The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-27
ROYALTIES FOR PLAYS,
What a Stock Company Has to Pay
to Use a Popular Piece.
From the Dramatic News.

From the Dramatic News.
II may be an interesting matter TO
know the cost to the managers who ex-
plot stock companies for the use of the
various plays they present during the
season In the shape of royalties, for it is
known that a large percentage of these
companies use about the same plays at
least once season, and frequent. v 1t has
been the case of a certain play being
used by no less than half dozen differ
ent companies in different cities in one
week. 1t is claimed by some of these
managers that the royalties for these
plays is the most expensive part of the
whole outfit, and few stock companies
which have passed ont OF existence at
tribute the cause to the exorbitant royal
ties which they had been forced 20 pay. A
few of the popular plays and their cost
per week is as follows:
IAN American Citizen" royalty for one
week, $500.
THE Great Ruby" costs 16 per cent. of
the gross receipts on the first $4,000 and
81 per cent. on the next $1,000 with a bo-
nus of from $3.50 to $500.
'"rhe Prisoner of Zenda" has cost as
high as $3.50 for its use for a single week,
and one stock company is said to have
paid as high as $1,000 for it,
THE Charity Balr' costs $500 week
THE Dancing Girl averages from $500
to $500 a week. while f. M. Royle's play,
Friends" costs $50 week.
II requires 10 per cent. OF the gross re-
ceipts to obtain THE Sporting Duchess"
a week, and similar amount for the use
Of Little Lord Fauntieroy."
"Swet Lavender" is worth $3.50 a week,
while "Hoodman Blind is placed at 1929
For the use of Liberty Hail. from 10
to 10 per cent. Of the gross receipts Is ex-
acted, with a guarantee of at least 500.
"Trilby" can be had for $3.50 per week.
while there are half dozen Nell
Gwynne's at 500 a week.
That clever play, THE Butterflies. &"
costs $500, and THE Young Wife" $50.
A farce comedy like why Smith Left
Home" requires $500 a week to get IL, while
tho melodrama, The Fatal Card" de-
mands 500.
THE Moth and the Flame" wants 10
per cent. of the gross receipts, with
guarantee of $500, while "A Gllded Fool"
is satisfied with 10 per cent. OF the gross.
OF some of the other plays. Hazel
Kirke" costs $3.50; Men and Women"
$500; "A Bachelors Romance" $500; Jim
the Penman," $50; "A Fair Rebel" $780,
1.-THE Ensign" $50; THE District Attor-
ney," $3.50: Diplomacy" $500; THE Count
ess Valeska," 5000; Paul Kauvar," $500,
and white Heather" 10 per cent. OF the
receipts.
Unprotected and uncopyrighted plays
ike EAST Lynne" Led Astray." ana
others of that caliber, cost nothing, and
are worth about nothing.
No doubt the largest dealer in plays for
stock companies is Alice Kauser who
acts as agent for these pieces, collects the
royalties and for her services receives a
liberal commission. In instances where
box-offite statements are required 10 fig
ure UP percentages she has experts at
work to cover that detail.
In the West, Howard g. Doyle occupy
about the same position and they In some
instances, control the absolute rights to
several plays.
The cost of the above pieces must be
weekly added to the salary list OF the
companies, and that is probably why a
great many stock companies are not such
a profitable investment.