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Object: Letter from Lloyd M. Bingham to Colonel James F. Miliken
Creator: Lloyd M. Bingham
Date: 1891
Shelf-mark: Milliken, Theater Arts Manuscripts Collection
Repository: Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin
Rights: Public Domain
In this letter, actor-manager Lloyd Bingham writes to American variety producer and talent agent Colonel James F. Miliken about the financial health of their touring production.
Transcription (click to reveal)Col Miliken
Sir.
Our Matinee was $29.45
Our Wed. Nights 41.80
Total in Day 71.25
50% ~~ 35.62
So you see Bus. falls off instead of increasing as our expenses are $50 per performance and our average receipts $18. You can readily understand our loss. I expect to play to about $6.00 here to-night. Our Piano cost us 6.00 for moving, our Calsium light – $8.00 and everything is ordered with the same lavish hand. I am now about $250.00 in the lurch. Please do not telegraph me C.O.D messages. The Mail only takes 2 hours. I am doing all I can. Of course one good house will pull us out but I want to see the good house. Mr Rose is highly spoken of & pleases the educated people but few refined people attend at 15 25 35 ¢ show at New Haven.
Yours respectfully,
L. M. Bingham
Please look out for an engagement for self and wife. We will need it.