New York Clipper (Jun 1923)

THE NEW YORK CLIPPER June 1923 HOSmiTIES MAY CEASE BETWEEN WARR ING MUSICIA NS' UNIONS Jnsticc Lazanskjr in Supreme Court Granting Injunction Restraining GovemMs of 802 from Suspending Mm Who Pay Dues in M. M. P. U.—Suggests Organizations _' Patch Up Differences "What may serve as the medium bring- ing about the uniting and amaJgarnation «f the two warring musicians union in ■Greater New York was the injunction Snpreme Court Justice Lazansky issued preventing Edward Canavan, chaiman, and the governing board of the American Federatioo of Musicians from suspending more than 2,000 mend>ers of Local 802, for failure to pay does in that organization. Id his dedsion Justice Lazansky strong* ly urged that 802, which is the local recog- nized by the Anierican Federation of La- bor, suspend hostilities in its fight with Local 310, known as the Musical Mutual Protective Union, which has been organized since 1864 and has a large cash fund, a home for aged and indigent musicians and other valuable assets. The injunction proceedings were brought by Benjamin Berkowitz in behalf of be- tween 7,000 and 8,000 musicians who were technically ousted from 802 on the ground that they had failed to pay their dues, but the real cause he claimed was because they were members of the Musical Mutual Protective Union. Officials of the American Federation and of 602 who were called as witnesses in the case told Justice Lazansky that the leaders of the M. M. P. U. had made vigorous efforts to break up 802 and that the latter organization, through the govern- ing body was merely fi|;hting back. Jus- tice Lazansky in his opmion granting the injunction held that the members could not be suspended on the ground of belonging to some other union, even though it be pro- hibited by the (^-laws, without formal charges or trials, which were not made or held. In concluding: his finding in the case. Justice Lazansky said: "This case pre- sents an unfortunate situation. Well might one interested in the welfare of members of those organizations exclaim to the lead- ers of both organizations, 'A plague o' both the houses.' It would be sensiDle in- deed if a truce were declared and the members permitted to play their pans in harmony." Just what steps 802 will take in carry- ing out the wishes of Justice Lazansky could not be learned. AH that Canavan would say in the matter was that he and his organization would obey the law and not run afoul of the courts. Further than that he would not state just what measures might be taken by his organization to bring about a peace pact with 310 and- uke steps for the amalgamation of the two or- ganizations, which was attempted several months ago by A. Paul Vacccrelli. busi- ness agent of 310, through Nicholas M. Schenck, i^eneral manager of the Locw Circuit, with Joseph N. Weber, interna- tional president of the American Federa- tion of Musicians, and fell through after three weeks of conferences and negotia- tions. At the headquarters of 310 the opinion of Justice Lazansky was greeted with cheers. Htmdreds of members who have been deprived of work through their sus- pension from 802 were gathered about the corridors of the M. M. P. U. building in East 86th street when word of the injunc- tion was received. All of these members were of the same frame of mind as to what the consequences would be. They said that with the Court taking cognizance of the resources of 310 and viewing the suspension of the men from 802 as be- ing illegal that undoubtedly Weber would take measures whereby he would order or authorize the governing officers of 802 to get together with the heads of 310 and devise some plan whereby one labor union would exist again, as it did prior to 1920 and that the M. M. P. U. would be recog- nized as a beneficial and social organization devoted to the interest of the union labor musicians. BIG BILL FOR CENTURY .A tala operatic bill, scheduled for Sun- <]ay evening. June 10, at the Century The- atre will DC the second of three mam- moth performances for the -benefit of the Veterans' Mountain Camp. Tliis show will coosbt of the five best-4iked acts from the five most popular operas, with dif- ferent sets of prima donnas, tenors and baritones from the Metropolitan and Chi- cago Opera Comtenies in each. The program will include the Nile scene from "Aida," the Itm scene from "Car- men," the first act from "La Boheme," the first act from "La Tosca," the last act of "Rigoletto," and the prison scene from "11 Trovatore." Among those who will appear are Marie RappoM, Anna Fitzni, Frances Petalta, Nina Moi]gana, sopranos; Ina Bourskaya, mezzo; Giacomo Lauri-Volpi, Manuel Salazar, Nicola Zerola, Harmond Tokat- yan, tenors, Vincente Ballester, Mario Valle, baritones and others. BROADHURSr NOT LEASED The Broadhurst Theatre, as previously reported, has not been leased to Arthur Hopldns for next season, but will remain usisr the ftkinagement of George Broad- Iinrst. Broadhurst will open the season with, the pressitation of a new play early in August. PAUL WHITEMAN FOR "FOLLIES" Paul WhitCBBn and his orchestra, now in Lofidon, wiTl sail for America on Aug- ust 7A. WWteman and to wll be a fartuxe in the new ZiegfeM "Folhes" opoong at the New Amsterdam theatre on September 3rd. JESSIE LEDERER SUES Jessie Lederer, wife of Geo. W. Lolerer, producer, started an action last week in the Municipal Court, against the Goldwyn Corporation for $800. through her attor- neys, Tobias & Keppler. According to the attorneys, George W. Lederer Was engaged to procure the mo- tion picture righU of the play "The Great Metropolis," owned by Klaw & Erlanger, and was to be i»id a commission of 20 per cent of the price involved. On Jan. 23, 1923 the rights to the play were bought for $4,000, but the commission was never paid to Lederer who sutnequcntly assigned his claim to his wife Jessie Lederer. "BREAKING POINr' REHEARSING Wagenhals and Kemper placed in re- hearsal iMt Monday. Mary Roberts Rine- hart's new play "The Breaking Point," which will nave a two-week tryou*: be- ginning June 2S at Poli's Theatre. Wash- ington, and concluding at the Apollo The- atre, Atlantic Gty, the week of July 2. Those who will appear in the cast are, Mackay Morris, Regina Wallace, Jane Houston, Frederic Burton, ZefRe Tillbury, and Stephan Maley. Should the play impress on the tryout it will be brought into New York late in September. "WHEEL OF UFE" FOR THE KLAW Marc Klaw is having "The ^yhee] of Life." Bernard Fagen's play in which Elsie Ferguson was starred on the road this sea- son, rewritten and will present it with Miss FeiKuson in the leading role at the Klaw Theatre late in Atigust. AMATEUR CHORUSES IN STOCK Stock companies of Greater New York and other cities are capitalizing on the amateur chorus idea for stock revivals of popular musical shows. The feaiure is inexpensive and grabs a great deal- of publicity to say nothing of the local in- terest the Selection of the girls excite. In most towns the houses have a tie up with a local paper, the latter condWcting a beauty contest and from several hundred applicants they select twenty-four of the prettiest and most popular girls for places in the merry-merry. Loew's Alhambra Players at the Alham- bra Theatre, Brooklyn, tried this stunt for the third time last week in reviving the former Princess musical show, "Oh, Lady, Lady." The winners of the popularity contests are recompensed at the rate of $13 to $25 a week, with no additional charges for rehearsals. Consequently the feature costs little more than three hundred dollars and had proven invaluable as a "draw." Also it has made musical productions popular with stock producers. Heretofore they have hesitated ifrom producing musical shows because of the hardship of assem- bling and drilling a chorus. Under the former arrangement it was necessary to pay girls for the rehearsal period, which in itself was an expensive proposition, but even then girls did not care to tie up with a show for two weeks. Later stock man- agers operating a chain of companies used the chorus for three or four weeks, the same chorus travelling from town to town. But even this did not work out as well as expected for girls would continually drop out when something like a longer en- gagement loomed up. The amateur idea has seemed to solve these problems. Hence musical comedy authors have rea- son to rejoice because of this additional revenue in royalties. NEW EQUITY RULING The council of the Actors' Equity at a meeting last week ruled that all mana- gers are permitted to lay off the week before Christmas and Holy Week for the season of 1923-24 only. All managers, however, who may take advantage of this ruling are obligated to guarantee two weeks consecutive employment after the lay-off or will have to reimburse the players for the "lay-ofT* period. FRIARS ELECT OFFICERS The annual election of the Friar's Club was held in the Monastery last Friday afternoon, and resulted in a victory for the "regular" ticket over the 2 "opposition" tickets. The officers of the Friars for the coming year will consist of the following:: Abbot, George M. Cohan; Dean, Willie Collier; Secretary, J. Frank Stephens; Treasurer, J. P. Mullcr. EMILE BOREO- Lata Star of the BaUefTs "Chauve-Souris" TourioK Orpheum Crcnit ONE NEW SHOW FOR CHICAGO Chicago, June 2.—Only one opening is promised for the loop theatres next week. "The Dancing Girl" comes to relight the Colonial for a possible Summer run. The Colonial has been dark for two weeks since the departure of "Sally." Across the street at the' Apollo the Howard Brothers in "The Passing Show" are trying to hold up their end and have made cuts so that the show can remain through the Summer months. Receipts this week at this house has been a little off, although we have had cool weather up until Friday, which was the first real warm day of the year. Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle will make his first public appearance Monday night at the Marigold Gardens when Ernie Young will present the comedian together with a new revue. Arbuckle will remain here only four weeks when he will return to Cali- fornia to complete his present contract which calls for the direction of ten pic- tures. Six of these have been completed, but none have been released to date. One more theatre is scheduled to close its doors for the season at the end of next week. The Central where "Up the Lad- der" is playing will be added to the houses already dark. With the warm weather in full swing it is expected others will fol- low suit. "Light Wines and Beer" at the Selwyn and Donald Brian in "Rolling Home" at the Harris are attractions that should re- main here a number of weeks. "Chains," the new play at the Playhouse has regis- tered big and will, no doubt, be with us for a while. Other productions remaining are: "Steve" with Eugene O'Brien. O'Brien is a big drawing card and this is the only play in town that is doing well enough at the matinees that the manage- ment is seriously thinking of adding an- other matinee to the regular schedule of Iwo-a-week. "Hitchy Koo" with Raymond Hitchcock is_ doing much jetter and is likely to stay with us for an eight weeks' run, at least. "Blossom Time" is holding on at the Great Northern. "Two Fellows and a Girl" at Cohans Grand is doing well. Wil- liam Courtenay in his new play "The Voice" remains at the Cort. This play re- * ceived very bad press criticisms which may be the means of driving it away sooner than anticipated. OPERA WAVE SWEEPS BALTIMORE Baltimore, June 3.—With the official wind-up of the regular legitimate theatrical season here, grand oi>era and light opera seems to be enjo>'ing a popular vogue. With nothing stronger than vaudeville and films with which to compete; there is every reason that the summer mime season will be successful. The De Feo Opera Company will take possession of the Arena tomorrow night, offering "La Tosca" as their opening bill. This will be the opera company's third season ^cre and if the tremendous ad- vance sales can be taken as a criterion, its most successful one. Edith De Lys, who achieved such a notable success here last year in the title role, will again head the cast and will be supported by Alfredo Gandolfi and an adequate cast of singers. The lighter musical works, including re- vivals of the Gilbert and Sullivan pieces, are holding forth at the Century, with "The Pirates of Penzance" this week. Here the operas are given tabloid form and offered in conjunction with the regular program of the screen plays. "PASSING SHOW" OPENING "The Passing Show of 1923" which will open at the Shubert theatre, Philadelphia, for two weeks on June 18th and then come to the Wintergarden, New York, for a summer run beginning July 2nd., will have the following cast: Walter Woolfe, Joan Hay, George Hassel, George Jesse], Helen Shipman, James Watts, Roy Ctmiraings, Josephine Drake, Bamett Parker, Etob Nelson. Olive Ann Alcorn, Nat. Nazarro, Jr., Flanniean and Morrison, Louise Dose, Hal Van Rensellear, Libby and Siarrow, Vera Ross, William Pringle, Jack Rice, Jean Steele. Frank Bernard, Andre Joa- chim, James Hamilton. Trado Brothers, Tom Nip, Dorothy Bruce. Perle Germonde, Bob Gilbert and Helen Herendeen.