The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1895-09-06

Enormous Profits Made by Men
Who Cater to thu Public's
Pleasure.

Enormous Profits Made by Men
Who Cater to thu Pubiic's
Pleasure.
According to "Holland," the New York
Morning Journals gossipy Philadelphia
correspondent, Henry c. Jarrett, the vet
eran theatrical manager, is now in that
city at work ON the manuscript Of what
he intends to be a faithful record of his
experiences. Many of the chapters he
has read to Mr.. Jefferson, who is delight
ed with the work and declares that it will
be of historical value, because SO much
of it relates TO the careers of incl and
women who achieved distinction upon the
stage from 1850 to 1870.
Mr.. jarrett, while conversins abott this
literary work, said that he was amazed
himself to discover that he really pos
sessed a very rich mine of facts Of person.
al and historic importance relating to
such actors as Booth. Barrett. f.. l..
| Davenport. George Rignold, Sothern the
elder. Charles Matthews and such az
tresses as Charlotte Cushman, Mrs. Hr"y.
Mrs. John Seton and others who won dis
tinction with the generation which has
passed away.
In that time Mr.. Jarrett, partly alone,
and for TWENTY-FIVE years in association
with the late Henry Palmer. received az
gregate net profits upon his successful
productions amounting to more than
$4.OUO.o!O. Of course, there were losses
entaiied by unsuccessful ventures which
cut into this magnificent figure, and yet.
subtractlng them. the sum realized A.
net profits were between S2.WO.U 100 and
$3,OOO,OU. This represents total re-
ceipts and expenditures far up in the
millions, quite equal to the total financial
| rDfr1rnS IN n fr cnunn f tI, o,n .r
poratiohs.
The Most Successful Play.
Far and away the most successful dra-
matte production ever given in English. Or
any other language. was the Black
Crook" which Jarrett & Palmer produced
hrst at Niblos garden in 1865. The
spectacle was produced for the greater
part OF three consecutive years, but in
three years tim" it actually had repre-
sentation amounting to about twenty-fUur
months. The net profits of this spectacle
to MIR. Jarrett and his partner were a
trile over 81. 1W,,UOO.
Uncle Toms Cabin" in its total earn
ings in the forty years that it has been
upon the stage, probably represents as
great a sum of net profits as that. Pos
sibiy the opera of Faust" which has
been sung more than a thousand times.
would show an equal profit, but these
earnings of S1,1W,UOO were all gained
within three years, and for productions
which, if they had been consecutive.
would not have extended over twenty
four months.
Mr. Jarrett's earnings proportionate to
this were for a production of "Uncle
Toms Cabin put upon the stage some
twenty years after the play was first
dramatized from Mrs. Stoves book.
That play netted for Mr.. Jarrett and his
partner in about three months S12n. Oty.
Tho GrOpSf 1n nrnHt nr.,p t,;rHj lac
MIR. Jarrett for a two weeks production
was earned in the Philadelphia Academy
of Music. Uncle Toms Cabin" bein.
the play. The net gains were S3n,OU for
fourteen performances. III four other
large cities it earned net S3n.HU more
in about six weeks time, and it earned
in England. where it was taken after the
season here. SGO,ON in about six weeks.
Other Successes.
Next to the Black Crook" in total net
profits Mr.. Jarrett says he finds his
season with Rignold. who played Henry
w. at Booths theater. was the most
satisfactory. The books showed. when
the accounts were closed. a clear profit
of S250.OOO. which sun was divided be-
tween Mr.. Jarrett and his partner. That
was a better financial success than the
season in which Edwin Booth and Dav-
export and Levick and others appeared
liz L >uSHAAs diNApuS tAdt dr. al
very successful production. The net
profits were S2OO.OOO. nearly all of which
were earned in New York city i'll Il
single continuous season.
The profits of the tour (which male
a great sensation in the musical world,
of Von Bulow did not begin to equal the
expectations of Mr.. Palmer. whose spe-
cial enterprise that was. When the sea
son was ended only $4,000 was left to be
divided between the partners. anil small
as that was, when the time involved in
managing the tour is considered. yet
, the partners were very glad to end the
season with something to the good
Mr.. Jarrett says that the trip across
the continent in 10. which was made in
less than four days. and which was an
event which excited national interest.
brought no pecuniary successes anil
measured by direct returns
y Was in Fact n Loss.
Rignold. who had made a great hit in
New York. did not repeat that success
i'll San Francisco. Htignold never realized
how great his success was in New York
production of Henry w." when Mr..
Jarrett's experienced eye taught him that
: he had discovered a dramatic gold mine.
Mr.. Jarrett said to Rignold: Il should
like to see you early in my Office toinpr-
l row morning. l have one or two imlor-
? tant matters to talk to you about.
Il hope | have not offended or done
l anything for you to find fault with" said
2 Rignold..
| "Oh. no: l only want to See you about
r one or two trifing details Of business.
was the reply.
Next morning. when Rignold called.
Mr.. Jarrett said: "Mr. Rignold. we in
America do things a little differently
from the custom in England. We have
engaged you for $3.50 a week. and the
contract is for six months. but an 60
ing to propose ~ YOU II change in the
contract, which | believe is necessary to
make" Here Risnolds countenance re-
vealed anxiety. and he was about to speak
when Mr.. Jarrett went on. I'VE have
made up our minds that Henry " is
going to be successful. and for that reason
We are disposed to make a new PROPOSE
ton to you, so that you may be satisfied
as we'll as we. If you extend the con
tract for twelve months we will pay you
$500 4 week"
Rignold expressed the greatest delight
and was particularly ELUSIVE in his praise
Of the fairness of American managers.
but he did not know. as Mr. Jarrett did.
that it was more than human nature
could stand to see crowded and cnthuSi-
astic houses night after night. enrichins
the mana cement. while the chief actor
received only $3.50.
"Why." said Mr.. Jarrett. amy resonsi-
BILE manager in the United States in a
few days would have offered Rignold
$1,000 a week ut the expiration of his six
months contract with us
This Animal l,avs Zoos