New York Clipper (Feb 1923)

Copyright, 1923, and publithcd weekly hj the Oipper Corporation, 16SS Brawlnr. New York. Entered at the Poit Office at New Vmtu Ime 24 1879 mm second dau mail matter trader act of Hatch 3, IS79 ~* ' . ' Founded by FRANK QUEEN. 18S3 NEW YORK. FEBRUARY 21. 1923 VOLUME LXXI No. 3 Pncf Pi'flcrn CrnU. »S.OO a Vear MUSICAL UNION PREPARES DEMAND FO R BIQ SALAR Y INCREASE $10 to $25 a Week Increase for Members Playing in Broadway Houses—M. M. P. U., Formerly 310, Ousted from A. F. M. to Demand Chicago Scale. RUSSIAN OPERA COMPANY STARTS . LeDERER'S ''PEACHES'' CLOSES ' The legitimate, vaudeville and motion picture theatres of Greater New York will shortly be confronted by a general strike of musicians, unless they recognize the Mutual Musical Protective Union, formerly Local 310, of the American Federation of Musicians, as the representative organiza- tion of that craft and accede to demands whereby the salaries of the New York musicians would be placed on a par with those of the men playing in Chicago, or an increase of $10 to $25 a week per man. This action was voted at a meeting of the M. M. P. U. in their club bouse on 86th street last night (Tuesday), when the scale of wages, which was drafted at a previous meeting, was unanimously adopted by the 2,000 members present. Paul A. Vaccarelli, who has been ap- pointed the new business agent of the or- ganization, which has been outlawed by the American Federation of Musicians, vras au- thorized at the meeting to take the entire matter of the recognition of the union and the increase in wages in hand with the various managers' associations, and in case these demands were not met to call a gen- eral strike of the members of the organiza- tion who are working in the local theatres, until such demands and recognition are given. Last Thursday night a special meeting of the M. M. P. U. was held and resolu- tions were adopted for the drafting of a wage scale similar to the one in enect in Chicago. It was brought out at the meet- ing that even though New York was the largest city in the country, living condi- tions were the highest, and the musicians the best; the men in the Western city were been paid much higher wages. It was pointed out that in the dramatic theatres of Chicago men were paid $85 a week, while the New York men were get- ting $45 a week; men in the theatres Pjiiy- ing musical shows there are getting $85 a week minimum, while here they are only getting $57 a week. In the two-sfiows-a-day vaudeville. houses in New York the men get $52 a week, while in these houses in Chicago the men draw down $75 a week. Then in the picture theatres in flew York the salaries of the men riin from $65 to $69 a week, while in the Chicago theatres of the same type they get from $85 to $118 a week. ' At the meeting it was agreed that the New York men should get as good wages, if not better, than the Chicago men re- ceive, so with little difficulty the resolution favoring the increase was passed without a dissenting voice being heard. A resolution was also passed whereby members of the M. M. P. U. are pro- hibited from paying any dues in ally other musical' organization in New York City, bnt that organization. This resolution was also adopted and several hundred men who attended the session immediately tore up their membership cards in Local 802, which was the organization started by Joseph N. Wcbcr, president of the Ameri- can Federation of Musicians, three years ago when the M. M. P. U. was oi^tlawed. The Board of Directors of the M. M. P. U. held a meeting after the session of the organization and concurred in their adoption of the resolution. Paul Vaccarelli, who has been selected to direct the destiny of the organization, declared that it would be a fight to a fin- ish. That the men would abide by the decision of the M. M. P. U. and would insist that the recognition and new scale take effect at once, regardless of any ag^- ment that might be in existence between the theatre managers and any other union. He declared that the M. M. P. U. has a membership of close to 10,000, and that every one of them who is a member of Local 802, would renounce his member- ship in that organization and abide by any steps that were taken by the officials of the M. M. P. U. He stated that the M. M. P. U. was in existence for more than thirty years before the American Federa- tion of Musicians were formed, and that they were tired of catering to the whims and desires of Joseph N. Weber, president of the Federation. He further declared, that every effort was made by the M. M. P. U. to get together with Weber and of- ficials of the A. F. of M., to straighten out the situation, but that Weber and his associates refused to meet them and adjust the differences, so, therefore, only one thing was possible to do and that was for the M. M. P. U. to take the initiative and demonstrate their strength and ability to get what they want to both the A. F. of M. and the managers of the New York theatres. When Weber was informed of the inten- tions of the M. M. P. U., he said: "I have faith in the members of 802, I know they are true to their local and the Na- tional organization, and when the time comes, I feel assured that they will do the right and just thing by sticking to their organization. As far as the A. F. of M. is concerned, there is only one musical union in New York and that body is a member of the A. F. of M., and they have no grievance against the parent body or the managers of the New York theatres. So why should they strike?" A. H. Ntusbaum, secretary of the M. M. P. U., declared that as far as his organiza- tion was concerned it would be a nght to a finish. He said: "Our men, in 1920, re- ceived the first increase they had in years, for prior to that time they worked in vaudeville theatres for $33.50 a week, and (Continued on p3ge-6) CHitAco; 111., Feb. 20.-^Thc Rtrtsian Grand Opera ' Conipany opefleil ' a four weeks' engagement at the AuditorTum last iiight in Tschalkowsky's' "Pique' Damt" a success' of last 'reason,' with' Mashir Bourskaya, ValcntinoVa, Osipova,'.DaniIofF, Panteleef aiid" Ra'decf, with Gondlictdr Flierit, and Chaliapin' rhakes his'firsr ap^ pearaiicc tonight in. Mqusdrgskys' "Bans Godunoff." The coinpaiiy canie here.from Milwaukee,' where it had a successful weelf and the Chicago opening indicates a ,suc- cessful engagement. ' ""' This' is the second engagement of. the company here. Last season it played the Olympic Theatre. The oigagemerit at the Auditorium this season is the more inter- esting as George Hood, who is oonnected with the Chicago dvic opera, was die first manager of the Russian' Opera Company in the United States, taking charge of their affairs when ,they reached " Seattle from rovings following their departure from Russia. Last season's engagement at the Olympic was for four weeks, bnt the company remained five and so it is an es- tablished organization with' Chicago music lovers. S. Hurok, manager of the Russian Opiera Coinpany, itrrived in Chicago early last week to superintend the ppcning. Leo FeodorofF. who organized the company, ar- rived in Chicago on Ttiesday of last wedc. The Auditorium was dark last week' and was a busy place for preparations were under way for.the engagement, including orchestra rehearsals. LINCOLN J. CARTER BACK ON BWAY Lincoln J. Carter, famed as the author and producer of "Wild-West" Tnelodrama, now retired from the theatrical business, is spending a few weeks in New York. Carter since his retirement has settled down on an estate at Goshen. Ind., and during his spare moments has been turn- ing out plays and novels. During his stay in New York, Carter is negotiating for the disposal of the production rights of a Western melodrama. "Kit of the Relay," which he says is the most spectacular melo- drama ever written. TWO SHOWS IN SIX WEEKS DECATint, III., Feb. 19.-^Sonie idea of the shortage of road shows can be formed by a glance at the bookings of plays here for the next six weeks. This dty has a population of over 22,000 and will sec but two dramatic or musical productions dur- ing the next six weeks. "The Circle" with Amelia Bingham, Charlotte Walker. Wil- ton Lackaye and Henry E. Dijcie opois to-night, aiiid the next will be Leo Die- trichstein in "The • Purple Mask" for March 29. FILM ON TRAIN A new scheme for whiling away the time of railroad passengers was trial out last w^k by a railroad running out of St. Louis, when rt attadied to one of its trains a complete outfit for giving motion pictures in one of the cars. It was suggested to oiie of the vaudeville circuits that vaudeville bills might be gi-veri with or without' picture programme but nothing definite has been done about it yet. The financial backers of "Peaches," the George W.' . Lcdercr ' production which played 'a four . weeks' engagement out of New York, failed to come forth with cash necessary to pay the members of the com- pany, 'with the result that the show closed Situfdby:night . at'Ford's Theatre. Balti- tilore, oWin'g the'.nlbnbers of the company an Amoiint said t6.be in excess of $5,000. ' "PeSu^les" has .had . a rather stormy HtUt since its inceptkin. The Pelem. Inc.,' Was organized by 'Davkl Podell, a Ncfw'.York aftoriiey', to operate the show: Podcll Is said: to;have interested J. Pearl- man, a millioilaire automobile accessory manufacturer, in the project, and he with the attorney subscribed $12,000 for the prodaction cost. About another $1,000 iras .underwritten among several box office men. • • ■ • ■ Four wedcs ago a dress rehearsal took place In Philadelphia at which Podell and Pearlman were present. Immeiliately after the performance the attorney and sev- eral others who' were present with him began ' protesting bbont 'various expendi- tures that were 'oade and regarding cer- tain details of the production. This led to a lengthjr debate between Lcderer and the backers with the resnlt Lederer told them- he 'was unfortunate in not being a stock- holder,^ instead of only a paid enq>loyce. otherwbe he would operate the ibow m showtnanlike style' and not heed their protest. However^' certain changes were made, at the request of.the backers, which were afterwards remade to conform with the oWginal production. The show played to over $11,000 on the first week and Under ordinary circtim- stances, even though encmnbeied with a heavy, salary list, would have shown a margin of profit, but there was a $1,900 dress rehearsal bill and other expenditnrcs that made the week unprofitable. The second and third weeks at the Garrick were better, with the resuh the show broke even and went on to Baltimore. In the meantime several changes in the cast were inade and the salary list was cot down. On Monday of last week Lederer came to New York to confer with the backers of the show. He informed them that he could get a New York theatre with- in two weeks and that in the meantime he would get the show ready for the opening. He also told them that he expected to £ace a deficit in Baltimore and to be prepared to send on money to coyer the salaries and bring'oh the company to New York. They rebelled at once, told him they could not understand how he could predict a show would lose money on the week so early and informed him they would do nothing to help ont Lederer waited several days, the backers in the meantime cooled down and on Thursday they held a meeting at which they agreed to. send Clarence Wtl-' lett, company manager, $6,000 to meet ex- penses and return the company to New York. On Saturday word had reached Thomas J. O'Neill, of the Actors' Equity Asso-. ciatioa, that evetythiiig was not foing well with the attraction and that udicatwns were that salaries wonld not be paid. He got hi touch with' Lederer, who informed him that he was only a salaried empfoyee and not a stockholder, and suggested they (Contimui on pagt 23). COSTUMES Fomamomt mmkmrm of Stmgo MttU'm tot^Dlmu antf Wommm PDflnVC MIIIIICII Wo ImwHo OompmHmom of Oomign, Pmloo mmd WoHammmmUgf DIlUUIIw " IllfllllCU 1 a s 7 ■IVAT. N. Y. C.