The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-19
HARD WINTER
AHEAD OF THEM
Two Full Regiments Of Actors in
New York Are Out Of En-
gagements.
Building Trades Partly Responsible
"A Department Store Vaude-
s vile Circuit Arranged.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
I New York, Oct. 19.-Twenty-seven
hundred actors, who in ordinary sea-
sons would have no trouble in secur-
ing engagements, are out of work In
New York to-day, according to a re-
port, just given out by Mrs. e. L; Fer
nandez, one of the leading agents for
high-class theatrical people. Their
regular salaries range from $500 to
$40 week.
i. Not for. ten years have actors had
to face such hard times as they are
enduring now. This applies to men
and women who have commanded
high salaries and had their choice of
engagements, as well as to actors who
never figure conspicuously on the play
bill. -- 49, = -
The following list of prominent &C
tors out of an engagement and the
weekly salaries they ask will give a
fair idea Of the situation: John 3.
Kellard, $500; Howard Gould, 5000;
$50; Francis Carlisle, 5000; Grace
Filkins, $50; Lizzie Collier, 5000;
Sylvia Lynden, $125; Lila Vane, 1925;
Mabel Amber, $3.50; - J.. E. Wilson,
$3.50; Joseph Holland, 5000; Edgar
L. Davenport, $3.50; Emmett King,
$3.50; Dorothy Dorr, $50; Selma
Johnstone, $50; Margaret Fuller,
Boucicault, $3.50. ~ , -, I'll. -, -.
The long delays in building some
New York theaters and Fin, repairing
others, for which Samuel Parks and
his building strikers. are responsible,
have deferred first performances Of
several plays in New York weeks be-
! yond their time, have tangled up the
dates of star actors waiting to get into
| New York, and have kept about 1000
men and women in the theatrical pro-
fessioh idle. For, aside from the &C.
tors, there are the stage carpenters
scene shutters. and others employed
about the theaters. > These men, how
ever, have a union, which looks after
| them in time of distress.
Department Store Vaudeville.
| The bad season for actors has
opened up an altogether new field fol
| small agents, and men and Womer
who must either work or starve. These
agents have arranged a. department
store entertainment circuit that ex
j tends from Boston to Chicago: -
There is only one department. store
4 i'm New York that goes in for rea
vaudeville, but there are two or more
The agents took actors and singers foi
the whole tour, sending them al
round the circuit for :. engagement
of from two to nine weeks. The sal
aries are much smaller than in tn
Irregular engagements, but the artist
do not have much to do. Their cos
tunes. are provided and they need pa.
for nothing but their lodging .ant
breakfast. -. o.. 2 -,
A. department store specialist goe
on duty at II o'clock in the morning
She sings or dances sat IL :30,R 1: sc
$3.50 and $3.50. Between acts she ma
! not leave the store, but a comfortabl
greenroom Is provided for her, and sh
gets an excellent luncheon and suppe
!, for nothing. .as ~. :.
y at first at the use of their professions
names, but the department store me
, are inexorable. No name, no engage
!, ment. New York agents say tina
, when the holiday season begins Eth
department store vaudeville will boon