The New York Clipper (July 1917)

Copyright, 1917, by the Clipper Corporation. Founded by FRANK QUEEN, 1853 NEW YORK, JULY 18, 1917 VOLUME LXV-No. 24 Price, Tea Cents MANAGERS TO FIGHT UNION DEMANDS HOLD MEETING ON SCALE TO-DAY Inasmuch as a majority of the mem- ■ hers of the United Theatrical Managers' . Protective Association are not in sym- pathy with the request of the local musi- cians for an increase in wages, it is under- stood that at a meeting of the managers this afternoon in their headquarters in the New York Theatre building, they will take action whereby they will refuse to i accept the scale of wages presented to them for the next season. This will leave . only one recourse by which the musicians can hope to attain their end, and that is to : declare a strike, or revise their sched- ule in some way. To arrange the scale which will be for- mally submitted to the managers today, the musicians held almost daily meetings during the latter part of June and the ' fore part of July. At these sessions, there was. considerable wrangling as to the amount of salary to be demanded for the different kinds of work performed by the men. Particular stress was paid to the schedule for first-class vaudeville houses. A great many of the headstrong members were determined that an increase in this department be sought which would amount to about SO per cent, more than the present scale of wages. However, the more conservative mem- bers argued that it was impossible to make any such demand, as it was entirely out of proportion to other increases asked for by their members, and other organ- izations connected with the theatrical business. Finally, after four weeks of hot wrangl- ing, an agreement was reached whereby . a 25 per cent, increase was agreed upon. This the members felt would be an easy thing for them to obtain. Then the question of the other vaude- ville theatres, musical comedy, dramatic, burlesque and motion picture houses, was taken up. In some cases, the original scale submitted proved satisfactory to the members, but in other instances they balked against the increase sought. This objection necessitated a series of long sessions, at which statistics of wages throughout the country were gone over, and speeches by various labor leaders were made. These leaders, representing other crafts in the theatrical field, implored the men not to be inconsiderate on account of conditions brought about through the war. They stated that it would be a bad time to have any difficulty with the managers, especially through a strike, and were ad- vised to readjust their scale temporarily so as to be able to get an increase which . would benefit them and, at the same time, not give the managers an opportunity', to rebuff: them. A number ■ of the members were in favor -of doing this,- but some' of • the radical. ones insisted that as long as they had. not obtained an increase in : eighteen ■■ years, they might as well get a : substantial one. When the managers acquaint: them with < Continued on page 4.) AUTHORS ARE AFTER THEATRES United States District Attorney Melville J. France, of Brooklyn, is assisting the American Society of Authors, Oompoiera and Publishers in their endeavor to have motion picture exhibitors in that borough obey the copyright law with reference to the playing of musical compositions with- out permission from the society or its members. Mr. France has summoned a number of exhibitors in that borough and informed them that they must comply with the law in every respect or that he would bring proceedings against them in the Federal courts. NEWARK SUNDAY SHOWS TO RUN Newark, N. J., July 14.—The order sent out by Chief of Police Long early in the week notifying all managers to close down on Sundays during the Summer, was rescinded by him yesterday. Chief Long's explanation of his closing order was that some of the managers told him they lost money during the hot spell, after giving 50 per cent of. their Sunday receipts to charity, as they are required to do, so he decided to close them all The general pro- test from managers and theatregoers in- duced him to revoke the order. MANAGER MADE TO KISS FLAG S apulpa, Okla, July 16.—Geo. Kanuwitz, manager of a local theatre, refused to al- low American" flags in his house and would not permit performers to sing patriotic songs on his stage. When Sheriff John Woofter heard of it he visited the theatre, and, while a motion picture was being shown, a spotlight, suddenly thrown on the stage, revealed the Sheriff with an American flag in hie hands. Then the big audience saw Woofter beckon Man- ager Kanuwitz to the stage and compel him to kiss the flag. LAUDER OPENING DATE SET Harry Lauder will commence his Amer- ican tonr under the direction of William Morris at.a Shubert theatre in this city on October 15. After one week in New York he will journey to the PaciHc Coast with his company. Lester Murray will be company manager and Louis S.em r i'l be in advance. Special publicity work for Lauder will be done in Chicago by Jack Lait, the newspaper man and playwright "SIX LITTLE WIDOWS" OPENS 30TH Weber and Andersons' "His Six Little Widows," in rehearsal at present will open its road tonr at Atlantic City July 30th.-- Tempest and Sunshine and Robert Emmet Keane were engaged for the pro- duction, through Jos. E. Shea. Keane has a ten-week contract at the termination of which he will be allotted the title role in a new musical production. JEAN HAVEZ INCORPORATES A new producing company has been in- corporated for $5,000 and will be known as Jean Havez, Inc. The incorporators are' Lottie Gibson, Helen B. Price and Harry Saks Hechheimer. The latter is attorney for the new' company. ' ~ GILLETTE TO BUILD CASTLE Habtfokd, Conn., June 15.—Contractor Walker, of this, city, has just received a contract from William Gillette to build a handsome castle in Hadlyme, on' the banks of the Connecticut Riw- The terms call for its completion in April. ZUK0R WILL FILM CLARA YOUNG SELZNICK SUITS ARE DROPPED The suit brought by Clara Kimball Young for an injunction and accounting from the Lewis J. Selznick Enterprises and the Clara Kimball Young Film Cor- poration, and the counter actions of the defendants against ber, were discontinued on Monday. This change in the affairs of the picture star and ber business associates created considerable surprise among per- sons acquainted with the principals. For the last few days a series of con- ferences have been held between Selznick and Adolph Zukor, of the Famous Play- ers Film Corp., regarding Miss Young. At these meetings, negotiations were dis- cussed whereby Miss Young is to have her pictures produced under the Zukor management and then turned over to the newly organized C. K. Y. Co. for distribu- tion. It is expected that all of the details in the matter will be completed to-day and that Miss Young will start work imme- diately under the Znkor management. It is said the terms on which the further film work of Miss Young will be carried on are that the Zukor organization will produce and pay for the production of all the Youug pictures, and the C. K V. or- ganization, in turn, will stand the cost of distribution. After these expenses are de- ducted from the earnings of the pictures, the arrangements call for an equal division of the profits between the Zukor and C. K. Y. organizations. When Lewis J. Selznick was Interro- gated by a Clipper representative regard- ing the deal, he declared he had nothing to say about the matter. He, however, did not deny the legal actions had been dis- continued. Last April, at the conclusion of a picture in the Selznick Studios, Miss Young de- parted for California and, upon ber re- turn, refused to resume work unless she were allowed to have entire charge of the production of all her pictures. At the time she was drawing $1,000 a week and, according to Selznick, had drawn her money in advance up to September 1. At that time. Miss Young declared, that she was not receiving as much money under her arrangement with Selznick as she believed her ability entitled her to, and that she was determined to cast about for means to. increase, her earnings. She took these steps despite the fact that she had a five-year contract with the Selznick organization, which would afford her no loop-hole to break She then consulted attorneys and insti- tuted a suit for an injunction and account- ing, declaring that, on account of her In- experience in business matters, Selznick conspired to deceive and defraud her. She alleged that she was treasurer of the com- . pany formed by Selznick to- produce -and exploit productions featuring her, bnt that . she was not permitted to look at the books or touch the money brought in. Selznick, at the time, .said the action was unprincipled and declared' that bis con- ( Continued on page 4.) RINGUNG SHOW "DROWNED OUT' Kokomo, Ind., July 14.—The heavy rain and hall storm that swept over Kokomo late Friday afternoon "drowned out" the Ringling circus, which was ex- hibiting here, spoiling the afternoon per- formance and forcing the management to call off the night show. The circus lot is on low ground skirt- ing Wildcat Creek. The downpour made the ground a sea of mad. Water poured through the canvas in great streams, con- verting the rings into lakes and soaking the performers. Many acts could not even be attempted. The whole interior was a mud-puddle when the spectators started to leave. The circus began tearing out as soon as the afternoon show was over. Great difficulty was experienced in getting the heavy wagons out of the soft ground, twelve teams being required to draw some of them through the hub-deep mud. ACTS GOING TO SOUTH AMERICA The following acts have been booked by Roger Tolomei, general manager of the South American Tour through Richard Pitrot: The Great Carter, with his big magic show; Harry de Coe, balancing act on chairs and tables; Harcourt, the man who grows: Claude Rani, wire performer; Jean Whitney, American singer and Mr. and Mrs. Stuart dancing act All will sail August 11. RACINE TO HAVE NEW MANAGER Racine, Wis., July 14.—The Orpheum closed the season Sunday night and will remain dark till August 25. H. C. Winkler, who has managed the house for a year, left for a motor trip to Detroit. He will not return to Racine next season and will be succeeded by Fred Whitebome, who was assistant manager to Winkler. DEKOVEN FORMS OPERA COMPANY Albany, K. Y., July 14.—The American National Grand Opera Corporation was in- corporated here this week with a capital- ization of $500,000. It is formed to con- duct a general theatrical operatic and amusement business. The directors are: Reginald De Koven, Ola C. Campbell and Arthur Farwell. ACTORS MUST HAVE PASSPORTS It is important for all acta booked for South America to know that they most secure passports, a process which takes about three weeks' time. Many performers not knowing this have been held np and, being unable to get passports at the but moment have lost their engagements. TROUTT AND VIOLES SAIL Arthur Trontt and Mias Violes, known as the human submarine and the diving Venus, sailed last week for South America, They were booked through Richard Pitrot and will play the South American Tour, Ltd., opening in Buenos Aires. SIGNS ACT FOR "BEAUTY-SPOT" Herman B. Moss has engaged the Hir- schoff Troupe as a feature of "The Beauty Spot" which be will send out next season on the Klaw & Erlanger time. . K. A E. GET "BRAIN PROMOTER" Klaw A Erlanger have accepted "The > Brain Promoter,'' a three-act comedy by Edward Laska, and will give ix an early Fall production.