Variety (September 1919)

J..*?";-■! •'■:-" .-'■■ .20 BOSTON ADDED TO STRIKE'S LIST; ANOTHER SHOW STOPPED IN N. Y. $pm ■■'*■■ W v.- .'■ •••;'■.: ■ . ., '. .- ■-' ';'•■ ■■ ■:>.'■ ■■>';-' Six Productions Closed at Labor Day Matinee, Leaving Boston Dark in $2 Way. Hippodrome, New York, Reopened * Yesterday, With Shubert Prevented From Having Premiere Last Night. Managers Rumored Preparing to Recast Plays. Peace Report Around. m ■■i-y. -■<:. >■' IS . ■:■■ s-v '-i%: r ;-.•'■• •A; . %,. ■: The big bomshell scheduled for La- bor Day in the present theatrical strike evidently was directed at Bos- ton, where six attractions were closed at the matinee. The prevention of the opening of the Shubert Theatre last night with the Gallo Opera Company as the attraction was another A. E. A. point. In addition to this the only development was the reopening of the Hippodrome at the matinee with "Happy Days" after the attraction had been closed for four performances. The issuance of statements and counter-statements proceeded on both sides of the fence with the Actors' Fidelity League trailing with its state- ments. Yesterday was a day of "tips" rather than statements, for it was a "tip" to the newspapermen that start- ed men toward the Greenwich*-Village section. Earlier in the day the news that the Bronx opera house was un- able to open because the theatre was controlled by the Cohan & Harris, A. H. Woods and Shubert interests was verified. The attraction there was to have been the Mack .Sennett feature, "Yankee Doodle in Berlin" with the Bathing Beauties. The walkout of the picture machine operators was the cause of closing that house. The Shubert (Gallo Opera Company) had to turn back the money for the opening performance. Up to Saturday the opening seemed, to be assured, to the extent there was a rehearsal Sat- urday afternoon which included the orchestra and after the regular three hours that are allotted an opening at- traction had been consumed, ah addi- tional hour was used by the manage- ment. After the closing of the Shubert and the refunding of about $1,600 which the house would have held last night, the entire chorus of the company marched to the Equity strike headquarters sing- ing. The closing of the theatre was directly brought about through the mu- sicians refusing to work. The report was about yesterday the managers ate preparing to recast closed or stopped plays, first proceed- ing by calling for rehearsal the play- ers under contract, in order that the managers may be free to procure sub- stitutions for those failing to appear. This led to the prevailing belief the managers, ■ in pursuance of the statement issued by George M. Cohan that ten theatres would reopen within the next two or three weeks, have finally determined to go against the American Federation of Labor, in a finish battle. On the other hand it seemed to be the opinion in certain circles that this week will see the end of the fight, with the same report say- ing that in the settlement to be reached between the opposing forces the A. E. A. will secure the recogni- tion it has been struggling" for from the managers. : The settlement rumor was pretty much inside stuff and could not be traced. It appeared to have had some- thing to do with the visit to Wash- ington one day last week of George ML Cohan and Arthur Hopkins. The strike order in Boston yesterday somewhat dented the vajue of the peace report, but it still persisted. - The express drivers were reported yesterday to have refused to handle theatrical baggage or equipment in sympathy with the actors' strike. This followed a resolution last week of the Teamsters' Union declaring with : . the A. E. A. and the other striking \ theatrical unions. / The Strike Situation box in this is- sue of the Bulletin shows a total of blank theatres closed so far by the strike, in and outside of New York. No changed conditions was reported PHILADELPHIA DOESN'T OPEN. Philadelphia, Aug. 30. ~ The local theatrical situation felt its first effect of the strike called by the Equity Association here today, when it was officially announced that no at- tempt would be made to open the Gar- rick with "La La Lucille" or the A del- phi with 'Toby's Bow" Monday. These two shows were the only ones sched- uled to start the legitimate season here. The advance safe at both thea- tres was stopped yesterday and the refund of money for the sale of teats • started this morning. It is very doubt- ful now if any of the legimate theatres in this city will attempt to Open their season until the strike troubles are adjusted. Despite that many attractions book- ed to play the fir it-class theatres here are owned by managers not members of the P. M. A., all the bookings for the seven legimate theatres, are made through the K. & E. and the Shuberts. LEASES ACADEMY, PHILADELPHIA. The A. E. A. production department opened its out-of-town campaign Sat- urday, with the acquisition of the Academy, Philadelphia, leased by the Equity. •* ' The house will open about Sept 9 with an Equity production—probably a musical comedy. Col. Earle Boothe, chairman of the Entertainment Committee, says the A. E. A favor extended runt over the onenight stand policy. STAGE HANDS ASSESSED. Washington, Sept. 1. The local stage hands and musicians have been assessed 10 per cent of their salaries, in addition to the Interna- tional (union) assessment of one dollar. "YANKEE DOODLE" HELD OUT. "Yankee Doodle in Berlin" and the Sennett Bathing Girls, scheduled te begin a week's engagement at the Bronx opera house yesterday after- noon, called off the date, following; a conference between the Sol Lesser in- terests and the I. A. T. S. E. The Lesser people were informed by the I. A officials that if lie attraction should attempt to open at the Bronx the picture operators would be called out, because of the house being a Co- han & Harris theatre. COMPLAINT BUREAU ORGANIZED, The A E. A has established a com- plaint department, which will be an adjunct of the engagement bureau at 160 West 45th street. A notice posted on the bulletin board at strike head- quarters requests A. E. A. members t© furnish the complaint department with information concerning the following abuses: long rehearsals and short runs, half salary weeks, fares to New York refused, Saturday lost in order to play Sunday, buying costumes and show closing leaving players in debt, contract violation and any other gen- eral abuses coming to the individual, attention of any member. from Washington two plays announ opening and one t agers' associatio "Pollyanna" at th hiladelphia missed d for a Labor Day anager of the man- (Tyler) opened Capitol Sunday. "FOLLIES" PEOPLE CALLED. A notice sent out by Flo Ziegfeld stated all members of "The Follies" had been ordered to report at the Amsterdam theatre this morning for rehearsal. Another notice from the same office stated the roof shows of Ziegfeld's will be shortly produced. For these Fran- ces White has been engaged as a "single turn." Miss White and Wil- liam Rock (Rock & White) have dis- solved their stage partnership, the no- tice said. (Continued Ion page 2) Fidelity Meeting Tonight The next meeting of the Actors' Fidelity League is to be held tonight at the Hotel Biltmore. LENOX THEATRE NOW A. L A,- The A. E. A signed a lease for t.'.**; Lenox theatre yesterday and will pat in an Equity vaudeville show next Monday night. . •' The Lenox (at 110th and Lenox ave- nue) was formerly a Yiddish theatre and has connections with the down-' town group including the Thomashef- sky and, 2nd Ave. The capacity of the Lenox is 900. MANAGERS NOW SPEAKING, The strike is reported to have brought together Marc Klaw and A. L. Ertanger, who are now calling one another by their first names. It is said to have placed Erlanger and Lee Shubert on a more friendly footing than they have had for several years back. FIDELITY OFFERS MONEY. The A F. L. issued an announcement yesterday saying it would, advance money to all members applying for it, after an investigation. Assurances were given in the an- nouncement that the advances would be held in the strictest of confidence. The A. E. A. has had an emergency fund for its members since the strike first started, .j^ ... V.