The New York Clipper (November 1919)

November 5, 1919 THE NEW YORJC CLIPPER Starting of Sunday Shows Will Meet Stiff Opposition Acton Equity and Sunday Societies Prepared to Combat Any Step* 'in This Direction. Rumor Says Effort Will Be Made Next Sunday Any «ffort by the managers to Inau- gurate the giving of legitimate shows on Sunday in New York, as has been reported for .the last weeik, will meet with opposition from both the Actors' Equity Association and the several Sunday observance organizations which watch cut for the welfare of the city on the Lord's Day. According ■ to Frank Glllmore, exe- cutive secretary of !the Equity, that or- ganization ' is unqualifiedly against working on Sunday, believing 'that the actor is enttitled to a day of rest. Just what action the Equity would take, however, In the event that managers should decide upon the elimination of the Wednesday matinee and, in lieu thereof, put in a Sunday night per- formance, is a matter of speculation. Bat, should the case arise, there Is no doubt that the Equity would flghit the step. It has been Intimated • that the actor could, probably, refuse to fulfill his contract on Sunday night on the grounds that, by doing so, he would be asked to partake In a criminal action, and could, therefore, refuse to work. The Equity has gone on record against Sunday night performances on several occasions in the past. In a letter to the Ministers' Association, Francis Wilson, president of the Equity, has put the actors' association on record as follows: "With unqualified respect for the re- ligious feelings' of all connntunitlea and objecting to the imposition of hourB of Sunday labor upon people of our pro- fession, the Actors' Equity Association, with its membership of 7000, repres- enting the so-called legitimate branch of the dramatic profession, begs to sus- tain the protest of your people against opening the theatres on Sunday." Shortly before the actors' strike, Frank Glllmore, executive secretary of the Equity, wrote the following letter to the 'Lord's Day Alliance: "The position of this Association in regard to Sunday performances has never been equivocal. We object to ithem strongly and would gladly have them eliminated even though the man- agers were to give extra remuneration therefore. Several resolutions have been passed by our Council to this ef- fect, which have been endorsed by the membership as a 'body. "In regard to the list of names yon requested, I refer you to those at the head of this sheet, ■which I think will be sufficient for your purpose. I know myself that Miss Maud Adams, IMrs. Flsbe, Lionel Barry more, Henrietta Grossman, alary Mannerlng, Btliel Bar- rymore, and many others too numerous to mention always refused to perform on Sunday, even though they were in territory where such had become, the established custom. Any further in- formation will be most gladly given. "Assuring you that we are heart and soul in sympathy with your campaign. I am, with best wishes, Frank Giixmore, Executive Secretary." There is no doubt that New York managers are trying to find a loophole to give Sunday performances. The Wednesday matinee is usually a loser except In the case of exceptional hits. On the other hand, the Sunday night perfonmanre would be a sell-out. The managers probably Intend to make some move in the matter at this time 'because, never before, bas the need for Sunday recreation been so keenly felt. With the cabarets shut down and prohibition a reality, the pleasure seeker is at an obsolnte loss on Sunday as to what to do with his time. The opening of the theatre is, to him, the only solution to his lonesome- ness. It is rumored that 'George M. Cohan gave a statement to a reporter of a New York newspaper in which he is purported to have said that "The Royal Vagabond" would start giving Sunday night performances with Sunday next. Later, it is said, he got into communi- cation with the editor of the paper to have the story "killed." It has also been reported that next Sunday night will see performances of "The Luck of the Navy" and "Roly Boley Eyes," al- though the report could not be verified. Theatrical managers cannot see why the legitimate play should be discrim- inated against. Sunday baseball is al- lowed. Sunday vaudeville, under the guise of "concerts," are allowed. The, motion picture houses are permitted to run* on Sunday, so that the law, as it stands today, operates only against legitimate shows. The law that prohibits Sunday per- formances is Section 2162 of the 'Now York Penal Coda, entitled, "Theatrical and Other Performances on Sunday." It reads as follows: "The performance of any tragedy, co- medy, opera, ballet, farce, negro min- strelsy, negro or other dancing, wrestling, boxing with or without gloves, sparring contest, trial of strength, or any part or parts therein, or any circus, equestrian or dramatic performance or exercise, or any performance or exercise of jugglers, acrobats, club performances or rope dan- cers on the first day of the week Is forbidden; and every person aiding In such exhibition, performance, or exercise, by advertisement, posting, or otherwise, and every owner or lessee of any garden, building, or other room, place or struct- ure, who leases or lets the same for the purpose of any exhibition, performance or exercise, or who assents to the use of tbe same fo rany such purpose. If It be so used, in guilty of a misdemeanor. "In addition to the punishment therefor firovlded by statute, every person vlolat- ng this section Is subejet to a penalty of five hundred dollars, which penalty "The Society for the Reformation of Ju- venile Delinquents" In the city of New York, for tL-% use of that society, and the observers of the poor In any other city or town, for the use of the poor, are authorized In the name of the people of this State, to recover. "Besides this penalty, every such ex- hibition, performance or exercise, of It- self, annuls any license wlhch may have been precisely obtained by the manager, superintendent, agent, owner or lessee, using or letting such building, garden, room, place or other structure, or con- senting to Such exhibition, performance or exercise. "The moving picture has been declared by the Federal Courts to be a dramatic performance. This section prohibits all performances of a theatrical character for public amusement on Sunday." H. L. Bowlby, general secretary of the Lord's Day Alliance, stated last week that his organization is about to make a renewed attack on the popular kind of "Sunday Concerts.". In the past, this organization has caused vau- deville considerable worry and, on sev- eral occasions, has persisted .until the courts have stepped in and, for the time, put the lid on Sunday night vau- deville that did not come under the strict interpretation of the Sunday con- cert clause. But the vaudeville theatres have always been allowed to quickly lapse back into their old ways. Bowlby also stated that the Lord's Day Alliance is laying wires to 'repeal laws that permit Sunday movies and baseball, hut admits that, so long as Governor Smith is in office, the spons- ors of amusamentless Sundays have but little or no hope of making any legislative strides forward. MOVING GLOBE CAFE Owing to tbe fact, that prohibition has gone into effect here, Sam Dolllver, owner of the Globe Cafe, Just North of the Automat on Times Square, and which is one Of the most famous bars in the world, is going to move it, Just as it is, fixtures, glasses, cash registers, cuspidors, brass rail and all, to Havana, where he will set up again in business, still calling it the Globe. Even Ms own smiling self and the very same bartenders who, until a few days ago, were on duty, will officiate behind the long and highly polished slab of cherry wood. For more than half a decade, the Globe Cafe has been both the casual addi prescribed meeting place of hund- reds of those in the theatrical, news- paper and sporting world. In and. out all day long and until .closing time at midnight, went actor and manager, playwright and critic, editor and re- porter, sport and promoter. All, atone time or other during the day, drifted into the Globe. CANCEL WITH GATTES'SHOW' William Demarest and Estelle Col- lette went to Pittsburg Friday to join Jos. M. Galtes' production, "Love For Sale" with Kitty Gordon and Jack Wilson, but left Saturday afternoon on account of the sudden death of-Miss Collette's father, who resided in Brook- lyn. Frank Smtthson and Tommy Gray, who were to "doctor" the.show, ac- companied them both ways. Demurest and Collette were to rejoin the show in Toronto this week, hut upon learning Smithson and Gray were not going along, asked for a release,from their 'contract, which was arranged by mu- tual consent, < "FIDO" ATTIC IS OPENED "The Fidelity Attic", the get-together room at the Actors' Fidelity clubhouse, was officially opened on Hallowe'en night, when about 200 "Fido" enthu- siasts enjoyed themselves there. The committee of arrangements consisted of Emily Ann Wellman, Florence Nasb, Mary Nash. Ruth Chatterton. Louis Mann, Jess Dandy, and Marcel Rous- seau. Reta Fanning played the piano for dancing and Conrad Muratore rendered several vocal solos. Tbe Attic was designed by T. Morse Kuppal, the moving picture director, and the fixtures were all assembled by the Fidelity members themselves. SUES FRAZEE FOR SALARY Katharine Kaelred is suing H. H. Frazee in the Third District Municipal court, where she is seeking to recover $500 she says is dne her for two weeks' salary as a member of tbe cast of "Everyman's Castle", which Frazee produced last season and which closed last July in Salt Like City. Her Claim is based on the two weeks' notice clause contained 1 in the Equity contract which she signed last Janu- ary, under tbe terms of which she re- ceived S2G0 a week. Thus far, she has failed to file a verified complaint in the suit she has pending, and, as a re- sult. Frazee, through his attorney, Leon Laskl, has obtained a court order, after making a motion for that purpose, requiring her to file a verified com- plaint. Frazee's reason for requiring such is set forth in the motion papers as being because, without the com- plaint, he will not be able to defend the actio.! properly. Frazee claims that he was forced to close the show unexpectedly through no fault of his own. He explained to bis attorney, while tbe show was play- ing in Logan, Utah, Wilton I<ackaye, who was being starred in tbe play Joint- ly with Margiret Illington, received.a telegram Informing him that bis wife, here, was on the poljt of death. He wis, therefore, forced to leave the cast and come East, an understudy taking his place. A short time later, Miss IHIngton notified Frazee that sbe was too ill to continue in tbe play, her state of ill health becoming so acute that sbe was forced to leave the show in Salt Lake City. Thereupon Frazee closed tbe show. It is this closing without notice on wbich Miss Kaelred bases her suit. SOPHIE TUCKER JOINS "GAIETIES" Sophie Tucker, with her husband Frank Westpbal, end ber Jazz band, opened with tbe Sbubert "Gaieties of 1019" ii; Boston on Monday .night, bringing to a close here her forty-four weeks engagement at Relsenweber's re- straurant and also her uninterrupted stay of twenty months in New York. During that time she played in vaude- ville and rehearsed in a show written for her by Jack Lait, but which was' not produced as planned by William Morris. More recently she played with Mclntyre lnd Heath in "Hello Alexan- der". However, she is not yet entirely through with her Reisenweber engage- ment, for she has announced that, as. long as the "Gaieties" continue playing in Boston and other cities nearer to New York, she will come in Sundays and appear with her jazz band at a series of ""Sophie Tucker Nights", tbe first of which will take place next Sunday evening. "FIDO" SPLIT RUMORED What was rumored along Broadway as a split In tbe ranks of the Actor's Fidelity League came to light Sunday afternoon, when Blanche Bates, ones a member of ther Actors' Equity Asso- ciation but who resigned from that body during the strike and went over to Fi- delity, headed a delegation of those prominent in tbe organization to call on Julia Arthur at her apartment in tbe Blltmore an J urge her to become a -candidate for the office of Second Vice President, in the Fidelity elections, to be held Nov. 29. In a short Interview ■Miss Bates bad this to say: "Many women in the League deem it essential that an office In the executive body be filled 1 by one of their sex. To this end we had an informal meeting at which tbe situation was discussed, with the result that a committee was appointed to present Julia Arthur with tbe request that she be a candidate.. That was done yesterday afternoon. Miss Arthur has not given her answer." ■ This interview (fives the impression that there is nothing more behind tbe movement than the desire to have tbe feminine members represented, but rumor says there is more and that It will develope at tbe elections, If not be- fore. Those who accompanied Miss Bates in her presentation of tbe request to Miss Arthur were Bessie McCoy Davis. Ina Claire, Marlon Klrby, Virginia O- Brien, Josephine Drake, Mary Pjan and Kathleen Hayden. None of these would make a statement beyond that given out by their leader, and no one wise In the councils of Fidelity would talk for publication. "CHALLENGE" COMING IN "Tbe Challenge", with Holbrook BJin, is scheduled to begin an engagement at the Manhattan Opera House, opening there November 17. 'following tbe play's engagement in Boston, where it is now holding forth. "The Luck of the Navy", the English play that is now boused in tbe Manhattan, will leave there next Saturday night CLOSING IN BOSTON Boston, Mass.. Nov. 3.—Today be- gins th-; hist two weeks run of Mrs. Fiske in '.'Mis' Nelly of N'Orlesns". Sbe Is appearing at the Hollis. TO FEATURE-McCORMACK Tbe Central Producing Company will Shortly produce a new play by Willard Mack entitled "Sunrise", in which Barry McConnack will be featured. Then play opens in Philadelphia on No- vember 24th for a four weeks run.