The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-06-16
SALARIES OF ACTORS.
POOR PAY AND SHORT SEASONS THE
RULE NOWADAYS.

Profession II Much Lower Than For
merIy-Actors Who Cannot Save Money
20 Tide Them Over the Idle season.
"How tall arc your"
"Fivo feet nine."
"Turn your profile"
A moment Of silence followed, while a
young man, turning clear cut, regular
profile to the view Of his companion,
stared at frame OF theatrical photographs
on the wall Of q managers Office.
STAND up and let mo look at you"
The young fellow arose with some slight
embarrassment His two years experience
had not placed him In just this position
many times before, 70 he flushed little
as he got up. But he relnem bered well
enough what was tust then necessary--to
throw back his shoulders and stand as
high a. his straight, slender legs would
allow him.
you'll do," tho manager said, with
some reservation In bis tone, land you're
<one Of the oases In which the photograph
did not li6 entirely. But II give you q
part can you dress its''
"Wbat u the parbr' the young man
asked, determined TO say hc could dress II
whether able to or not, whether 10 took .
frock coat and dress suit or Roman
toga.
"Oh, it's very pretty part" tho man.
ager said TITS the leading one, and tho
only costumes you need are two colonial
uniforms, one fatigue and the other full
dress. You ought to bs able to do It for
$3.50. The parts that Of young captain,
and It's o very good one"
"What are you payingi" asked the
young man, with as much decision In his
mind II not In his tone a. there had been
when he inquired about the costumes he
would have to VICAR. IL was a reputable
iirm Of managers, and there was tho pros
lpect Of making contract Immediately, -
it seemed to him that whatever the amount
might be he would accept IL.
I'VE are paying e86 for season Of 90
weeks" answered the manager. "You
are certain Of employment through all
that time, and you know our reputa-
ltion''-here he smiled grimly-"and you
ara not likely to lose your time In working
for us"
Thirty-hve seemed q small sum even TO
that eager applicant, and he was busy with
mental mathematics the moment he heard
the amount. For his young wife and child
1t would take at the least $40 a week IN
New York or wherever they decided to
live permanently. It was out Of the Ques-
ton for them to travel. On the road he
could not live for less than e15 week.
There was % q week to be paid for Co.'S
ftumes, to make up the cost Of $50 for tho
30 weeks. That left % week for period
of 90 weeks during which he would be un-
employed. It seemed a desperate enough
outlook, but II was sure. There were the
wife and the baby, and there was living
for them out of that sum. Other offers
might not como, and they might b no
|bettsr when they did come These reflec-
Itions passed rapidly through bis mind, and
IAe decided quickly.
"Come In tomorrow to sign the con-
tract" said the manager, "and I'll be
able to tell you then about the rehearsals
Wen probably have four weeks of 1t here" /"
The actor thought OF this with pang
but II disappeared In tho satisfaction Of
having settled his plans for the winter.
1t was true that the result had not been
brilliant. It had taken unusual physical
endowments to get the place, and his abil-
ity in his profession had been established,
else he would never have been asked to
come to that managers Office and talk
business
This case was one used to illustrate the
claim that the salaries of actors are not 80
largo as they were several years ago, in
spite of the stories frequently heard of
popular leading mon who receive such
sums as $500 a week, popular comedians
who get equally largo rewards, and other
favorite performers who are paid in the
same proportion. That these stories arc
exaggerated has often been believed, but
It was never thought that there had been
any such diminution In pay as recent
cases indicate.
"When Laura Keene paid William Blake,
q popular actor Of old mems parts, S1OO
week, and George Jordan, called the hand
soonest man on the stage at that time $l2O
week, the newspapers spoke of those fg-
ures as very high. They were indeed for
that time" said an old actor to Sun re-
porter. "The salaries generally ranged
from $40 to $50 for the best of the actors
of that period, but these figures were larger
for thnt time than the high salaries of to-
day are. The cost Of living was very much
cheaper. The years engagements were
longer. At the most months holiday
was given to the actors, and sometimes
they were not idle for more than two
weeks. Now the longest period Of work
that an octor can get under any circum-
stances is season Of 81 weeks. During
the other 18 he Is compelled to live on
what he can save In the season. The sal.
aries paid do not afford much surplus for
that. Tho average actors salary today is
not so much as $40 a week. 1t Is, in fact
considerably under that sum. In the past
actors would live with their families In
the town In which they were acting. Now
they must pay the expenses Of their fami-
lies - well % their own when travelling.
Years ago got 900 week In Chicago and
was able to save money, besides support
Ing my wife and child, but II I had been
compelled 10 travel a. well as pay the ad-
vanced prices Of living Of today never
could have done 20.
Tho actors pay has not advanced in
proportion to the compensation paid TO
other employees. In many cases IL has de-
clinod. The sums paid TO lending men,
any, 10 years ago were larger than any
paid today. Charles Thorne roceived be-
tween e17b and $500 during his greo tcst
popularity at the old Union Square thea
tor, and Montague got 900 at wsllsck's.