,. 900 in swenty-seven weeks; one
Of fiernharsits American tours Melted
her s:s0o. 900. and Lily Langtry made her
first American tour on guarantee Of
81 900 a week. The earnings and in
vesta1cnts Of Joseph Murphy made him
a millionaire. Denman Thompson often
makes from O., 600 TO 1000 q week, and
Evans and Hoey In seven yearS have
made 500. 200. Joseph Jefferson, no
for several years paid William J. Flor
ence $1,000 a week; Stuart Robson,
william e. Crane. Neil Burgess. Nat
Goodwin, Sol Smith Russell. Edward
Harrigad, Oliver Duod Bryon, James II.
Wallick and Richard Mansfield. are all
large and steady money makers, and all
are well TO do. jefferson being probably
the richest of the lot
Comedy, with a few exceptions, al
ways pays better than tragedy. and
Francis Wilson, Of comic opera fame, is
probably the largest and steadiest
money-maker now before the American
public He relinquished salary of $500
4 week TO become a star.
Mary Anderson, before she left the
stage. frequently made $4,000 week.
and Lillian Russell, Pauline Hall, Lolita.
Modjeska. Fanny Davenport, Maggie
Mitchell, Clara Morris and Annie Pixley
each make a comfortable fortune every
year. Lolita is worth close TO million,
and is the richest actress living
But the earnings Of the most popular
players fall far below those Of the great
opera singers. Patti never sings for
less than s., 900 night; Semtrich has
often received 81, 500 for single per
Torrance; Campanini has been paid S.
300 a month, and Jean de Reszke during
his American tour last year was paid
81. 800 for each performance and 20 per
cent. of the box receipts. His brother
Edouard was paid 5000 for each per
formance. Playmaking, when one sue
leeds at 1t, is one OF the most profitable
If callings. Bronson Howard, Charles
II. Hoyt, Henry C. De Mile, David
Bclasco and William Fl. Gillette each
makes not less than $25, 900 every year,
and Towards income In some recent
years has often trebled that amount.