The New York Clipper (August 1919)

August 13, 1919 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 31 STAGE-HANDS WONT STRIKE WITH ACTORS, WITHOUT GIVING NOTICE (Continued from page 29) • "Don't patronise this house!" they shouted to prospective Winter : Garden customers. . ' ": "You won't see 'Monte Cristo* - Inside . Nothing but. a bunch of understudies and ch63 d vflrl^ty acts." 'Women strikers addressed audiences from the curb until they were told to more on and played the roles of orators so well that they managed to provoke considerable cheering from the crowd. •-' -' On Monday night, the Winter Garden put on a Joint "Shubert Gaiety" "Monte Criato" show. That is. the Forty-Fourth Street Theatre closed Its doors and those who had been playing the rejuvenated "Qaleties" there were Drought up 'to the Winter Garden to combine with the loyal ones who had been keeping the Winter Garden open. .The present show Includes a number of vaudeville acts, Katherlne Wyley and Ralph Hers, of the old Monte Cristo cant, a num- ber of minor principals from this same cast and the following members of Shubert's "Gaieties": Marguerite Farrell, Ina Wil- liams, Llora Hoffman, Freda Leonard, Ma- Belle, Adoree and Sladden. The latter three have played a trio of theatres in one week, starting at the Shubert In "Oh, What a Girl." leaving there at the time of the strike and going into the Forty-Fourth to later be sent up Broad- way to the Winter Garden. ! . The house is playing to good' business. Selwyn Eugene Walter's "The Challenge," which deals with labor problems and strikes, found that It was confronted with a strike problem of Its.own when Holbrook Blinn and his company quit on Thursday night,;pursuant to the Equity strike order. • I The house was dark on Thursday evening,' but xbe next night the play opened agau. «1th only Louise Mclntyre and Leonard Doj.e missing from the original cast. When Eugene Walter appeared before the curtuin to announce that Janet Beecber would take Miss Mclntyre's part, there was applause mingled with hisses. Harry Malnhall stepped into Doyle's role, reading the part from nanuscrlpt The reason for the reopening of "The' Challenge" on Friday night was laid to Holbrook Bllnn's financial connection with the play, although it has not been ascer- tained just bow much this financial connec- tion amounts to. It Is claimed by the man- agement that, on account of Blinn being an actor-manager, he is not violating in any tray either the intent or specific purpose of the association's rules In appearing, despite ibe strike order. Blinn himself explained this, to the audience on Friday night in a statement which was as follows: "When the Selwyns first discussed present- ing 'The Challenge' I waB asked by them to jlay a part In it. After reading the play, I ran bo strongly impressed by it that I im- nedlately sought to obtain an Interest In he play. After considerable discussion with rath the Selwyns and Eugene Walters, the tuthor. It was finally arranged that I should le admitted to a partnership agreement with ibem, so far as this one play, was concerned. "Since that time, I have acted always as >ne of the proprietors of the enterprise and im so considered by the Actors' Equity Asso- zlatlon. I have an iron-clad contract which . ' sot only calls for me appearing In person in the play, bnt It also provides that I act in a managerial capacity in connection with it. •"I did not appear In the play on Thurs- day night because I desired to submit the matter to members of the association. It is because I have been .advised that I am morally and legally bound to stand by my contractual obligation .with' Selwyn and Company and with Eugene Walter that I consented to resume playing. .''For many "years it has been known by every one connected .with the theatrical pro- fession that my sympathies were entirely with the actors. I have helped to the best of my ability to fight their fight and I hope they win; •,--.-.- "I want to.have It thoroughly understood that 'I am playing in .'The Challenge'. because of the fact that I am legally bound to do 80. My position at the present time Is not that Of the actor, but of the manager. "Had I only myself to consider, not even my managerial Interest In 'The Challenge" could persuade me to "remain at the bead of the cast as long as this trouble remains un- settled. But" I cannot think of myself; my convictions, nor my personal inclinations. I must consider the Selwyns and Mr. Walter, to whom I am bound bv contract." Picketing in front of the Selwyn on Fri- day night proved as interesting to' the the- atregoers as the-show' within. Ed. Wynn. who insisted that he was not picketing but merely trying to "lighten the sltuatlon,' r was • giving a bit of a free show on the curb, telling stories, and entertaining the crowd with a funny little walk. Another picket was Informing the theatre- goers that the Selwyn was playing "ten- twenty-tbtrty stuff." and declared that "nobody hut understudies are playing to- night." ~ . i. Willard Mack, Edgar Selwyn and Eugene . Walter were all on hand on Friday night ready to step into the show and take parts, but their services were not needed. Saturday, the Selwyn press agent got in his licks when an aviator flew over Manhat- tan and bombarded Broadway with handled! of circulars which read: - . "Performances will positively be given this afternoon and tonight by Holbrook Blinn In 'The Challenge' at the Selwyn Theatre, West 42d street." ; ■. The aviator who pulled this stunt for the Selwyns was Rlcbard Depew, who left Booee- velt Field, at Mineola, L. I., in time to reach ■ Times -Square about 1 o'clock. "The Challenge" has been playing to fairly good houses and is a mecca for swarms of toe curious every evening around opening time, the crowds loitering around the front and the lobby as if they were expecting something exciting to happen. Forty-Fourth Street Theatre When the curtain went up on the Shubert "Gaieties of 1919" on Thursday night, the audience was told that most of the princi- pals had deserted, but that the chor us would attempt to carry the show forward with the portion of the principals that re- mained. With this announcement, a con- siderable part of the audience made its way for the box office and had its admission money refunded. . , Ing included Ed Wynn. George Haskell. William Kent. Stewart Balrd, Harry Fender. Ted Lorraine, Kuy Kendall, Gus Mlnton, Jlmmle Fox, Marjorte Gateson, Gladys "Walton. Claude Archer. Jack Bonn. On Friday, Clayton and White, and Julie Ballew. Joined the walkers-out The members of the original company who did not strike are The Glorias. Llora. Hoffman, Marguerite Farrell, Ina Williams. Freda Leonard, Kathryn Hart, Gllda Gray and Olea Hepatone. Three chorus girls were persuaded by Marjorle Gateson to loin the strikers on Thursday night. On Friday night, Sophie Tucker, Adoree and Sladden, O Hanlon and Zambounl and Phil Baker Joined the Gaieties cast of principals. There were rumors afloat that Al Jolson had been asked to become a "strike-breaker" but had refused. This was denied at the Shubert office. Lon Haskell refused an invitation to Join the cast. "Walter Morrison was recruited .for Saturday night J. J. Shubert. when the strike was called, hurried back from Stamford, Connecticut, declaring that there- would be a smooth, first-class performance of the show again on Friday night, when the Forty-Fourth opened with Its new principals. Except for a slight disorder In the gallery the per- formance ran smoothly enough, playing tp a half-full house. Many patrons demanded their money back however when they found that Ed Wynn was not working. To avoid a repetition of this occurrence, sign- painters . were busy on Saturday morning eradicating the words: "With Ed "Wynn" from wherever they appeared on the Shu- bert advertisements. However, Saturday's audiences at the Forty-Fourth Street went far from packing the house, so on Sunday the Shuberts made the announcement that they had decided to combine the "Monte Cristo, Jr." and "GaietieB" casts, and that, in the present emergency, what remained of the two Shu- bert attractions would be seen at the Winter Garden, beginning Monday night. The Forty-Fourth Street Theatre is now dark. >';". C o han a nd Harris The producers of "The Royal "Vagabond" were, taken completely off their feet when their theatre was put on the Strike Cir- cuit On Thursday night and anyone with less ingenuity than that of George M. Cohan would have probably faUed to put the show back on the boards the very next night after the strike was called. Cohan succeeded, however, and the show is now running with" chorus girls of last Week now- playing leading roles and with George M. himself in the leading comedy role. The walk-out on the first night of the strike practically Included the entire cast of principals.- The strikers were Tessa. Kosta, John-* Gbldaworthy. Frederlo'Santley. Grace' Fisher, Frances Demorest, Winifred Harris, Julian Winters Roger Gray, Lou's Simon, Carl Hyson and Dorothy Dixon, his wife, who was, at the time of the call- ing of the strike on; her vacation. The strikers have been replaced, re- spectively, by Virginia O'Brien. Alex Lef- kowUz. Ainslee Lambert, Eleanore Bennett, Erne Shelley. Rosamond Rankin, Eugene Elliott George M. Cohan, Sam Forrest (general stage director), Lou. Lockett, and Mary -Eaton,"Who was previously playing a smaller role In the same piece.' Those on strike also include Jack Connors. Charles Callahan, John Ross and Edward Ryan, specialty quartette. Miss O'Brien, who climbed from the chorus to the leading role over night seems to be a real "find" and is receiving warm applause in the role of Anltza. There is a mortgage Introduced into the action of the play and it has come In for considerable prominence since Cohan has essayed the role of Marcel, the barber, for now,- whenever Cohan must refer to the script he takes the audience Into his confi- dence by saying. "I must refer to the mort- gage." and then goes on to read his part. This clowning of the role seems to tickle the Broadwayites. On-the re-opening of "The Royal Vaga- bond" on Friday night it appeared as if' the Cohan and Harris had been chosen as managerial headquarters. Archie Selwyn, Edgar Selwyn, Sara Harris, 'William A. Brady. Frank Underwood and Arthur Hop- kins all being in the audience. Between the acts, Brady took advantage of the occasion to make a speech, declaring that "the Equity was being guided by an unprincipled agitator who properly belongs not at liberty." He declared that one of the officers of the Four A's had threatened. In a Chicago interview, to place bombs in theatres to keep patrons away. This statement has been refuted by James W. FlUpatrlck who says that bis state- ments have been misconstrued and that what he said was that "people bought tickets at their peril," meaning, thereby, that they were likely to buy tickets and later be disappointed at not seeing a per- formance. Brady further assailed the Four A's In his speech by saying: "I think It is deplorable, now that the world is on the crater of a volcano, that a foreign agi- tator should be allowed to play on the emo- tions of the actors—for they are extremely emotional—and thus deprive chorus girls of a method of earning their living." A curtain speech was also made by Cohan, who stated that he thought the managers were right and that. If he thought differently, he would not be "with them." "There Is no Justice on the- side of the actor." he said, "and I would b.e with the actors If they were In the right. They are not fighting for the actors but fighting for themselves. They are getting gzOO and 1300 a week and up to 11.000. and they are asking for more." During the performance on Friday night, Cohan interpolated the following line Into a scene with Sam Forrest: "I'll kick you In the face and have you look like the ham who used to play that part." The dark house on Thursday night cost the management about '(■1,350. A scuffle between Sam H. Harris and Harry Lambert, a striking actor who came to the stage door to see his wife, Winifred Harris, and was refused admittance, livened up things around the Cohan and Harris for a few minutes early Thursday evening. . All the stage hands, electricians, musi- cians and actors who had remained loyal to the Cohan interests Were tendered a dinner by Cohan on Friday and. In a speech, be said to his guests: "All of you can work tor Cohan and Harris as long as we are in the business." Gaiety The whole "Ugbtnln'" cast went out on Thursday night, and Wlnchell Smith and John L. Golden, the producers, found themselves with a full bouse, but without even the semblance of a cast. When it was an- nounced that ticket money would be refunded at the boxoffice a congestion took place that was-almost a riot -i •' Frank Bacon, who plays the lead in "Ugbtnln'," was .the main Instigator of the walkout, and, on account of his peculiar and unique position, he may well be called tbe Equity's martyr for the stand that be has taken. Bacon was drawing money from tbe show through three channels: as actor, .as co-author and as co-owner. Neither Is he a- young man, be having already spent a con stderable portion of bis career in stock snd not until the production of "Llgbtnln'" did - be really "land" on Broadway with both feet. He might easily have taken the stand that Holbrook Blinn took In "The Challenge." and have remained with the show on the ground that he had a financial interest in it But Bacon declared that bis sympathies were all wth the actor and walked ,out of. the Gaiety asking his cast to follow him, which they did to the last man. The cast Included Jason Rohards, Paul Stanton, Thomas McLarnle, Fred Conklin, E. J. Blunkall, Sam Cost, George Spelvin, Sidney Coburn, William F. Granger, George Thompson. Lawrence 0'Keefe, James C. Lane, Beatrice Nichols, Marie -Reels, Jane Oaker, Bessie Bacon, . Beth Martin, Alice Qulgley. Georgie Drew Mendum, Minnie Palmer, .May Duryea. Frances Kennan, Both Harris and Florence Goddard. The strikers at this theatre were In quite n gleeful mood and, on Saturday night-a big sight-seeing bus was engaged and was seen all around the White Light district with a banner flying from Its side Informing Broadway that "Lightnln' Has Struck." Ti-oae In the anto blew horns and.cheered, and occasionally received return cheers from friends on the street If there are any persons on Broadway who do not know of tbe actors' strike, a notice that was posted in the lobby of the Gaiety Monday might leave them rather puulea. It reads: >" .--.-.• : .-- I ». "Tbe .'Llehtnln'.' company, having played here for 427. consecutive performances, feel that they require a short vacation. Per-. fonnances will be resumed at an early date." The names of Winchell Smith and John L, Golden are signed to the notice. "Crowds stopped.to read it on Monday night and one man with some printed A. E. A. propaganda in his bat was heard to remark: "Even we strikers have got to laugh at that sign; It wins th» brown derby." If Frank Bacon was' on -his vacation, as tbe notice seemed to Intimate, he was spend- ing his vacation on Monday evening around the Gaiety box office, busily chatting with the box office men- and other strikers who bad chosen the front of tbe Gaiety as a vaca- tion center. The house is In darkness and no intimation has been given as to when it is expected to open again. Glob* Although indications seemed to point to "She's a Good Fellow" going on the strike circuit with the opening of the Fonr As* hos- tilities, it was not until Saturday marines that the Dillingham house was dark. At that time, the entire cast headed Bantley. walled out, declaring l - strikers, with the one exception of Florence .- JCarL who thought the managers shepld have ' been given two weeks' notice before " strike. Those who are Equity members are: Joseph San tier, James C Marlowe, Maurice D'Arey, Robert J. m nr"". 8cott welsh. Jay "Wilson. Ivy Sawyer. Ann Orr. Florence Brace, Hand Nolan, Bosetta Duncan, Vivian Duncan, Ina Brooks, Nellie Fillmore. Pauline Halt Arllne. Chase. It was after Dillingham Issued the fol- lowing statement on Saturday morning that the actors at tbe Globe Joined the striking ranks: "Although I have Just arrived In town after a month's absence, the Aetor's Equity, Association, by its threat to close my theatre and force actors to break their contracts with me against my will, compels me to take a stand and Join with my fellow managers lu protesting against any such arbitrary and Illegal methods"' Until this statement was Issued, it was doubtful in the actors' mind sb to what stand Dillingham was going to take. When the Producing Manager's Association was formed Dillingham did not immediately become a member and he Issued only Dillingham con- tracts. It was not until last week that be Joined tbe Protective Managers' Association. There Is no Intention to reopen "She's a Good Fellow" while the strike has theatrical Broadway In chaos. . New Amsterdam To strike or not to strike seemed to be the question at the New Amsterdam at almost every "Follies" performance, and the stage entrance drew as large a crowd as the front of the house. In fact on the first evening of the strike, it took five policemen to keen the crowd moving on Forty-first street and to prevent loiterers around the stage door. The rear of tbe New Amsterdam was rife with pickets talking to "members of tbe "Follies" cast and trying to persuade them to walk out Most active among this corps of pickets were Jobn Charles Thomas and Cyril Chsdwick. They Anally persuaded Eddie Cantor, Eddie Dowllng and Phil Dwyer into deserting the show on Thursday night but Cantor only deserted for one act re- turning in time to go into aot two. Dow- llng and Dwyer were again with the show for Friday night's performance. Johnny and Bay Dooley also walked out on Thursday night but were met at the door by Flo Zlegfeld. wbo persuaded them that - he was not a member of tbe manager's asso- - elation, whereupon they returned back stage to make up. On Friday night according to reports. ' Cantor, five other principals and twenty-two chorus girls, were ready to strike, snd ss late as 8 o'clock those in the show did not know whether or not the curtain was goh to rise. But the Equity gave Zlegfeld uu Monday noon to declare himself, and a "pull- cot" of the "Follies" was temporarily de- ferred. Zlegfeld did not make any statement on Monday, but. the show went on as usual.' -Cantor, when questioned, did not make any "* explanations, but Just declared: 'There'll be a show; we're going on." i,< .--;; Knirli o r U o ck i The tunes of John Cort's "Listen Lester" were stopped on Thursday night, simultane- ous with tbe Equity's order to. strike, which - affected the Knickerbocker to the extent of - putting the house in darkness. The prin- cipals wbo walked out were Virginia Burt, Angelo Borneo, Eddie Garvie, Fred Helder. S Clifton Webb, Ads 1 Lewis. Hansford WDson and Gertrude Vanderbllt It was S o'clock before tbe Knickerbocker beard officially of the strike order," where- upon Manager Harry G. Sommers made the. . announcement to the audience that there would be' no show, and told them that the box office would refund them their money. Borne took advantage of tbe refund, while others established credit st the box office for better days. The Chamberlain Brown office was called to tbe rescue to muster together a new cast with a view of opening on Monday evening, and rehearsals were begun at once. "Listen Lester" reopened as promised with the following cast of principal*: Josephlns Forayth. Irma Warwick. Ralph Josephs. Florence McKenna. George Edward, Esther Ingham, Gna Shy. Harry Paull, Ada Mae Weeks, Emma O'Nell, Frank Lambert, Mar- guerite Francesco and the Four Entertain- ers. The attendance at the reopening was slim. bnt this was probably because few really ex- pected "Listen Lester" to reopen wben it did. Sommers made a short curtain speech In which be announced that the new east was not composed of understudies or second rate performers but of "real actors," snd that the management had no apologies to offer, because there would be need of none. Som- mers claimed that the chorus was practically the same as in the first production. There were no disturbances and the per- formance went along smoothly, although the actors seemed a trifle nervous. Outside of the theatre a squad of auto- mobiles deposited s crowd of Equiety Pickets. who cried out against the show until about 9 o'clock, when the autos returned and took the pickets back to strike headquarters. Tbe management did not s eem to relish tbe presence of the pickets and told the police so, but the latter said that the strikers bad a legal right to picket as long as they did not Indulge Is disorderly conduct.