FORTUNES LEFT BY STAGE FOLK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 411, 16 July 1908, Page 4

FORTUNES LEFT BY STAGE FOLK.

Perhaps few people connected with the theatrical profession have amassed so much money as the late Richard D’Oyley Carte, who passed away a few years since, leaving no less a sum than Bx 7. The bulk of this amount was directly due to the Savoy productions of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, which also made fortunes for their talented composer and librettist.

Mr Hengler, the famous circus owner, amassed the very respectable sum of ,£59,665, but this was accomplished in the “ palmy ” days of the circus, and would prove a more difficult task iu these more cynical times. “Lord” George Sanger has also heaped up a tidy fortune.” Over .£41,000 was the amount on which probate duty was paid by the executors of the late David James, whose delightful performance of the Butterman iu “ Our Boys ” forms a classic event in the history of the stage. Always a careful though generous manager, James believed in “putting by for a rainy day,” and his example was followed by Edwin Booth, the celebrated American tragedian, who left a fortune of ,£24,000. The amount would have been greater had not Booth in his latter years spent huge sums in endowing theatrical charities iu the States.

William Ferris, whose tragic death occurred some ten years since at the stage door of the Adelphi, left behind him the by no means inconsiderable sum of £18,257 ) while Dan I,eno managed to amass £II,OOO. Herbert Campbell, who was so long associated with Deno at the music halls and in pantomime, lagged far behind, his estate amounting to merely ,£4,477. This, however, was not due to any extravagance on the comedian’s part, but rather to unfortunate speculations. The late Fred Leslie, whom the older generation of readers will remember with pleasure, heaped up a nest-egg of ,£16,113, and when it is recalled that he died at the early age of thirty-seven the achievement would appear very creditable. On the other hand, Mr William Rignold, who passed away at sixtythree, left only £4,196. Mr Wilson Barrett, though unfortunate during a certain period of his life, came out “ on top ” at the end, for he left behind him the very tidy amount of £31,000 The bulk of this sum was no doubt derived from “The Sign of the Cross ” —a play which restored the actor’s shattered fortunes and “made money” all over the world.

It will come as a surprise to many people that the famous impressario, Sir Augustus Harris, only left £23,677, whereas the late Corney Grain, a mere entertainer, managed to pile up £16,950. This fact casts a lurid light on the profit of a “one-man” show, as compared with the theatrical management.

It is painful also to remember that that great actor, Sir Henry Irving, after a strenuous life devoted to his art, left the comparatively small amount of ,-£20,527 —a sum which seemed entirely disproportionate to his genius and his Titanic labours.