The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-23

The popular star takes no chances
in tho theatrical game. Manager and
playwright do this for her. In other
words, if she has established hersa'f in
public favor and a new play fails, the
public simply shrugs its shoulders
ana remarks: Such bad judgment on
the Part OF her manager! Why didn't
ne select more suitable vehicle?"
And then the manager and the play
wright chorge it up to profit and loss
and try, try again.
Clyde Fitch's Big Royalties
The Playwright not only makes
money for himself but puts money
into the rockets of both manager. and
star. They both need him, and if he
nils the bill. they are quite willing that
ne should draw spanking royalties.
The percentage varies according to tie
value of the playwright's name on the
bills ana advertising matter. man
who has scored one tremendous sue
cess is in position to ask his own
price-and get 1t.
Clyde Fitch to-day draws the heav-
lest royalties of any American play
wright, and it is said that when his
new plays are in full swing his week.
~ income will pass the i've thousand
mark.
To give some idea of what a success
is worth to a dramatist, Clyde Fitch
already has drawn in royalties from
Lovers Lane" $50. 400, and the play is
drawing we'll again this season. One
OF his earliest successes, THE Moth
and the Flame" has now reached the
point where it is let out to stock COM
panies at a weekly royalty. THE
Climbers" is being toured under Amelia
Bingham's direction, and a Clyde Fitch
success is now considered good for
three straight seasons on the road.
Among the new plays Mr.. Fitch will
offer this season are THE Flirt," writ
ten for Amelia Bingham; The Girl
With the Green Eyes" for Clara
Bloodgood: "A Girl in a Cage" with
Sandol Milliken in the leading role;
and Mary Mannering is already scor-
ing well in the Fitch comedy, 1.-THE
Stubb 7rnness of Geraldine"
Mr.. Fitch is a single man and his
palati2l marble home in the metropo-
lis is presided over by his mother He
is fond and artistic to a degree. His
enemies say that he is effeminate; his
friends that he is perfection, a model
of manners.
GIIlette's Big Income.
William Gillette comes second in
point of income among American
vi his latest success, SneT-
lock Holmes" is being presented in six
different languages, and THE Profess
sor," The Private Secretary" Held
by the Enemy" and Secret Service
still yield him princely income.
A good play never loses it's useful
ness. Bronson Howard still draws
royalties from one of his successes.
"Aristocracy" written twenty years
ago. and which is regularly revived by
stock companies.
Gen. Lew Wallace's royalties on
Ben Hur" are the largest ever drawn
on a single production iand have passed
the half million mark.
]. ]. McNally. who writes the froth-
lest of vaudeville farces. draws royal
ties bigger than a cosmopolitan bank
presidents salary.
Harry B. Smith is a librettest whose
royalties hold the world at a safe dis
lance from his door, and keep him on
the crest of New Yorks luxurious life.
Mr.. Smith practically lives at the the
aters evenings, but his wife is promi-
nent in New York society, where her
husband would also be welcomed if he
were not so busy fitting out musical
comedy stars with plays.
Anna S. Richardson.