The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-06-04
.SECRETS ON THE STAGE
Revealed in Belasco's Suit Against
Millionaire Fairbank.
TIE COST OF CREATING A STAR.

Before the First Production of ''The Ugly
DuclSling," with Mrs. Leslie Carter as the
Leading Actress, 1t Was Necessary to Pay
Four Thousand Dollars.
NEW YORK, June 4.-David Belasco was
q witness in the supreme court yesterday
In his suit to recover 100000 from n. K.
Fairbank for services rendered in fitting
Mrs. Leslie Carter for the stage Belasco,
after describing the arduous nature of the
work of coaching novices, and even actors
of experience and reputation testified
that he first met Fairbank in the autumn
of 1889 in the apartments of Mrs. Carter in
this city This also was the plaintiff wit
ness first meeting with Mrs. Carter The
meeting was at Fairbanks request, and
had for It's purpose Belasco testified, the
discussion OF the question of making q
dramatic star of Mrs. Carter.
According to the witness he told Fair
bank that the cost of that undertaking
would be $4,000 to $50,000 which was no
more than was paid for preparing Mary
Anderson for her career. To this infor-
nation the defendant responded, placing
his hand on the plaintiffs shoulder, "NIy
boy, you have been very frank and would
lllBlUCl any OblbI Illhll, DNlu L nave DlenIN
Of money. lose a million dollars one day
and make it back the next"
| Belasco further testified that he objected
to dealing with baokers who withheld theI
names from the public, to which Fairbank
replied that it was for weighty business
reasons that he did not wish to be known
as the financial sponsor for Mrs. Carter,
! Negotiations progressed so far that Bel
/ patipa1 from his othap h,,s
gagements to devote his entire time to the
development of Mrs. Carter's talents.
| Fairbank had asked the witness several
times not to come to him at his hotel, as
witness being theatrical man, his com
ing was apt to excite gossip. A change of
managers for Mrs. Carter was effected at
a cost of $780, which Fairbank paid
On one occasion, according to Belasco's
testimony, Fairbank said to him: "Belasco
what is this 1 hear of you leaving Mrs.
Carter after she makes her debut2 l can't
spare you; want you to tour with hel
and write plays.fo her"
+ To this Belasco says he replied:
Goodness me, / can't do that; l dom
want to go on tour and become theat-
rical manager, as have wife and grown
up daughters, and can't give up my bust
ness" Fairbank asked how much Belascc
made year, and when he was told that il
was between $685. 900 and $4,000 he said
"Go with me, Belasco, and you will make
as much"
Witness said he finally agreed to go OF
a tour and informed Fairbank it woult
cost $4,000 for Broadway production, tx
which Fairbank replied, Consider Mr.
Allen bank and draw on him for money
The witness asked to be excused from
relating other conversations which tool
place at this interview saying he wished
to spare Fairbank as much as possible
Belasco testified that he received from
Fairbanks representative in this city
check for "a, ,00O which was required to b,
paid TO the manager of the theaterat which
"The Ugly Duckling" had its first per
forman3e, Nov. 10, 1890, with Mrs. Garter
as the leading actress, before the curtain
could be raised. Belasco said he met Fair
bank couple of nights after Mrs, Car
ter's appearance and was congratulated
and as Belasco expressed it, "he virtual,
hugged me"
Mr.. Belasco told of money being ad
vanced by Mr.. Willard for Mr.. Fairbanl
during the latters absence. He said h
was in Chicago in February, 1891, anC
told Mr.. Allen of Mrs. Carter's success
there, and urged that the tour be closed
but Mr.. Allen asked him to continue tn
tour, as he would have to see Fairbanl
about the matter.
Several kilograms from Manager Pric,
to Mr. Allen asking for money and tellin
of poor business were introduced. Mr.
Belasco said that he received no part o
the money, but it went to Mr.. Price. H
told of a conference with Mr.. Morrison il
Kansas City March IA, 1884, when he a
proprietor and Price as manager signed
receipt for "a, $50 as payment for all sa
aries due actors and actresses and eS
a penses of the tour He said that he tol
|, Morrison at that time that he had a clair
against Mr., Fairbank and did not war
TO release that claim. Morrison assure
him, SO he says, that he merely receipte