Variety (September 1919)

39 ^ SS GETTING READY; ROAD WILL HAVE FEWER SHOWS Even When Strike Is Settled Season Will Be Delayed Two Months. Managers Will Not Run Risk of Big Productions. Outside Capital Coming In. Pictures May Capture Outlying Territory. Employment Factor For Actors.' :'" ': ''.''•''. ■• ■ '■ : -— ■ ■ ■ ■ • Thursday of this week saw the com- pletion of four weeks of the actors' strike. Earlier in the week there was plenty of indication that a break in the deadlock would be made before Saturday. There were definite prom- ises that Broadway at last 'would brighten up and-.that shows would be running by next week. Whether this meant a settlement of the strike, or that the managers would start oper- iting without a settlement was not known up to the time of going to press. 'It was regarded as certain Wednes- day, that Times Square, which, has been darker lately than during Gar- field's lightless nights, at least as far as theatres are concerned, would light op within a few days. Rehearsals tor plays are going on. Some are planned for reopening Saturday night One, "The Challenge," is announced to re- - lume (Friday) tonight -But it will not be until Monday or later that any con- siderable number of shows, will be open. 1 So completely has the strike stopped theatricals it will be impossible for the season to attain the momentum that it should now have until Nov. IS. That, at least, is the opinion of ex- perts. If the recovery entails that much time it is sure that the first flush of the -new season, which is figured to be from Labor Day until the first Of the year, will be entirely missed and that a recovery of losses now unescapable will not be possible. A reduction of productions is now looked on as sure to follow- no mat- ter who wins the struggle. Conditions have been so changed during the strike producers will hesitate before putting on plays. One of the most ex- pert stage directors in discussing the possibilities of the new season stated tuch a situation would necessarily fol- low because of the increased hazard in producing. Not alone would there be less shows put on but fewer larger pieces. A loss of confidence by managers bringing fewer plays would mean the employment of fewer actors. If that economic condition attains it will most likely affect the one nighters first and that will afford added opportunity for future pictures to capture much ter- ritory. . _• ■ The plans of co-operative shows by actors is not regarded seriously. At least not on a large scale. The handi- caps mostly comprise the difficulty at .arriving at salary percentages, but Oore importantly professional temper- ament must be considered. The actors nave successfully engineered their va- rious offerings here and. in Chicago but. the element of salary didn't figure. And in the only case where the selec- tion of roles entered, the show was called off in rehearsal ('The Gentle- man From Mississippi"). It looks therefore that Broadway will have its usual complement of at- tractions and that theatres will be in full operation before long. Just how the strike and the questions it brought will reduce production will be one of the interesting results which the new season will bring out There seems little doubt that outside capital at- tracted to a number of independent theatrical ventures has been with- drawn. Whether the recognized pro- ducers will also invest conservatively is a matter for the future. NOTES. Keith's, Dayton, O., will open Sept. 15 with big time acts, booked by Ches- ter Sratton. ' ' .HHB> Caruso and his wife arrived in New York, Sept. 1, after three months in Italy. TRANSFER MEN STRIKE. ' • - - The transfer and truck men went en strike .yesterday as predicted. It was stated, however, that their demands were an annual affair and that the the- atrical strike had no particular mean- ing to them. The boss truckmen ex- plained theatrical baggage was but a p«rt of their business, that for the most part the steady work was down- town. Nevertheless the men's demands stipulate new conditions which will govern theatrical handling and will force the price per load upwards. The men asked for $6 per day for chauf- feurs and $5 per day for horse-driven vehicles. This is an advance of about $1 per day, but the real increase covers night work and Sundays. The men ask $12 for night work and for Sun- days and a scale which calls for double time for overtime. As most theatrical transfer is done at the week ends and almost entirely at night or Sundays, it is bound to effect baggage hauls. The regulations now pro>'Me that a man cannot be kept consecutively on theatrical work. It is figured that some of the transfer workers will be' able to earn as much as $60 weekly. It was definitely announced yester- day at the headquarters of the Team- sters Union that members of the or- ganization will not be permitted to handle scenery or theatrical baggage of members of the Producing Manag- ers' Association, as long as the Equity strike continues. A. F. US BOSTON BRANCH. The Actors' Fidelity League an- nounced yesterday that offices of the league had been opened in Boston on Tremont street for the enrollment there of* such players as were opposed to the move that the Equity had made in calling a strike at the theatres on Labor Day. Baeb Pradertk Bailey Fred Baker Leah Bapttate John " Berday John Barlow May Basalt Jack Belmont Mlia' B Bennett Edna Bennett John Berge Irene Bent Al ■ Berry Havard Boise H Bowen Eugene Brantley Peggie Branson Aleen Brooks Walter Burkbardt Harry Busey Babette Busey Wilms Bushell Use - 'O Carter Rose Casavant Lester Cathro Jamea Caianagh Jack CaTnnigh Lucille Cawley Bill Christie Adete Clark Hasel coate Harry Cock ran Grace Coffman Joe * Cooke W H Cook Emma Cornell Christopher Coagrove ID Coyne Thomas Crawford Antoinette Creadon Blllle Crelgbton Fred Crowley Jas Curry Mrs D D~ Dais Etbal Dale Has Daltoa J B Deacon Geo Decfay Jean Do Witt Harry Do Wolf 8tanle? Dto Dato Frank Donoque Leon Donovan Fanny Dordon Maria Doyle frank Dudley Alice Dumltrssou Geo Faranrortb . Farrow Frank Fay Elfle Floyd Walter Forbes Marlon Frank J Frank Prey Lew Gal low Jlaunlt Gibson An tie Gibson Oram Qleaaon Helen Olyo Harry Glover Clauds Golden Mabel ■ Goodrldge 0 W 'v: Gout Louis Gray Amanda Orssao Eddls > Grus Jack Gruett Mrs A ','.'>& H Hsle Frank Hell Bob Hall Ray Hsrrah Jaoojue • Harris Donny Harrison ft HoIIoway Hnrtwlck Clinton ;vT Haw Harry Henebaw Bobby Herscm Frank Holbrook Florence Hope Rutb Huestoa Billy Hukord Jolla ?V Hughes Frank Hughes Chas Hutcblnga Alice ■- Hyland C ■ Inhoff Mr A Ur» '- >:■ :M; '■-'■'Mi m i-'Vfil "^". >■•;■>> Frank Gordon (El Gerdo) returned from Europe Monday on the Royal George, after a three months' tour* of the English Halls. "LOOK WHO'S HERE" OPENS. _: . - Baltimore, Sept. 3. "Look Who's Here," with Cecil Lean and Cleo Mayfield, opened at the Acad- emy this week. my Daddy says, if I insist on advei ™ e fc n l w f ^ u b 'L? mme,,ted need the kale'to get back from Europ} Up0n ' " S a new P rodu <*"»'- Blsetrlo City Four Engle Ssmuel Evans Carol Everett Myrtle Jerome A Carson Jordon Betty Kelly Jos ' ; - Keogh ThOS Kerry Free King Margarita Kobel Frances LaFeber Ansa ; ■ Labono a Dupreees La Marr Olga Lee WUaH La Rue Rath Le Roy D F Le Van Bobbie >-•' Lewis Isabel Lincoln Corrinne Lorayns Pauletts Lyncb Todd Lyncb Wlnfield . ■:,-' m* V V-i'irvV -"•'-■.■Jvw-iJ \:&:i :f-m add HATTIE being introduced twice dal weeki Art Acord, after winning the Croix de Guerre in service at the front has been released from the army and is now with Universal. Thomas Holer and Esther Wheelock arrived Aug. 23 from France, where they have been entertaining the Amer- ican soldiers. • . . • The opening of the Orpheum, Al- toona, Pa., has been postponed indefin- itely due to incomplete repairs. There is a report the house may go into pic- tures. Big Bill Boa worth, most prominent cafe owner in the theatrical line, was in town this week. According to the report he expects to purchase a new hotel in Syracuse and is looking over the cabaret talent Alfred Adler (Joe Mann's office) is planning a trip to Europe, expecting to start in two weeks. ENGAGEMENTS. Vera Mlchelens, "My Once In a While," ' Evelyn Cavanaugb (Dore and Cavanaugh) and Lewis Sloden at the Palais Royal ?• Clay Crouch has been engaged to plsy Frank Tlnney's old role In Max Plobra's "Watch Tour Step." Patsy Delaney, Charley Udells, Harry Ormonds, Charley Orr and Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have also been engaged. BWfSftM (TOTS IS NOT A FACE FOWDER) LETTERS _ for aaaU to VARIETY, sttdrase Mall Clerk. _J»OfTCAWn ». AP TBHTHUH8 OS tBsVlPLAR LBTTBM WILL MOT BE ADVEJmSBO. mB? »^ t ADT»RTI» m Adams Billy Adele Miss Adter Cbaa Albrigbt Fannie Allen Edna Allen Mickey Angel ft Fuller Angre Al Artels Mrs Gladys . New York, Bept I, 1010. Mn. chic mrx. AudltoriJb Tbcstre, ChlcsKO, 111. Dear Chic? Went on la your place at tbe Manhattan Optra House .'Bunds? night, Just as rou requested DM to do, and although 1 bad a bard spot, doalas tba abow, the audlanoe aetnud to eoJor the Utile Mt I did tssy much. BlAoardjr ynura. CHAS. ALTHOFF. . " MONT BURNING THE WIRE 'tiri'0 NEXT WEEK (Sept 8), B. P. KEITirS, PmiJJ)ELPfflA ■, Booked for 40 weeks onr the R F. Keith and Orpheum Circuits |. Direction, WM. L. LYKENS J| ■w &®R