New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-22
4 MANAGER ON ACTORS.
He Tells Why 2,7O0 of Them Are
Ont of Work.

O"C "! " VIM
Il don't wonder that the dramatic agencies re-
port . 200 actors out Of work" remarked the
New-York City manager Of a travelling theatre
cal company the other day. "A large number
Of actors are such bad business men that they
fail to take ordinary advantage of an oppor-
tunity to work when It IS given them, and when
they employed fail to see that their interests
and those OF the manager are for the time being
identical. Three weeks ago offered an actor
$50 week to take the place OF a youngster
who was too handsome for the role of heavy
villain in our snow. The company was appear
ing over in Elizabeth, n. J., that night so I
handed this chap round trip ticket for that
place. Go over and see the show told him.
and If the part suits you we can close the deal
when you return to New-Yorlx.' Well, would you
believe il, that young man came into my Broad
way office half hour later and said he didn't
care to go over to Elizabeth unless his wife went
too. He couldn't afford 20 pay her railroad fare
which amounted TO the terrifying sum OF 40
cents. so he wanted to know If I would give him
another round trip ticket. For the life of me
couldn't see the philosophy of my paying the
railroad fares for his entire family, ell nego-
tiations ceased the spot.
The next man I offered the place to hadn't
earned cent since April, but he nearly threw
the engagement up over a matter Of 80 cents
took him over to Elizabeth to be rehearsed in
the part in the morning and to watch his prede-
cesSor play it at the matinee. At noon I was
called back to New-York but during the mat
inee telephoned my representative to ask the
new man to return to New-York study the part
and have himself and his trunk ct the Grand
Central Station at o o'clock the next morning
as the company TO make an early Jump
to New-Haven. The actor went right up In the
air and wanted to know why in the blankety
loolr
trunk, instead Of leaving him to attend TO such
matters when he had a new part to learn in one
night. Also it would cost him 90 cents to have
the trunk sent down to the station. My hench-
man finally Modified the excited artist who was
making such a disturbance that the matinee
was nearly broken up. but at that he wasn't
satisfied until he had wasted 80 cents in tele-
phoning TO to find out whether or not I
meant to refund the 80 cents expressage.
But it's when they actually have an engage
ment that they make life really pleasant for
the manager. I remember last year we made
big jump which made necessary an all night
ride. We carried twenty-five persons in the
company, and in order that no one would be
forced TO sit up all night I contracted in ad-
vance for that number Of sleeping berths
Now, the management was not supposed to pay
for berths in sleepers but as it was the last
week Of the season, and business had been ex-
cellent. told my treasurer that when the men,
bers Of the company offered to pay him for the
berths, he was to inform them that it was my
treat and the sleeper wouldn't cost them a
cent. ! was ticked to death with my little sur
prise and patted myself on the back for my
unexampled generosity.
You can imagine my disgust when learned
that my company had decided 20 save 81 apiece
and sit 20 all night, leaving me TO pay for
twenty-five unoccupied berths. That little at
tempt to spring surprise on the company cost
me $50
When we were playing at Elizabeth n. j.
this season, salaries were due on Tuesday night
but business had been very bad the week pre-
vious, owing TO stormy weather, and as a result
I found that was about 500 shy According
ly 1 Informed the stage manager that salaries
would be paid on Wednesday morning, and
went to New-York TO draw from the bank the
amount 1 needed. 1 returned to Elizabeth with
the money in time for a rehearsal, which had
been called for 1920 o'clock but which was de-
layed by the hardness Of the leading man, who
had also spent the night in New-Yor This
individual had touched me for an advance OF
SO his salary two days previously. Yet he
had the a1dacity 10 say. in reply to my inquiry
as TO why he hour late: I'm sorry. but
it's not my fault. Salaries were not paid last
night, and had to hustle around this morning
and borrow % cents 10 pay my fare over here
Those two little anecdotes show the loyalty and
consideration with which many actors treat
their managers
Another reason why like Thespians IS their
attitude in the face Of bad business When thew
know that their manager is dropping money at
each performance and is bravely trying to null
the SHOW together and make a winner of II In
order to put money in his own pocket and give
the actors a long season do they stand by him?
Not II they're within hundred miles OF Broad
way Even If salaries are regular the mem
bers Of the company begin to look for other en-
gasements to the detriment OF the performance
The minds OF the actors are not on the work
and the production gets worse and worse and
the show goes to pieces. Then another contin-
gent joins the Broadway brigade
Sometimes a manager in a bad season ike
this finds himself with an attraction which en-
tails heavy salary list but which is drawing
only fair business. He sees that he must either
close the season abruptly. throwing the entire
company out OF work, or he must reduce saIa-