Variety (September 1919)

VARIETY DAD* BOIXETIN COHAN TAKES CHARGE OF,A. F. L AMIDST ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD Reads New Form of Contract Approved of by Managers' Asso- ciation. Contract Corrects Many Existing Evils For Legit Artists. President Turns $100,000, Refused by A. F. L., Over to Actors' Fund. Says Cohan & Harris WUI Not Dissolve. Last night's meeting of the Actors' Fidelity League at the Biltmore Hotel was' fraught with tense expectancy of the actual induction of George M. Cohan as president of the actors' new organization. Mr. Cohan came from a history-; making managers' meeting when he resigned from the P. ~ Mv A- and -a f rather solemn ceremony. He had told | the A. F. L. that he wanted to come to the new league, with/ "clean hands," which was why he delayed taking) office until last night - —H Mrs. Fiske entered with other offi- cials at 8:30, getting applause for three minutes. The speakers announced were Mr. Cohan, Mrs. Fiske, William Collier and Louis Mann. '—-~, A report on membership committee' was read by Alan Dinehart Conclusions are that any member having had one; season—26 weeks of singing, dancing, speaking, pantomine, collectively or in- dividually, are eligible to membership,, but that the 26 weeks need not be consecutive. The color question arose,; Mann replying that the committee; \ ruled any person who performed, re-; gardless of color, was eligible. The report was adopted. ^_> William Collier gave a report on the financial status of the league. Collier said nothing much has hap- pened to actors in the way of finance which brought laughter. But "I put $2,500 in the bank .today, and have $1,145 on hand." This is all dues, mak- ing a total of $3,645—all in dues. j The good news Collier had to report from Tuesday's meeting was that George M. Cohan Would positively appear and take the gravel. David Warfield asked if "Cohan woild take the gravel away from Loir;*" (Mann), which lead to laugh- getting repartee. Mr. Mann said the matter of lay membership would not be taken up until later, as the main business of the League was to "get the curtain up." This was in answer to an offer from a business man to buy a lay member- ship for $2,500. Mr. Mann's words were a refusal of that offer. Florence Nash made a spirited pro- test over an editorial published in the "Globe" and offered a resolution that the board of directors deliberate upon a reply signed by all the prominent names in the A. F. L. Mr. Collier asked that Miss Nash frame her own resolution and the reply would be sent the "Globe" officially by the organiza- tion. Mr. Collier asked the size of membership lists be announced. Ar- thur Ashley stated positive figures were not compiled but with yester- day's applications the number of mem- bers was over 1,900. Ianet Beecher read an editorial from the "Times" on 'lEquity and the Con- tracts." At this moment Mr. Cohan entered the densely packed room with Denis j O'Brien, his personal attorney. Cheers ' and hand clapping continued minute j after minute, fresh cheers bursting forth every so often. Cohan appeared bewildered and .a bit embarrassed by the remarkable demonstration. After ! six minutes, Cohan raised his hand, but another three cheers came at War- field's call to the assemblage. Cohan's first words were: "I hope that the gentlemen of the press will note that Cohan received his usual reception." (Laughter.) "I want you to know that I have come to you as mam an actor, not a manager, for I have. resigned from the Producing Man-] agers' Association. I want you to! guide me while I guide you.' We must i have -friendly resolutions with our j managers and associates. We don't want a weapon over us. We want the theatre. "I have here the salient points, of a new contract which I am to present to you tonight. Before I left the P. M. A. room, this afternoon, I was given full power to get you whatever you asked for within reason. —— 'The managers agreed to let me say for them that eight performances shall constitute a week. Pro rata salary for additional performances. Dramatic shows shall rehearse four weeks—for additional rehearsals ar- tists shall receive full salaries. Musical shows shall rehearse five weeks and full salaries will tie paid them there- after. That includes chorus. "All wigs, costumes, stockings and shoes shall be furnished by the man- ager. In dramatic shows all gowns are to be paid for by the manager. 'That salaries shall be paid no later than Saturday night. If a show shall be rehearsed less than' 10 days and abandoned, players shall secure a week's salary. "All disputes are to be settled by arbitration—one arbiter from each side and if, after three days they cannot agree, a non-professional shall be se- lected to decide and his decision shall be hnal and both sides must agree not to enter into litigation regardless of the decision. "The Producing Manager's Associar tion stands back of all contracts of its members and stands ready to see that all conditions are borne out. "Regarding weeks before Christmas and Holy Week, wherever pos- sible, those weeks will be booked this season and full salaries will be paid. Next season full salaries are to be paid for weeks before Christ- mas and Holy Week, whether the show plays or lays off. "Let me tell you not to have the Actors' Equity Association say they: are responsible for this. I am respon- sible for this" (great applause). It was in respects like the contract which Mr. Cohan" had privately ar- ranged just before the final split in relations between A. E. A and P. M. A. at their last meeting. He was never :able to submit the plan. That was largely through the attitude of the A. £. A. delegates. Cheers again came when Mr. Cohan arose to say that they should dispense with cheers but to go at things with pep, like true Americans, bang, bang, bang. Collier arose and laughter was general when he said: "You see what a fine reception Cohan wouldn't let me have (meaning that no cheers should be made). That's his first word as an actor. I am not going to make a long speech. I leave it to Louis Mann. Let us keep out of the courts." Mann 'started and got stuck, when Collier brought another laugh by say- ing: "That is the shortest speech Louis ever made." — - ■ Mann asked for suggestions and someone called out, "Get together with the Equity." A murmur ran through the room. Cohan jumped to his feet and said: "Get together with no- body. We have formed to bring the theatre back to where it belongs. I have not resigned from the firm of THE STRIKE SITUATION ■ { IN NEW YORK SHOWS CLOSED "The Hoyal Vagabond" (Cohan ft Harris), Cohan and Harris. "Listen Lester" (John Cort), Knick- erbocker. "Chn Chin Chow" (Comstock & • Geat), Century.. "Midnight 'Whirl" (Morris Geat). Century Roof. "Oh, What a Gin" (Shubert), Shu- bert. '■■*► . "The Five Million" (Comstock ft Gest), Lyric. "The Crimson Alibi" (Geo. Broad- hurst), Broad hurst. "A Voice in the Dark" (A. H. Woods), Republic. •"Nightie. Night" (Adolph Klauber), Princess «Llghtntn>'» (Smoth ft Golden), Gai- ety. "She's a Good Fellow" (Chas. DU- lngnam), Globe. "Monte outo, Jr.," (Shubert), Winter Garden. /"Scandals of 1»19" (George White), Liberty. "A Lonely Romeo" (Lew Fields), Casino. "Gaieties ef lBiir (Shubert), 44th. , Street —"The Better »OIe» (Chas. Coburn), Booth. "» Bast" (Shubert-Rachel Croth- ers), Maxine Elliott. "Follies" (Flo. Zlegfeld), Amster- dam. •"A Regular Fellow" (C. E. Cook), Cort. •"Adam and Eve" (Comstock ft Gest), Longacre. •"She Would and She Did" (W. A Brady), "Vanderbllt. Mne O'clock and Midnight Rsvae (Zlegfeld), Amsterdam Roof. "Those Who Walk In Darkness" (Shubert), 48th Street £«• "Too Many Haabaada" (A. H. Woods), Hudson. "La La Lucille" (Alfred E. Aarons), Henry Miller. •Thur»ton, Globe. .-.,.' "Nightie Night," "A Regular Fellow/* "She Would and She Did." •JTeev Many Husbands," "Adam and Eve," Thurston, announced premieres' iiaos strike started; could not open. SHOWSOPEN. ,' "At 9i4S" (W. A. Brady), Playhouse. . ■ EXEMPT SHOWS. ' "John Ferguson" (Theatre Guild), Be^ftt^ Perfomasiea_ by Actors' Fulton. Equity Association, Lexington "Greenwich VUlage Follies" (AL Ave^ Theatre.^ . iAjdd ' JoneB), Greenwich Village. / "Happy Days," Hippodrome, REOPENED WITH PICTURES. 44th Street "Evangeline" And '. ■'. Ctastrtil, "Checkers." - ..''Kathleen ; M*vournesa.! , .. Lyric, "Deliverance." ;■. '■■'■'$ .... IN CHICAGO ■. i SHOWS CLOSED. :- /■ "Cappy RJeta^_(Morosco^,_Cort (A. H. vailD/ iMezauar- ^j»viv>vvj| ^*ey *• "Prince There Was" (Cohan ft Har- —ud. ris), Cohan's Grani. "Up In Mabel's Room." Woods), Woods. _i _ . '■ :-. "Angel Face" (Geo. W. Ledsrer), Colonial. "Honeymoon Town" (J. I* BlMOh* ard), LaSalle. ;/.;•.« •; -^ "Scandal" (Walter Hut), Garrlek. "Sunshine" (Johnstone A Shaw), Studebaker. . ' "Passing Show" (Shubert). Palace, ; -u- —ssfe Cohan & Harris. I have contract*! which run over five years. I am going ; to make good on those contracts. If don't think I'll ever produce again; and I don't feel like ever acting again. I am going to keep my contracts, and that includes those, with artists. After they are fulfilled.; I will be ready to retire, go to Great- Neck or even back to Providence. "I want you to take that $100,000. I think it was a great thine when this society refused that $100,000. But I want you to take it and if you don't want to use it, let's give it to the Actors' Fund. And when that $100,000 is'used, 111 give another hundred thou- sand, and another hundred and another hundred—until we are back to the theatre. That's the kind of a guy lam." ,\ Cohan talked with intense feeling and bitterly resented the reported charge from the other side that he was a managers' representative. Then Collier said: "I don't know what you are going to do with this, but here is Mr. Cohan's check for $100,000." ^^. Mann started suggesting about pho- tographing it when Cohan said he sug- gested Collier get the check back. Mann wanted it framed and hung in the A. F. L. permanent club rqoms. Cohan arose and said: "You'd better! send it to the Actors' Fund, because if you don't, I'll send another check to the fund in the morning for $100,000 ■ in the name of this organization." A resolution that the check be sent; to the fund was then passed-("Much fun ran through the meeting 'with Collier's good natured" raillery at Mann's propensity to speech 'making and "suggesting." Mann talked of a great benefit to be given to show the great names already associated with the A. F. L. Frances Starr sent a check for $100 as a life membership, Collier reading her note of application. Florence Nash arose again to sug- gest that.actors can join the league: without the $5 fee at once—that the A. F. L. will trust them, Mr. Cohan said: "that is right, Miss Nash. If a lot of little fellows haven't the $5. I know a lot of managers who haven t got $5 tonight, either.'V ^ Miss Nash replied: "Well, then, let us let the little fellows know that we will take him in, even if they cannot afford the dues just now." It was explained that all were wel- come to membership whether they had the dues or not George White wag called on to tell how he was treated by the A. E. A.; which he did. He told of how tb. Equity tried to pin him down. Said he wasn't in favor of joining with la- bor. That an actor's ability was, his. best protection, for the public won't accept a rotten actor. He then gave his opinion of the difference between actors and trades unionists. He went into .details as to how his show was stopped on a Saturday night When a. $3,000 house was in—which sum took him "off the nut" for the week. White declared the strike was called in an underhand fashion. White was inter- rupted by Percy O'Malley Jennings (an A. E. A. member]), who demanded to know why he paid the musicians ard not some of the A. E. A. people who walked out. The man cried out, "Because they are affiliated with the American Federation of Labor." White replied: "Because the musi- cinns and stage hands are hard-work- ing men. They are laborers. And it was not they who called the strike, but the Actors' Equity Association." Adjournment was taken until Sat- urday night at the Biltmore. : . Following the meeting. Frank Bacon ("Lightnin"'), who had attended it. said that he was with the Actors' Equity in this strike and would stick to the A. E. A., sink or swim. During the day a, report had spread.Mr. Bacon intended joining the A. F. L. ' -■ U t*