Variety (September 1919)

M ■ I C"' ' ' ■'• ■:■.-■■■ i - :'■:.. '■' | : ">^ •'•■:•-;•■•; :...':''' v"-.." • " ' ' V . . ,»,'.... „- ... -.."„* . ■ •■ . , ... NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 3, 1919 ■ - ■ ■ , - . ■ SETTLEMENT OF ACTORS STRIKE LOOKED FOR AT ANY TIME NOW Maybe Today or During Week. Recognition of Actors' Equity Association by Managers' Association Condition of .,. : Peace, with No Closed Shop and Possible Waiver of All Sympathetic Strikes by Theatrical Unions for Stated Period. A. E. A. and Fidelity Hold Meetings. ' i . ■■ ■ m W ■ - A setlement of the strike by the Actors' Equity Association against the Producing Managers' Association is looked for at any time from now on. It may come today or by the end of the week and possibly may be prolonged until early next week. Last night there were strong reports v that a settlement might be reached, even if late. A long conference in the managers' headquarters had at- torneys closeted for several hours. Nothing developed, but it was 'thought that important news would "break" today. The conditions of peace, with- out' the report being specific, are that the P. M. A! give recognition to the A. E..A. as an actors' association and affiliated with the American Fed- eration of Labor; that the theatrical unions involved shall not demand a closed shop in the theatre and that the unions stipulate for the length of the agreement the actors make with the managers, there shall be no sympa- thetic strikes called against theatrical unions. The three theatrical unions of this strike are the Actors' Equity Associa- tion, International Association of The- atrical Stage Employes and American Federation of Musicians. The presi- dent of each is Francis Wilson (A. E. A), Charles C Shay (I. A. T. S. E.) and Jos. W. Weber (A. F. of M.), Opposed to the unions are the P. M. A. and Actors' Fidelity League. Sam Harris is president of the P. M. A. and George M. Cohan is president of the Fidelity. Messrs. Harris and Co- han compose the theatrical firm of Cohan & Harris. It is a member of the managers' association . The A. E. A has maintained, since the commencement of the. strike when the managers urged the. closed shop as propaganda against the actors' as- sociation, that it did not demand nor contemplate a closed shop in the thea- tre, but did impose recognition after the managers had refused to treat with it as a representative organization of the actor. The A. E. A. likewise from the out- set has expressed the willingness to meet a committee from the managers' association by itself or in conjunction with others. The managers, on their ■ side, refused to agree to any proposal that could be construed as recognis- ing the A. E. A., which stopped them from conferring with A. E. A. members. The determined statements issued by the managers on these points have- left them in the peculiar position of attempting to find a dignified way out for peace. It was reported that before the stage handy union and musicians unions entered into the fray, Mr. Shay, acting for his organization, attempted to prevail upon the managers not to continue the battle. It was reported that at that time Shay told the mana- gers if they would consent to a set- tlement he would have his association agree not to ask the actors to walk out in sympathy with stage hands at any time during the agreement was to run.- This the managers declined to consider as well as several other logi- cal "outs" Shay is said to have pre- sented before them. With the entrance of the stage hands and musicians and the method of set- tling upon houses to be closed, the I. A. T. S. E. and A F. of M. virtually ruled the strike proceedings when standing together. Three votes, one in each union, were cast on important issues with the majority to prevail. It is said that through this some con- fusion arose, as in the case of Lew Fields in "A Lonely Romeo" at the Casino, "Happy Days" at the Hippo- drome and the Gallo affair of Monday night at the Shubert. The participation of the other the- (Continued on page 2) PREPARING TO OPEN. Rumors ot a change on the part of the Producing Managers' Association to the effect that instead of a waiting policy they will be forced to fight, crystalized yesterday when it became known that preparations were well under day to open from eight to twelve plays by the beginning of next week. This follows the lead of George Tyler . in successfully opening • with non-union stage hands and musicians in Chicago and Milwaukee and the avowed intentions of other managers to open up Chicago before the end of the week. Yesterday rehearsals for at least eight plays were called. Members of the various casts were informed that they were welcome to return and if they did not wish to resume, their roles would be filled. The list of. shows to open with Mon- day as the probable starting date in- clude "Friendly Enemies" at the Man- hattan, "Scandals of 1919" at the Cen- tury Roof, "The Challenge" at the Sel- wyn, "The Better 'Ole" at the Booth, "Those Who Walk in Darkness" at the 48th Street, Mrs. Fiske in an unse- lected house. Several other attrac- tions are listed and. that includes a possible appearance'of George M. Cohan and William Collier. : It was-understood last night that most of the shows would open simul- taneously, but that no movement or aim was against organized labor. Many ot the offerings in view for opening are those which may be given without the use of stage hands and musicians. That stage hands and musicians will be invited to take their former berths it also thought to be certain. In the event of their not returning, it is pos- sible that help for back stage will be recruitted from the Knights of Labor, a -union which antedates the American Federal of Labor. The latter organi- zation holds a general charter without branches for various trades. An at- torney stated • yesterday that the Knights had long ago secured an in- junction against the A. F. of L. re- straining the latter from calling mem- bers of the Knights "scabs." The present phase of the situation brings forth the managers' contention that "they have not begun to fight." It was admitted that if the managers start opening that the road might suffer until such a time when condi- tions will have attained normal. Without an open stand against the A. F. of L. it is also believed that the skilled labor necessary for back stage, such as carpenters and electricians can be easily recruited from the men freed by the closing of shipyards ULTIMATUM BY PLAYWRIGHTS On* of the moat important ;Ae>.'- velopments of yesterday was the decision of the newly formed playwrights' group of the Authors' League of America, meeting at the Hotel Astor, to serve an ultimatum on the managers to produce their plays or turn them back to. the authors, who have obtained finan- cial backing for production enter* prises of their own. On the Playwrights' Committee are Eugene Walter, Augustus Thomas, Gone Buck, Rupert Hughes and Owen Davis. They obtained from Charles C Shay, Eresident of the Shage Hands' Inton, and Joseph N. Weber, head of the musicians, assurances that they would not insist on a elated shop among the actors. Such a declaration alto will be sought. smew from the Actors' Equity As- sociation, although the assurance was given the stage writers once before. With these written guarantees, the committee will approach the managers end tell them that* un- less they start producing the plays, the authors will sue writs of mandamus* ■-':* "•"! ■■:■>• it I AGENT CONTRACTING ACTORS. According to report, there is »* vaudeville agent taking advantage rf**' the legit strike to the extent he is e personally contracting with many rg comedians and singing and dancing/ul juveniles to represent them in their future business dealings with the man- ager j. ; ;0/§3$ The agent is said to be placing thoia agreeing under contract for one year, ■■' the agfnt reserving the- exclusive right . to enter into future agreement for his '\ clients. ■■■r''^m The plan is gone into with the mu- , tual belief the agent will secure more salary for the artist from the manager if the former and the latter deal di- rect, leaving the artist out of the pre- }j liminary negotiations. V' 'rj All entering into contract with the •] agent have had their contract""''> breached through the strike, and no*" declare they are without a playhA'fv' obligation. It is anticipated severM producers requiring artists of ; : >^;* types secured by the agent will e^ • • rience a surprise when the s'^e iv. over. ," ; •;-Vw;-y:3t.T ■ii ■■■-<■■■ ^>:*}wM