Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-24
ABOUT PLAYS PLAYERS AND PllYHOUSES

Ill
While the roubles I'm the labor world have
disturbed business IN every other line, the
people who undertake to amuse the public
jog right along in the fore front OF the
prosperity parade. Strikes and lockouts do
not AFFECT the theaters, apparently, for not
only Is the summer stock company in
Omaha doing a business that is marvel
ously great. but all the summer stock COM
panies send out similar reports, and the
few regular" organizations still on the
road are experiencing no diminution Of re-
ceipts because OF the advance OF the good
old summer time" The circuses and other
tent shows have had some trouble with the
weather, but whenever the day has been
bright enough to give a show the tents
have been packed Managers have taken
due note Of the fact, and arrangements for
next season are now being made on the
basis that last seasons patronage will be
repeated. And no surface indication exists
20 warrant any other conclusion. 1t is only
another OF the many outward signs of the
generally comfortable condition in which
the American people find themselves.
As yet the theatrical trade is a field prac-
ticslly untouched by the labor organizer;
II is virgin and inviting. An abortive at
tempt was made to secure control of the
labor employed in the vaudeville branch of
the business, but the White Rats couldn't
make Il stick. They went to pieces on the
rock that has sunk so many other promis-
ing young unions, a strike before their
organizations had taken on anything like
real cohesiveness As a matter OF fact, a
strike Is merely a test which shows the
builders where the faults are and where
the weak spots, and enables them to cor
rect these deficiencies. Now, II the gospel
OF unionism was only properly preached
behind the scenes, what a lovely organiza-
tion might be formed. OF course, it would
be difficult to arrange a proper scale of
prices for the members, but out of the
long experience and accumulated wisdom
OF the guild II seems a satisfactory bill
might be devised. This would be of much
interest to. the general public, too. for It
would give a line on the real value Of the
services of the several members of the cast.
And what perfectly beautiful complications
It would give rise to. One doesn't need to
enlarge on the thought; the vista for the
imagination is too enticing. Just figure 1t
out for yourself. - .j
-
Approaching the matter seriously, no pro-
fession Is better paid right now than the
theatrical. 1t is not necessary to single
out the high-priced stars to illustrate and
emphasize this assertion. In passing,
though, II Is interesting to note that the
basis OF the disagreement between Viola
Allen and Liebler & Co.. is the belief of her
relatives that the $500 per week she re-
ceives for her services is not enough. Miss
Allen plays thirty-hve weeks a year and
receives a salary $500 greater than that
allowed the president of the United States
for ffty-two weeks. But another of Miss
Aliens underpaid sisters has a still more
bitter grievance. She says:
The average girl who works in the shop
has a much better time all the year round
than l DO. You must remember that /
have absolutely no recreation from the time
the season opens until the season ends. 1t
y a routine Of sleep. get. ready for the
story day after day, except Sunday. De
corum makes IT necessary for me to stay
IN the house on that day: And so. If you
agree that / am really the one to be pitied.
I haven't been at the opera for four years,
n ! DO love Il so much. The average
woman who works may go to parties and
theaters and meet new people on the
ground: She may go to the theater to be
TO. Then the monotony Of her work may be
broken by the many holidays. / have no
holidays, for on them / work harder than
ever. Altogether, / think the other girl
has much the best OF 1t.
, Commenting on this sad state OF affairs,
Adolph Glauber writes in the New York
Times:
Now. isn't that really pathetic? Isn't
enough to bring tears to the eyes OF
the happy, light-hearted, oare-free maiden
who has nothing In the world to do but
get up at $3.50 every morning, snatch a
hurried breakfast, cling to a strap In a
crowded car to get to the store in time,
stand behind the counter from 1880 until o,
females and the TRADES OF inconsiderate
shoppers; who probably derives from her
eight or ten hours of toll every day during
the week the princely sum OF s. or Sc, which
may be expended as she likes on three or
four little sisters and brothers dependent
And she can go to the o~pera-when her
days work Is corresponding she still has
enough LEFT to pay for standing room,
1T Is a routine OF sleep, get ready for
the theater, and then act"
Is one to assume that the actress en-
gagged for two hours every evening, of
which fully half the time "a spent in her
dressing room-for few plays demand the
presence of the star always on the scene
requires fourteen hours OF sleep2 The rlay
actress wants a little supper before retiring
and a few minutes social converse. per-
haps, there Is still no reason why she
should not be in bed by / a. m. or there
for any man or woman. But let her take
ten. She may still breakfast comfortably
az ii and have the entire afternoon-saVe
on matinee oays-for recreation.
The economy that obtains IN the case of