Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-18

A rather dull week In theatrical circles
was the one just closed. . With Boyd's
theater dark during the greater part OF
the week local theater- goers were allowed
to take their choice OF vaudeville. staying
at home or spending their evenings doing
Christmas shopping. The crowded condi-
tlon nightly Of both high class vaudeville
houses seemed to indicate that the majority
chose the former. 1t Boyd's the first part
Of the week were presented two attractions
OF merit, by the Sad Sea Waves on Sum-
day, and Prof. Kellar Monday and Tues
day. The former proved to be one OF the
best farce comedies that has been seen in
Omaha this season. The piece was billed
as a rag time opera" but there was little
semblance Of an opera Of any kind about
1t, and its true name Is farce comedy
The scenery carried for this production is
such that 1t would have done credit to that
OF many OF the extravagangas that have
been seen here. and certainly was much
finer than is usually carried for a farce
comedy production. The stars, Mathews
and Bulger. are both clever comedians, with
good voices, and would undoubtedly make
well In comic opera. Prof. Kellar has
absented himself from Omaha for nearly
twelve years, and as a result theater-goers
had almost forgotten what a remarkable
magician he is, therefore, his first perform.
ance was not before a crowded house, but
the second was better patronized, as those
who had attended the first assured their
friends that not to see this performance
would be to miss a rare treat. Mr.. Kellar's
illusions and cabinet work are perhaps the
best that Omaha people have yet had the
opportunity Of seeing. For the latter part
OF the week Manager Burgess was unable
20 ,,r a~ ..t1a that 10 conditioned
first class, and as the present policy Of the
theater is to book only attractions of merit,
1t remained closed. One OF Hoyt's best
farces will be presented the first part Of this
week, while for the same reason as last week
the theater will be closed during the latter
half. Beginning with Christmas, Manager
Burgess promises a continuous list OF at
fractions that can but please the most fas-
tidious.
With the craze for vaudeville on, the
public Is naturally interested in anything
pertaining to that branch Of the theatrical
profession. One Of .he most mooted ques-
tions in reference to this profession is the
scale Of salaries Of vaudeville performers OF
the high class. People have heard OF So
and-SO receiving $500 a week for his or her
work and looked with incredulity on the
VhAiC ~ " ~ thC
that a star occupying a higher place in the
vaudeville armament received, weekly. just
double that amount would brand its maker
as an Anan!as.
AS a matter OF fact high class vaudeville
performers do get the handsome salaries
they are reputed to get. Camille d'Arville,
the famous comic opera prima donna, gets
perhaps the highest salary paid. Only the
tempting offer Of 81 1000 per week caused
her to go into vaudeville. There are sew
eral others who get this amount weekly.
Felix Morris, the we'll known actor, threw
over his legitimate line to work
before vaudeville audiences. because Of a
tempting 500 per week salary bait. Pauline
Hall, for the variety Of the thing and 5000
at the end Of every seven days, is also
eschewing comic opera for a time. Henry
f. Dixey, Robert Hill and Clara Morris,
Mr.. and Mrs. Wilton .Royle, Mr.. and Mrs.
Sidney Drew and others have doubled their
regular legitimate salaries by entering the
vaudeville field. These people. in the way
OF salaries, fare about as Felix Morris does.
. Vaudeville performers who receive any
sum between 5000 and $500 weekly are le-
gion. An act that is a big novelty is con-
sidered cheap at any figure. Acts on which
are placed a $50 q week consideration are
not used on the big circuits as they are not
up to the standard OF excellence demanded.
A poor act mixed with a very strong bill
stands out prominent In Its setting Of acts
OF excellence. One such act would condemn
q really good bill and managers cannot
afford that, hence only acts Of standard
merit are contracted for and for such acts
big money must be paid. The nine Nelson's,
the acrobatic family, are said to have
earned $2s, 1000 last season as salaries. This
family have grown enormously wealthy of
the vaudeville managers as have many
other actors in vaudeville. The Nelson's
own the street car franchises and half the
real estate Of the little city Of Mount Glenn
ems, Mich, a summer resort much fire.
quented by theatrical people. In fact most
OF the stellar lights in vaudeville own their
own homes and mucha real estate. Bessie
Bonehill, the Nawns, the Rays. Henry E..
Dixey, Cook and Jose and hundreds Of
others have summer cottages at the eastern
summer resorts and money In the bank.
The salary for the average vaudeville
performer Ia 5000 per week. The European
novelty acts dem and big salaries. In addi-
ton to their salaries the performers some
times have their railway fares paid be-
tween cities and a big female star Is often
furnished a woman attendant at the theater
and a carriage to and from her hotel. There
Is no part OF the profession wherein Its
members receive such large salaries as the
members of the high class vaudeville pro-
fession.
At the vaudeville houses the only attrac-
tons Of more than ordinary interest were
Pauline Hall, Beatrice Moreland and the fire
dances. Miss Hall. who has been seen In
this city many times. but always at the
head Of comic opera companies. made her
Initial appearance before an Omaha audience
in vaudeville and Of course much interest
was manifested In II, as local theater goers
who had seen her in comic opera were
anxious to know how she would take in
her new field. She is the same Pauline Hall,
with the same fine figure and. II anything.
a better voice than ever, yet there seemed to
be something lacking and that something
is the we'll trained chorus that was always
with her In comic opera to back her up and
the proper stage settings to show her of.
She sang five songs, three Of them being ones
that she has made famous during her career
and two latter-day coon" songs. Each
seemed to take well and. with her beautiful