FIX’S GAIETY COMPANIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12426, 15 February 1901, Page 2

FIX’S GAIETY COMPANIES.

For twelve months Mr P. R. Dix has been successfully conducting vaudeville theatres continuously in the four principal centres of this colony, and, judging by reports in the newspapers, the success is likely to continue. Air Dix spares no expense in securing artists, -no matter what the salary may be, and on Monday he will/introduce to a Christchurch audience the marvellous con-, tortionist and equilibrist “Perry, the Prog,” who comes from America and England with a high reputation. His act lasts for fifteen minutes, and* his salary is £45 a week. Mr Dix claims that this is the largest 'individual, salary ever paid in vaudeville circ.es in this colony. Air Dix intends to place before .bis patrons some of the best talent -’that, visits the Commonwealth, as is shown by the following list of artists booked by him: —The Paterson Brothers; the American representative triple horizontal bar performers ; ..Miss Daisy Harcourt, one of the best series in the colonies; Air Wallace King, the famous tenor singer; Messrs Pope and Sayles, the coloured efimedians, who have, been with Air Harry Rickards for years ; the Gonzales Sisters, acrobats and contortionists ; Air H. Gray, the essentrie comedian • Messrs Elliot and Marion, English sketch artists; the Lingard Sisters, series and dancers ; *’ Dainty ” Irene Franklin, the most popular artist in Sydney at the present time; Professor Almond, a skate dancer; and, last but not least, Aliss Billie Barlow, at present playing principal boy in the pantomime at the Tivoli Theatre, Sydney. This artiste gets £75 a week. The Paterson Brothers receive £4O, and 'the Messrs. Pope and Sayles £SO, while several of the others earn £2O a week. It will.be seen that running vaudeville companies is an expensive undertaking. At the present time, Mr Dix employs close on 300 people, his total weekly expenses amount to nearly £IOOO. IVhen it.is remembered that in three out of the four cities, his charges are 2s, Is and fid the wonder is how it is done.