The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-29
HARD TIMES FOR ACTORS.
the PREsENT SEASON TIE CLIMAX
or ADTERSE SEASONS.
OvercroSyded Ranks and the Hosts OF
Fo-eirn Actors ths Causes OF Much
Observation-Disclosures 60 witch Good
Actors Are Pat co Gatn - Livelihood.

-
Overcrowded Rnnh- and the Hosts OF
ForeiRn Actors the Causes OF Much
Observation-Disclosures 90 witch Good
Actors Are Pet co Gain - livelihood.
Theatrical people Of all grades, from the
angels or financial hackers of managers down
to stage hands, have known few II any more
disastrous seasons than the now far advanced
season of 1sg5.B. II seems to be the climax Of n
succession of adverse years, bearing hard on
backs already bent by heavy burdens Of mis-
fortune. The failure OF many scores Of excel
lent travelling companies that vainly sought
support from the patronage once accorded
abundantly by the minor cities and towns at
tests that the hard times from which the coun-
try has suffered since 1902 are not yet over.
Money is not yet sufficiently plentiful to per.
nit indulgence In amusemcnts To the same ex.
tent as formerly. This is In no wise dis
proved by the exceptional successes Of a few
theatres In the principal cities where rich peo-
pie live and where the large floating popula.
ito ms maintain an abnormal scale Of expendi.
ture. The present situation Is bud enough for
theatrical enterprises and those employed in
them, but worse IL TO come, because n Presiden.
tial campaign year is always n bad one for the
theatrical business.
One reason for the ever. increasing distress
among caterers to the public amusement Is
tllht llb THIlhs u u pTultSbIuh III VNtIb ut-
partmcnt are now o~vcrcrowded, not only by
the natural growth OF the established sources
Of native supply. but also by hordes of i'm
ported performers, who, rs q general rule, re-
main when they get here. For the last decade
almost all English stars have brought their
own entire companies to this country to sup
port them, thus depriving Americans OF a
chance OF employment.
Other artists, also. of almost every race.
coior' anu previous conuiIioh Oh serNituue'
have fiocked TO this country, and have often
been preferred by managers to native perform
'i' ine '"",.f''"t' " '""' 'niS t"o YIN
paratively small number who are in the front
rannIna l. 10 a,w"s >, t,o oe,n anu ia. ,em o.ne r.
r"nR'"H uo""""ru from th's iihe hlahaEe 10
exc out a precarious livelihood by occasional
,,. on. among ,ns she rnnH anu NE 0. american
~ ui'.re's INCREASES IRON year
entire season, and so, by sheer necessity, are
forced ort NJ tbe nr,fossion o,tncoth.r into
Wv o' " '"0 pioi'''" "'''se'"ei ih'o
other occupations. As II rule actors are i'll
adapted to and care nothing for any pursuit
other than theirs. There are, however. Il few
notable except, ms of players making a success
in some other business. But while most of
them still hang on to their own, they conceal
their struggles in the poor abodes they call
home" and nut a brave face upon their lh,Ey SUI ~
ferinus, not only because actors-in that word
are also Included actresses-are naturally
proud. but also because they know the i'm.
portance of keeping up appearances. They are
aware that If they look doleful and shabby the
because, thew wa are e'e M I Io Tue l an am
t~ractiye. and, as nothing succeeds like success
they must at least seem to be at the head and
50 long as he can keen we'll dressed hone springs
eternal in the actors breast. He is sure thai
so long as he can hold on 10 HIS wardrobe he
NAV nj any moment seize n ioh "
Therefore daily he Joins the crowd on the
actnrs, ',iibanWe' and helms to swell tbs :. sm,rnn
=. a.. .,t; -. ,.i.l
head. and cracking Jokes with tie most prol.
perous-or the reverse-of them all. He may
feeI n tr,de hollow in the stomnchir rerion
and his trousers may be fringed at the ankles.
Lmt they will be newly creased. and his face will
NJ No clenn. shavcn. The wonen's black satin sk irts
from overmuch cleaning and pressing, ma;
shins like nm old stove hit thejr hang and far.
will be in the latest style. while their hats will
Inc So befowered and befeathered thnt M one
viii catch even a plimnse of Rlack Tare no he
rides on the rim behind. 1t is only when the
obliged to consiyn them to the care Of his
"uncle," that, losing heart along with the most
essential tools of his trade, he drops out o Of it al.
II ia not ONLY the INCOMPETENT and tbe e-
derry who have been crowded off the boards.
With unimpaired dramatic mower whose erl
vices were in demand and well remunerated I'M
inc ' foid," ASiTi There Is came one n aaMe actor tlke a who Tol used @1
tn rcCeive an average weekly salary Of $40 lie
has had no steady employment for 1--WE Years,
NAM among the retired ranks were nrov;-
dent iHS tnnip hv-rnne nrnsner"ms d,ws e, wv nnt
by u sometRimg. but, except in the case case o" "f's sta ars
tiisnensnhin 6utIav for rostumes and othor - mn ~
dnntais sn mat few NJ Them now M ~ th u.
seIvns IN n nnSition to live what an W nrn,na
from cnntinurd ennnlovrnent Uarra nne
.omes across retired artists of 10th scxes In The
n no n.vraotod rIa"aS MI nrrsn III Nv
T. In tha III of The mnecm !" r. M, ;,c,rd.
oil the rast hnrias VIC cain subsiStaUco ~ ~.
Strnntina o,nils in tha WariouS raWI,;,a ~ -
- no r,mati;c art as this ~ Tho natmra ra
W NV ~ ,hn'r nr"fs 10 % nj T. ~
Ike he nrnfesliop ITSELF. onIv ocrnsionaiiv iss
~ ~, 49, ~ y : ~ ,ns,rn om an sr \, a. p,a
,h ~ 70 mi tbo"e ~ nya%ad In - IN f mS rnHmn.--
@ n cr W. ~ " q s"o70 "~""e ~ III H'u'iS"''s
''r,uu na rn, ovnoa,o,.s 30 ban, a..
VIII f Sn ths dn nn ere resorlad TO Ae 1 tme
~, al al t,p sV ~ ~ rW one en-
MAJ ~ nnnaLpr M. and Observation-Disclosures "a siase hoM
uru,ius Werh,S "Ih unubiipiaIh 'igiy III an
meatnraS 'hrJusn thu smuhlnan uist,icts as
" wnoiIan mob ,nnt,,ars n . rd miit1nrss'a ii to"rse
""oau,uh u.N Nv CIV M s'us-
sotnoIs "e nv E"iuSn.hs, co''u,tors,
ul,Ners' am ~ "uls ieu"iiis MI as 40
in.er Urn tuIoi ah, 5eau,re eAlr" heaFS
y II ", 'neii ~. II ~ ite'.
~ sIola ~ h.i.'eu ~ n.a Wv. Mno Iot
80 very lo1H aRo. WAS cclcuIa'tu LOT iler VIII