Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-03
A PROBLEM FOR ACTORS.
THE PROFESSION IS OvERCROwDED
AND SALARIES MUST FALL.
Some Well Known Managers and Act
ors Give Their Views on the
subject-From Legitimate
TO Vaudeville.

u E
profession are asking themselves these Two
questions this Christmas. They aren't
questions, either. the discussion of which is
apt to make an actors or actress Christ
mas any the merrier for it certainly does
look-yiewed from an outside standpoint,
and taking all the circumstances into con-
sideration-as if the dramatic profession is
overcrowded, else why the many members
of it without engagements, and some in alb
solute want? Else why the names once
prominent in the casts of first class plays
or operas, but now only seem occasionally
on the programmes of the music halls and
Continuous performance houses?
That old adage about an everlasting sup
ply of room at the top is all very well, but
it must be remembered that there are lot
of rungs in the ladder which leads to the
top and some of them may be-indeed,
they are without any doubt-so crowded
that the progress of the poor little fellows
below is blocked for good and all. How
about those little fellows down be-
low-the rank and file of the profess
sion? They are the ones who are most
interested in the solution of the problem.
What are we going to do about it?"
VIII they have to submit to a reduction
in salaries? VIII they have to go on the
vaudeville stage or into some entirely diff
ferent kind of business?
What will they have TO do?
Here's what some well known managers
and actors think about it:
THE theatrical business in general is
bad-very bad" said Mr. Al Haynfan, who
controls more theaters than any other one
man in the country and who has in his en-
ployment not a few actors and actresses.
THE general depression of business all
over the country has affected us, as it has
affected every one else. OF course, the
really good actor or actress, whose talent
has been proved, will always command
steady and lucrative employment. But l
am afraid the rank and file will have to
take lower salaries in the future than they
have in the past. The profession is hecom-
ing overcrowded and the salary of the ac-
tor and actress is regulated like almost
everything else by the ineXorable law of
supply and demand. But even at smaller
salaries, engagements cannot be found on
the legitimate stage for all who call them
selves actors, and I see nothing for the
over supply to do but to seek employment
elsewhere. Some have gone on the vaude-
vile stage. and / think they are entitled to
credit. They evidently prefer work there
to idleness."
Mr.. Charles Frohman, who has several
hundred actors and actresses on his pay
rolls, took quite a different view; he did
not believe that the outlook for the dram
attic profession was any worse now than in
the past. never DeIOre, Salu he, nave
there been SO many persons seeking en-
ployment on the stage. never before was
il harder to secure really good actors, and
actresses. l have made 200 contracts for
next season with people l wish to retain,
and in not one instance has there been
any question of reduction of salaries. In
not a few cases the salary has been raised.
AS to the effect of the general business de-
preston on theatrical affairs, it has none.
Give the public the kind of plays it wants
properly presented, and it will fill your
theater. business depression or no business
depression. l know by experience"
why have I gone into vaudeville?" re-
peated Miss Pauline Hall, who has just
been about six weeks in her new field of
activity, and who is now at Weber &
Fields. ~ had several reasons. The hours
are so much shorter, and the compensa-
tion is proportionately greater. have
only twenty minutes work in a night,
when formerly / was occupied for two and
a half to three hours. Then, the RESPONSE
bility is so much less. Think of the relief
of mind when you have no chorus to worry
over and leading man liable to be out of
voice to spoil the whole evenings per-
formance. 1 have no regrets for the step
l have taken. l was quite nervous at first.
but am beginning to feel quite at home in
vaudeville. 1t is all nonsense to say that
because an artist goes on the vaudeville
stage he or she is thenceforth debarred
from the legitimate. If you have talent
you can always find your way back to your
old associations. BY the way I mustn't
overlook the fact that one very attractive
feature in the suggestion that l go into
vaudeville was the likelihood I would have
of spending more time in New York. That
is well worth consideration, you know"
Mr. William H. Crane doesn't take
gloomy view of the situation. The profess
sion is not overcrowded with efficient play
. THAT'S a idea
together. To be sure, we have had some
hard times, and the stage has felt them
just as the counting room has. Yet there
are comparatively very few competent peo-
pie at present unemployed. don't say that
there are not n lot of individuals in the
profession who have no business to be
there Unfortunately this is the case to
very considerable extent; and that such
| persons take up a certain amount of room
that might be occupied with more advan-
tage to the stage and to the public is a
lamentable fact. AS far as my experience
goes players salaries are not decreasing.
good people are more likely than ever to
command good prices. Some big salaries
may have had to come down a bit. but the
servant is worthy of his hire, and players,
as u rule, get their deserts. The hard
times have helped the continuous perform
: ance and vaudeville stages very mater
/ tally. Many capable artists have been at
tracted by the flattering offers made by
managers of such entertainments. l have
no fault to find with them. 1t is to their
credit, especially if they are fearful of the
alternative of non-employment, which hard
times always threatens. Nor do l think
I that an actor who goes into vaudeville
burns the bridges behind him. That is a
I very narrow minded view. If his capabll-
( tiles warrant it, he can always get back
! on the legitimate stage"
The operate branch of the profession is
overcrowded. 1 know" said Mr.. Oscar
! Hammcrstein THE manager who wants
! to produce an opera can get all the singers
! Why, he can even fill his chorus with men
| and women fully competent to be principals.
What are they going to do? 1 don't know.
/ Maybe next season will be better. They
| can't all go on the variety stage, and those
! who do can't find steady employment. How
! they all manage to live is a mystery to
me-
| Mr. w. \. Mcconnell. of Roster &c Balls,
! took n very gloomy view of the situation in
| the dramatic ranks. It's the limit, sir: the
very limit" he remarked. THE mana gers
/ of the legitimate are losing money right
| and left and what with the heavy rents
/ they have TO pay. of course they can't af-
| ford TO pay the high salaries they used to.
| one a few of the actors. on the legitimate
stage can hope to make hits in the music
/ halls but those who do will get along all
! right What the others are to do l can I
| see. Clerk it, or something of that kind,
| l reckon
BuGIe Calls for Firemen.
! From the London Telegraph.
! An ingenious series of bugle calls for the
use Of firemen has been PREPARED by I. G.