The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-01
ACTRESSES BIG EARNINGS.
Incomes of Women Stars on the Stage
Exceed Those of Men.
Denver Times.

Denver Times.
by Jove!" said the young man as they
left the theater, Ito think that fellow gets
$3.50 a week for doing that, Here / work
for seven hours a day and have been at IL
for ten years, and l don't make that much
in a month. It's the greatest snap in the
world 10 be an actor. Think OF it-S2J0 a
week.
This young man voiced the general opin-
ion of persons who are not familiar with
the conditions under which actors work.
Those who know what they earn do not
deny that they are a body greatly over
paid; but they also take into considera-
ton, facts which the general public is likely
TO overlook.
Thus the ordinary actor is not employed
for more than thrty-fve weeks in the year,
and in many cases the period is shorter. In
deed, there are few actors who stand so
high in their professions that they can COM
pei managers to engage them absolutely
for whole season They are always, unless
they are stars, subject to the two weeks
notice clause.
This provision is. of course, necessary
for theatrical managers who might be
ruined by being compelled 10 carry an ex-
pensiye company over the country for a
whole season when the business was poor.
Then the demand for certain kinds of
actors is great. Young men OF good pres
ence to play leading roles are not numer-
Gus, nor are there enough women with
notable charms OF manner and person
ality to supply the immense demand that
has grown UP during recent years for
actresses.
The women stars are the most profita-
BILE to-day, and by that is meant the
women who are really stars In the old
fashioned sense of the word. Women like
Maude Adams, Mrs. Carter. Minnie Fiske,
Annie Russell, Julia Marlowe, Mrs. Langtry
and Henrietta Crosman are sure of large
profits, whatever their plays may be. One
year their earnings may be $4,000 and the
next twice that sum, but they are in any
case beyond the chance of having their
career suddenly ended because their plays
fail.
The two most popular actresses in this
country are Maude Adams and Mrs. Car
years have been enormous Mrs Carter is
under salary to David Belasco, just as
Maude Adams is TO Charles Frohman, and
In addition to their fixed salaries they re-
Viola Allen, when she became a star with
the Liebler Company. was not looked upon
by other managers as an especially promis-
ing proposition. She had larger degree of
confidence in herself than the managers
had in her, for by her contract with the
I4eblers she arranged for salary of only
500 week, but she got large percentage
of the profits.
Every play she appeared in was a success
and out of THE Christian" alone she earned
more than $4,000. I'm the Palace OF the
King 1.-THE Eternal City, and 1.-The
Hunchback" were all immensely profitable
for her. Now she is so we'll established
that she can act whatever she wants TO,
and in her revival of Twelfth Night this
be her own manager
Mrs. Carter, unlike Miss Allen, does not
take large percentage and small sal
airy. She now gets from David Belasco ST.
400 week and "a share of the profits-natur-
ally no large share, as her manager takes
on himself the financial burden of the per-
formances in which she appears. The Car
ter plays have been so successful during
the last four seasons that even a small
share of the profits represent large weekly
income.
Maude Adams has probably never cleared
less. than $4,000 a year since her first sea-
son in THE Little Minister" BY her con-
tract with Charles Frohman she gets a
liked salary of $500 week and about y
per cent of the profits. And any other man.
ager would be glad TO take the contract OF
Mr.. Frohrnan's hands.
Miss Adams has an enormous following
throughout the country. and even in a lit
tie play like Quality Street." which is an
inexpensive production, her business in New
York kept up TO an average OF $4,000 a
week for five weeks Mrs Carter usually
has the assistance of an elaborate produc-
ton.
Mrs. Langtry pays her company, produces
her play-that Is TO say. she buys scenery
and costumes-and gives half her profits I'd
the syndicate for booking her tour and
running the business end OF her enterprises
press agent, etc, which they can well afford
| to do, besides booking her tour.
Miss Marlowe. who is the producer OF
Charles Dillingham;, who has also the man.
agement OF Maxine Elliott and Mile
James stars differing considerably i'm glory
| from Miss Marlowe. Mrs. Fiske selects heI
plays, hires her company, puts up what
| ever the necessary amount OF money may
| be- and, like the other actress mentioned
| takes all the profits.
Henrietta Crosman who follows the same
| arrangement, does not even have to hire q
manager. since her husband acts for her
| Elsie de Wolfe In her attempts TO be a star
| is her own capitalist and takes all the
profits.
Among the women who are not stars tho
compensation Is almost as great as il is foI
those whose names are on the three sheets
although they never under any circum-
stances get any share of the profits. Mar.
garet Anglin is said to get the largest sal
| airy ever paid TO leading woman OF tbs
| Empire Theater and that is $500 week
| Miss Anglin is soon to be star. and IL Is
doubtful il her earnings next year, wher
| she is TO begin her career, will be mucl
| larger for the first year anyhow.
w. ii. Crane. Nat Goodwin and f. II
| Sothern are really their own managers
although their tours are directed by some
manager who gets a small percentage Of