The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-28
GREAT ARMY OF THESPIANS.
Nearly 100000 People Employed In this
Thoaters OF tho United States.

Nearly 100000 People Employed In tbs
Thoaters OF tho United States.
In the controversy in congress oveI
the adoption of a copyright law "a con
troversy which eliminated in the pas.
sage of the Draper bill by both branche,
of congreSs) the statement was made
that there are 5000 thesteys and opera
houses in the United States, represent.
ing cost of from $4,000 to 81 COG, ooo
each. These theaters employ Sc, 900 per-
sons, exclusive of actors and actresses
Upward of 400 manuscript plays writ
ten Or owned by citizens of the United
States are played nightly. They give
employment to from 5000 to 5000 act
ors. The cost of producing these man
uscript plays ranges from $4,000 to s25,.
600 each. and the purpose OF the new
statute is TO give judges of the United
States courts full jurisdiction over the
matter and to make the penalty i'm.
posed in one circuit operative anywhere
throughout the country for unauthor-
lied performances
The number of actors and actresses
in the United States has increased far
more rapidly than has the population
for a number of years past BY the
federal census of 1870 there were, ct
that time, 2,053 actors and actresses.
By the census of 1850 the number had
grown to Asp. In 1890 it was s,S15,
and it is now clearly in excess of TO-
000, though the limo of denGrkaton
between veritable actors and actresses
and those connected with the variety
profession, as 1t is sometimes called. Is
not very clear. About 60 per cent. OF
the number of persons describing them
selves as actors and actresses are di-
rcctly connected with the performance
of standard or manuscript plays, and
the others are employees OF variety the
aters, singers, speciality artists, gym
pasts, circus performers, skaters or
comic vocalists. In the number OF
those connected indirectly with the
atrical performances the stage hands
are 10 be considered IS quite a
factor, for though it is poPr-
iarly considered that the stage hands
lcO W NC AO~Oo
nized by any mention on the play bills,
the fact is that they are, al OF them,
in the best theaters practical csrpen-
tiers. It is very difficult to make an &C.
.curate and comprehensive statement
of thu number of those who are en-
ployed directly or Indirectly in the the
aters of the country. The actors and
actresses, of course, are an easily as.
certairable quantity, but in addition 70
the stSge hands, of whom an accurate
estima3a may be made, there are the
supers. male and female, the thester
orchestra players, the employees OF the
thcater box Offices, the doorkeepers,
janitors, advertising agents and assist,
ants, the Ushers, the gas nen and their
assistants, the property men, the scene
painters and assistants, the chorus
Eiogc1 male and female, end the man
agerisl staff, made up of business man.
sgcrs, advance agents, Etenogr2Phers,
secretaries. cranatists' helpers and
scene shiitSrs. Itwo1ld probably be safe
TO say that the number OF thoec who draw
their livelihood from the theaters and
opera houses in the United States IS
nearer 100. 900 than $1,000. and at the
present ratio CT increase IL may be con-
siderably more before the next national
-enSus-N Y SIM