Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-07

made into plays is the only price of sue
cess like Mr.. Tyler's.
OF course, the active band of native play
wTights are willing to give q deserving
manager all the help in their power-at a
price. Mrs. Frances HodgSon Burnett, or
her agent, we will say, approaches Mr..
Tyler and remarks: i've got a play that
will suit Miss Robson" Mr.. Tyler is will
ing to be shown. He hears all about the
plot Of "The Dawn of a Tomorrow" It
interests him. He calls for the manuscript.
He likes It even more after reading 1t.
1t will suit Miss Robson. But will she
think so? Well, in this case she did. and
the play will be good for at least two
seasons.
Providing Theatrical Fits.
But there's Miss ~Allen-what's to be
done for her now? Somebody tells MT.
Tyler-somebody whose business 1t is to do
so-thAt F. Marion Crawford's new novel,
The white Sister, has great dramatic
possibilities. and that Miss Allen, who
made so much money in "The Christian, 4"
another dramatlzation, could enact the
leading feminine character. Mr.. Tyler
reads the book and likes 1t. But there's
a troublesome male character that looms
too large for a play intended for a fem
mime star. All right, tell the dramatizer
to tone It down. He does SO, Miss Allen is
allowed to dominate the play, and Mr..
Tyler has another success.
Turn we now to Lee Shubert, head OF the
biggest theatrical firm that combines the
management of a large chain of theeters
with play production on a big scale. Nine.
Nazimova, the talented Russian, she whom
James Hunoker describes as " tiKress in
the leash Of Art is a Shubert star. She
has had no new play in two years, with
the result that she was not seen on Broad
way last season at all. docs she like II?
Don't be foolishD She must have a new
play. Where's It coming from? Well, Mr..
Shubert appeals to Eugene Walters. Has
Mr.. Walters in mind any play that would
fit the tigress in the leash Of Art? Or. II
he hasn't, will he give his mind to the
subject and see what happens? He will.
He does. And a new play for Nazimova
is now announced for the present season.
Mr.. Walter knows tho Russians methods.
He knows how to suit his craft to hers.
He understands his trade and he has
signed the contract. Good Mr.. Shubert
breathes a sigh Of relief. Thank heaven
NaEimova is provided for! Who's next2
Miss Mary Mannering? All right, send for
the playwright who has suited her
before. Send for a syndicate of play
wrights. This beautiful actress tried
six new plays last season before
firdinE one that suited. Consider the
total Of hope and fear. anxiety and worry
and disappointment and labor represented
by this statement and then ask yourself,
II you like. whether the stage seems ar
attractive career for a woman.
Actor and Manager.
Thar ~ - 81 a..-a. g.
successful stars who have the courage, the
artistic intelligence and the business capae-
iy TO manage their own careers. To these
few come large pecuniary rewards. They,
of course, select their own plays. Among
the most conspicuous in this class. per-
haps, e. H.. Sothern and Miss Maxine
Elliott may be named. Miss Elliott Is as
good a business woman as Miss Marbury.
She is probably a better business woman
that she is an actress. But between her
acting and her business ability she has
made a good deal OF money. In each OF
two seasons since she became her own
manager her profits have exceeded S7O,O 600
and has never had a losing season.
The case Of Mr., SotheTn, as we'll as
that OF Henry Miller. another actor in the
same category, seems to Indicate that II
more stars had the choosing Of thelr
own plays II might not a be bad thing
either for the public OF for the stars. Mr.
Sothern makes large profits each year
certainly far above the $50 600 mark. NOR,
than double that sum In certain properouI
years, and moreover he stands. since tn
death Of Mansfield. at the head OF hi
profession In this country Mr.. Miller
accession to the position Of actor-manaEe
has been sufficiently Justified by his pro
. duotion Of 'Ths Servant in the House