The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-15

or not. The rehearsala ARE held in
the morning and the stock actor spends
most of his time in the theater rehears-
ing or playing. which AMOUNTS to about
the same as appearing about three
times a day. If he Is a good actor he
Is given important parts, but even IL
with a good memory it is not a very
small task to become letter perfect in
thirty or more plays a year, Exercise
Of memory Is only a part Of his work.
He must enter into theaspirit of the
character and train himself at rehears-
al to properly portray it,,
The travelling actor plays lesser
number Of parts and cons equently is
not obliged to appear continuously at
rehearsal u 3fi5
The star seldom assumes more than
two characters in the season, al
though some stars have long roper
tore, but even stars, unless of the
brightest magnitude, cannot often ex-
| pect to remain in one play longer than
a rev weeks at g time and substan-
TALLY all Of them for a part of the
season play one-night stands.
Fabulous Salaries Few.
The fabulous salaries popularity sup
posed to be enjoyed by actors do not
often materfaliZe. 1t has been said
that the greatest star, with an accept
able play or opera, has been known
~ AICL DIS HUGH DIS @1USUOV III a single
week, this week Of course occurring
In the height of the season, but no
star ever received this figure for an
extended season. Many a star of re-
spectacle magnitude does not average
more than 5000 a week for a season
of from thirty to forty weeks, though
some stars net during the season from
$500 to $1,000 a week, few receiving
the latter figure, and very few exceed
ing the thousand mark. Probably the
average leading man, that is, the prin-
c1paI male support for a great star.
does not earn more than SIS week,
| or about 500 a week while on the
road, and from his salary he must pay
his hotel bills, the company furnishing
MIN with transportation only. -s.l 7e,..
A plain, ordinary, everyday actor.
even II ne possesses some ability, does
not average more than $25 week, or
$35 to $40 when on the road.
Really good, all-around actors, cap.
able of acceptably filling almost any
part except leading characters, can be
obtained for considerablyrless than $50
week. t fo a..
1t must be borne in mind that ac-
tors salaries are paid bgothe season,
and unless the actor playso<a supple
mentary or summer; season9tfe has no
income for about three months in the
year. rat.
Just now the stage is 3said to be
divided In three distinct branches, the
opera, the drama, includipgpboth trag-
edy and comedy, and the vaudeville or
variety, including the So-caIled con-
tlnuous performance. va94
Ut course, success in opera depends
more upon the voice than upon stage
| presence or proficiency in acting, but
personal appearance and dramatic abil-
1ty count nightly. A handsome man
VINO Is a good actor, with a. fair voice,
"a a fOr,
prepossessing singer of much better
and stronger voice. - II
Chorus Salaries Low.
The average income of male opera
singer is about the same of that of the
| actor of the same grade, but the great
er three or four prima donnas receive
larger incomes than any, save. PERHAPS.
| one or two great actors
The male chorus does not earn or
an average more than $12 week, with
road. Fl, iH -
vaudeville or variety. artists, as a
rule, are better paid than regular ac
tors, and many legitimate actors and
actresses have Permanently of tempo
rarlly taken up the. variety stage. =
A Few years ago the continuous per-
was q new idea and Immediately sfor1nd
PUBIC favor'and gave responsibility to
class of performances which hffherfns
class of people, h-'is" p sEf
A few vaudeville artists receive ~ q
high, as $1,000 a week TndeIli5fedIvtPs
lumber Of them earn as much as from
Sl0g to $500 week, but the great ma
below, the 500 mark. Probahiy snn1e
OF them do not net above necessary az
p ,e11s more than. $40 a week, for vaude-
vile artists are obliged to pay their trains
portation. as We'll 'as living expenseS9f -
NOT one boy IN a thousand who wants
two thousand who thinks he ~ 5as ou drS o.
| matte ability, and not one boy duff of fen
tnousandf boys as, they average Is 1ikalV
10 make much of any. success upon the
The boy filed with dramatic fire will
De an actor against all opposition. He
The histrionic flame is within him #
demands the stage for its burning. This
10y WI! show such marked dramatic
perfect himself for the stage, that the
parent and every one else acquainted wifi,
MIN cannot help seeing the dramatic
| fash OF his eyes, and the dr6fnatic action
CT every movement. This9 bog can be
safely trusted upon the stage.sH
icalIV r achy ! 10y me BOY Eh9 can COM
people laugh at the home p4TtF9 NAV nor
possess a spark of, dramatic aBslfty AS
an amateur he may BET aIsuccess in a
Mere appearance of dramatic talent is
not Surnclent. The prec9ciQus child who
rec1tes at any provocation, will probably
ity. 81 ~s.tftsT 81 9Th ~ ~
,,a TIE amateur. ector may,andr may not
| nave natural capacity kIallRs a great
| actor begins this way and n{anK q nToI11
ising. amateur is dismal faiiIre on the
regular stage: 1lTfn
IS Serious Rusihess.
The born actor not only shows ability.
! even at an early age, but his whole in
| terest is centered upon staghcraft. He
! Is serious about it,. To him the stage IS
real and IS the noblest and sunl0st .iigni-
| led profession. He.appreciates the neces
! must be long and tedious, and coura-
! geousIy accepts conditions The GOOD
! man-actor springs not only from the good
| boy-actor, but from the boy-acfor who
| does not joke with draInatiesI and fool,
! with them: but takes them Seriously and
( Stud1ously, and expects to learn the art
/ OF acting the same way as he would learn
| any other profession. : ~ 81,
No boy should choose the stage for a
| Ilying unless he has decided dramatic
! ability, ability strong enough to- show at
| is not flash in his mind but an I'M
! dying flame. This boy will not hide his
| art under a bushel; it will come out ana
| stay out; it will impress his parents ana
his friends; it will not be a fad with.
| aim, but lasting desire, a yearring which,
| breeds success. -
The boy who thinks he wants to be
/ an actor should be taken to the stage
/ and shown what it is. He should see il
| IN its reality. If that does not discourage
| him. let him progress further AS he
/ ny 0c Ccs1c- CrI,co to- !.