Amador ledger., 1909-03-19
BAD SIDE OE
THE ACTORS JOB.

In a newly imported musical comedy
the chief comedian soliloqulzes for a
time on the advantages of stage
career and concludes:
"'l've always thought I'd like TO
be an actor, but it must cut in on
ones evenings friahtfully."
That isn't the only disadvantage.
Take tha question of rehearsals and
so the round of half n dozen actors
Of the mediocre but necessary kind
aud listen to the hard luck stories.
Any show means at least three weeks
Of rehearsing most cases very
much more.
For three weeks there is no pay and
it may bo that after the four, SIX or
eight weeks Of unpaid work the pro-
duction will fail in a week. fail per-
hans il the manager is untrustworthy,
without salaries for even that week.
This fate doesn't always affect only
the actors OF lesser class. One of the
best known OF American character
actors. man who has had prominent
parts in a number of successes spent
practically an entire winter in I'M
paid rehenrsing some two or three
years ago. Il appeared in four sue
cessive productions, zach elaborate,
but destined to a run of not more
than two weeks. Ii his salaries had
been $50 a week he could not have
earned much more over $500 or $3.50
for that seasons work-nnd there are
the actor's year as we'll as IN that
Of the humble persons who pay 50 to
watch him.
Another young English actor who
came to this country some years ago
rehearsed in one season some fourteen
weeks with three plays. each of which
was a complete failure He got some
thing like three weeks pay for that
winter. In addition be had the extra
good luck to see a play of his own,
in which, however, he did not APP
pear, open on Monday and close on
Wednesday of the same week.
In fact an actor getting, say, $50
week, which seems a good salary to
the clerk at S25 a week, counts him.
self very lucky il he works sforty
weeks year. Indeed il he works
thirty he Is we'll off; and the $50 must
spread over yeaFt
Clothes are another problem. The
general custom Of the business is
that the manager shall provide only
costumes; that is, anything that is not
modern dress. Suppose a production
calls. as ia not uncommon. for a bust
ness suit, frock coat and a suit of
evening clothes. All or part of these
may have to be purchased new, for
shabbiness is a cardinal offense. In
one musical play produced not long
ago the Juvenile is called on to APP
pear IN the first act in suit Of white
tlannels, useful garments for some
time needy actor. Nevertheless
they're not costume and he must
buy them himself.
The women of the chorus are in
even a worse hx, for their salaries
are smaller to begin with-820 a week
in New York and S25 on the road he
ing large. In fact SlS and $40 is all
that some of the most liberal Of the
managers give.
These young women, however, have
TO buy their shoes and stockings and
often many other things. Wigs for
example are an added expense ID
some houses. Ii is told of one fam
GUS broadway theater that at the start
of an all-season run each chorus girl
was in debt to the management $50.
In another case high boots at $40 a
pnir were ordered for a particular
Song and charged to the women
singers. The song was dropped after
one act. These are unusual examples,
but it is not unusual for So a week to
be deducted from the $50 pay for a
period OF three, four and even five
weeks.
Women principals sometimes face
startingly heavy bills for their
dresses, all OF which, except cos
tunes, they provide for themselves,
and even salary high in the three
figures isn't available in few weeks
if the dressmaker' bills are to be
paid. New York Sun.
Good Linimnet