The New York Clipper (December 1919)

THE NEW YORK CLIPPER December 3. 1919 Equity Votes to Take Firm Stand Against Sunday Shows. Member. Pass Resolution to Send Lobby to Albany, Where Manager* Are About to Pot Through New Legislation By unanimous vote, recorded at the regular monthly meeting held In the Grand Ball Boom of the Hotel Astor Sunday afternoon, the Acton Equity Association instructed its council to take immediate-steps to send a lobby to Albany to -work against the prospective passage of a law that would make Sun- day dramatic and musical performan- ces legal. The vote was put on the motion of Harry Mestayer, and second- ed by Everett Butterfield, after a dis- cussion in which it was brought out that it was the purpose of the produc- ing Managers Association to attempt to have such a statute enacted at the coming session of the State Legislature. Meatayer's motion followed one by John Emerson, who put a lengthy and an especially prepared resolution be- fore the meeting to have Equity go on official record as against Sunday per* . fonnances or any nature. This , also, WAS voted unanimously in the affir- mative. .The meeting was called to order about 3.00 o'clock with a short address by Francis Wilson, who presided. Blanche King was introduced as the new President of Chorus Equity and Frank Bacon followed with a short speech . Mr. Wilson then took up the unfin- ished business of the previous meeting and spoke at length on the two eub- Jects of importance that were then before the body, the building of a new theatre and the establishing of a book- ing agency for artists. As both of these projects still are in a prospective stage, however, they were laid on the table for future action. The subject of outside politics was then considered, with discussion rather heated because of Equity's recent activi- ties in this sphere. Explanations were in order from the chair and be manie it clear- why Equity hat thrown Its support' to Xrvin Untermeyer in the municipal elections. He explained that it clear why Equity had thrown its meyer on the principal of remembering those who remember you, but, he added, it was the purpose in the future to keep strictly out of polities. With the business completed to this point, Everett Butterfield took the floor and made a speaen against Sun- day performances. John Emerson fol- lowed him, prefacing his remarks with the statement that he had come pre- pared for Just this subject and had a resolution to offer affecting it He then read at length In the matter, his script covering detailed points, and con- cluded by patting it in the form of a motion. Butterfield seconded it In the discussion on the "uqestion," however, Harry Mestayer obtained the floor and it was his statements that- caused the original motion to he tempo- rarily side-tracked and the one instruct- ing the council to send a lobby to Al- bany to be given first consideration. . ._- Mr. Mestayer said that he had learned from reliable sources that a committee of the Producing Managers Associations had the matter of legisla- tion favorable to Sunday performances now before a number of Assemblymen and that unless Equity established its own publicity bureau and lobby on it, the law very likely would become legal by Spring. He said that the actors did hot want Sunday performances, no mat- ter what extra sums they got paid for them, and that the probability of their getting paid for them even would be- come nil after a time, when the man- agers finally would stop the Wednes- day matinees entirely and Include Sun- day night performances in Equity con- tracts instead, Discussion here brought out points in Mr. Bmerson's resolution. He made it dear that, according to his interpre- tation and to the one set on it by Mr. Rubin, Equity attorney, contracts sigrTT ed in the future would by his resolu- tion eliminate Sunday as e contract Turner, Equity attorney, contracts sign- clnded in the Equity contract as the limit for a -week with all others paid for pro rata; but a clause in Mr. Em- erson's resolution would eliminate Sun- day performances altogether aim, con- sequently, the transferring of a play date from Wednesday matinee, or its transfer from any other afternoon or evening of the week, thereby ""Mug it Include Sunday night, would be the cause for arbitration and, if necessary, the absolute refusal on the .part of the Association, to permit it With this question settled, Mestayer continued. He gave as his chief reason for desiring a lobby at Albany, that the managers would hare one there. Secondly, he said that he had been re- liably informed that one of the reasons for the quick settlement of the actors* strike, when finely negotiations to that end did come about, that the American federation of Labor had used as one of tts potent argnments with the man- agers that, unless they gave in to the demands of the actors, that the Fed- eration would oppose legislation for Sunday performances. The Inference he drew, therefore, was that now the national labor body would throw its support to the managers in their coming campaign at Albany. This angle, while it was decried from the chair and by members of the coun- cil present, nevertheless had an im- pressive effect. Closing his remarks, Mestayer put the motion that the Equity council be instructed to send two or more of its members to the state capltol to be on the ground to combat the managers' in- fluence, and, with Butterfield second- ing, it was passed without a dissenting vote. Mr. Emerson's motion, which had been withdrawn in the meantime, tem- porarily, then was token up and be read it again to its entirety. He ex- plained it clause by clause, calling on Turner, who was present to substanti- ate him in several instances that be- came debatable. The resolution stands against Sunday performances in all localities where they are not legal, but countenances them in cities where they are sanctioned by law and public opinion, such as Detroit, Chicago, Cin- cinnati and throughout the West. In the event of legislation being en- acted to permit Sunday performances in Naw xbzk and in the restricted Cities of the East, the eight-perform- since a week clause now holding in all Equity contracts would be changed, or an amendment made, to eliminate Sunday as a playing day. this would be a move. Mr. Emerson explained, to eliminate Sunday in all parts of the country as a playing day and would serve as propaganda to the end that the actor eventually would have his day of rest), like every laborer. None of the Important stars, he said, now (Continued on Page 6) - "lOSS MJ1UONS" LOOKS GOOD Wilmington, Del., Nov. 28.—Miss Millions, with. Vaili Valll and an ex- ceptional cast, opened at the Playhouse here this week to ■ an instantaneous and well deserved success. The pro- duction, of which it. H. Burnskle, of the Hippodrome, is responsible for the book, anl Raymond Hubbell for the lyrics, was staged in a most sumptu- ous manner and gave rare opportunity for Valll Valll to display her talents. In point of scenery and H g h ti T^ ef- fects, as well as lavish costuming, the production was aa near artistically per- fect as possible, especially was this true of the third act., representing a form scene, the performance being held up for nearly five minutes by the up- roarious applause as the vista was re- vealed. The first act, set in a New York tea room, and the second, in the re- ception room of a Fifth Avenue man- sion, were also very weU done. AMy supporting Valll Valll were, among others, Louise Mackintosh Vera Bosander, Cissie Seweli, Carrie Reyn- olds Bapley Holmes, Clayton White, Vinton Freedley, William Burress, Lewis Sloden, John Hendricks, and 'Prank Farrlngton. Mr. Hubbell has provided a score which contains some numbers which are bound to rise to.popularity as they become known. Especially is this true of a duet by Vaili Valll and Mr. Freed- ley, "I'm In Love With You." the strains of which run through the en- tire score and which was whistled! and hummed by the audience on leaving the theatre. A most catchy arrangement, a rural song and dance number In the second act brought down the house, and a quartette, "Dreams," by Vaili Vaili, Miss Reynolds, Messrs. Holmes and White with descriptive interludes, proved a riot. The costuming of this .number was one of the hits, the gowns of Vaili Vaili, Miss Mackintosh and Miss Bosander were as handsome as have been seen here. Hubbell, assisted by Barnstoe, suit- ed at once to cut the production and have succeeded in eliminating non-es- sential sections and bringing the per- formance to a Broadway basis. They are assisted by Charles B. Dillingham, Al Erlanger, and Bruce Edwards. Hoi Cooper Megrue is also in this city a*, the guest of Hubbell, offering criticisms and suggestions. This Show played to $12,000. last week In Wilmington and Atlantic City. This week it is playing in Providence and, thus far, not only has Burnside been unable to find a theatre for it here, bnt" he also does not know where be is going to play next week, although road bookings for the show are'not really worrying him. What he is con- cerned about, is his inability to bring toe show into New York, doubly SO now since its opening out of town on ac- count of the excellent notices the show has received. For, unless he manages to get the show housed here within the ■ next week or two, it is quite probable that he will lose some of the important members of the cast The principals is the show have al- ready shown petulance over being forced to work on the road at this time, especially since most of them accepted engagements in the show with the un- —derstanding that they would be play- ing in New York within two weeks after it opened out of town. "Miss Millions" is Burnside's Initial production as a producing manager on his own hook, and it is said that the show cost him in the neighborhood of $35,000. Now that the chances of its being successful here appear to be good, bis many theatrical friends, Including Charles Dillingham, are trying to help him to bring the "show in. "MATT. HAS GOOD SONGS Boston, Mass., Dec. ti —A capacity audience greeted the initial perform- ance of "Joan of Arkansas" at the Majestic Theatre to-night The plot of this musical offering by Arthur Ham- merstein Is not new and, In some fea- tures, it reminds one of the theme of "Buddies." The music is tuneful, but not start- lingly ©rlginaL The settings are gorge- ous and In good taste. The chorus made the big hit of the show as every number is unusually attractive and at- tired in charming costumes. The moat catchy songs in the piece are "111 Say So" and "The Tired Business Man." The plot is about a little French girl, Toinette Fontaine, whose heart has been won by a A»nhfn g American soldier whom she helped nurse back to health. Bruce Nash, the soldier, loves the little French girl, but somehow, back in Arkansas, falls in love with Jean Summers,' and, when one sees Miss Anna Seymour in the part they don't blame him in the least. Jean, with her aunt, makes a trip to Trouville, not knowing It is the scene of the first romance of her nance. She finds to Telnette an old classmate. Bruce is in despair at the meeting of his two loves, but his old friend, Charlie Longford, comes to the rescue by falling in love with Jean and a whirlwind woeing results. Miss Seymour, as Jean, scored e dis- tinct success. Good comedy was fur- nished by Frank McConnack as the valet The cast also included Helen Ford, Julia Kelety, Bdonard Clannelll, Minnie' Milne, Joseph Barton and Ben Greeley. "SWEETHEART' OPENS JAN. 6 "The Sweetheart Shop," the new musical show by Ann Caldwell and Hugo Felix, which Edgar MacGregor and William Moore Patch ere produc- ing, is scheduled to open In Atlantic City on January 6, is was learned early this week. Although all of the principals in the cast have practically been engaged, Harry K. Modton, erstwhile of bur- lesque, is the only one to be announced. Alfred Newman, "The boy pianist" has been engaged to direct the orches- tra for the production. NEWSPAPERMAN LOSES FATHER Arthur trngar, a theatrical news- paperman, lost his father, v.™*] Ungar, last week. The deceased was a retired whiskey distiller and was fifty-nine years old at the time of his death. BELLE BENNETT MAKES RECORD Saw Francisco, CaL, Nov. 29.—Belle Bennett picture star and stock lead- ing woman, has made quite a record for herself for consecutive work by fin- ishing her fifty-second consecutive week as leading lady with the Alcazar Flay- ers without missing a single perform- ance. Her first role with the company was in "Upstairs and Down" and at present she is doing "A Dol'ar Down.*' LEASES FRISCO HOUSE Sab Francisco. CaL, Nov. 29.—Sam B. Grossman, who has charge of the Yiddish Players, has leased the Savoy Theatre here and wIH give uree per- formances a week there with his com- pany. It is not known what be will fill the house with during the remain- der of the week. He has a twelve months' lease on the house. Chioaoo, IU., (Nov. 29. — Fred. A Boy er is putting a permanent stock company into the Bijou Theatre at Jackson. Mich. He is selecting his cast from Chicago agencies. ; " ■ I | ' ' ■