New York Clipper (Jul 1923)

July 11, 1923 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 5 STAGE HANDS OBJECT TO DOUBLE JOBS I N THEATRES AND SHOPS Claim That Eight Hour Law is Being Violated by Men Woridng in Producers' Studios During Day and in Theatres at Night—^Want New Working Agreement. Two jobs, with from eleven to twelve hours a day work, will not be held by (Union stage employees next season, if measures now bemg taken by a score of members of Local No. 1, of Greater New York of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees of the United States and Canada, are put through in the conferences that will be held next week between the Union officials and the Labor Board of the International Theatrical As- sociation. At the present time there are 2,200 mem- bers in Local No. 1, of this number about one-eighth are always out of positions re- gardless of the demand for men. This mmority claim that the cause of the short- age of work for them is brought about, through the employment of stage em- ployees in the shops of producers, building scenery and productions in addition to their work in the theatre. For the work in the theatre the unioii scale calls for the pay- ment of $SS a week to carpenters, prop- ertymen and electricians, while at the shops where the men work eight hours a day in addition to their theatre work they receive $30 a week in the carpenter department and $15 a week for employ- ment in the electrical department. The belligerents of the Union who will appeal this week to the executive com- mittee of No. 1, will contend that the American Federation of Labor has been fighting against the twelve hour day and that it is attempting to universalize the eight hour day throughout the country for the laboring man. They claim that the eight hour day is not being enforced in theatre work as men are specially hired for positions in the theatre so as to en- able the producers to get their services in the shops at the nominal minimum salary which is paid for this work. At the same time they claim that union men are com- pelled to violate the eight hour working day principal of the American Federation of Labor by holding two jobs at the same time. This method of operation they say should be elminated and that if the Union and managers do not do so they will take the matter up with Samuel Gompers, presi- dent of the American Federation of Labor, and ask him to intervene and see that the principles of the A. F. of L. arc lived up to. Should the executive committee of the Union look with favor on the proposition of the men, who now claim, they arc un- able to work as a result of the "two in one" job rule vogue, they will ask that the scale for the work in the shops of the producers be increased from $30 a week to a. minimum of $55 or $60 a week and that men be restricted to choose between the theatre and the shop. It is claimed that the shops operated by the Shuberts. Sam H. Harris, David Belasco, and the Selwyns as well as other producers have been turning out com{dete productions at a much cheaper scale than the^ would be made at the shops of scenic artists and builders through the use of the expert and experienced stage hands for their construction at a nominal salary. The men employed in these shops, it is claimed have been shown preference in every way in landing soft and safe berths in the houses operated by their employers, to the disadvantage of their brother work- ers who only depended on the regular theatre work for tlicir livelihood. Some of the men in the shops, it is claimed have been receiving much larger salaries for their work than the $30 called for by the union, with wages in some instances earned by men holding the two jobs run- ning up to from $123 to $150 a week. These men working in the shops that are receiving on an average of $50 above the shop scale for their work of eight hours a iiy, it is argued, should be satisfied with their earnings, and allow their brethren to nil the places now held by them in the theatre, or they should abandon the shop work it is contended and give the unem- ployed members of the union a chance to get employment in the shops, which they are at present unable to do with the men holding two jobs. It is claimed that this ultimatum from the men will come as a severe blow to the larger producers who have been employing anywhere from 50 to 175 men in their shops throughout the season. These pro- ducers through this method of operation have been able to save several thousand dollars on the building of their general production, where should the demands of the men he upheld they will find their op- erating expenditures materially increased. According to reports, the executive com- mittee of the Stage Hands Union will probably look with favor on this request of the men and will insist at the confer- ences with the Labor Board of the I. T. A., that the contracts with their members for the coming season be made to read that no man can be employed for more than one position and that the eight hour day demands of the American Federation of Labor be lived up to. Last Friday night at a meeting of the Painters, Paperhangers, and Decorators' Union of Greater New York the scenic artists employed in the studios, shops and theatres in New York were admitted as members of the local. The minimum scale for the scenic artists is $77 a week. It is said that these men were reluctant to join the ranks of the American Federation of Labor until word was brought to the pro- ducing managers that unless the men be- came unionized, that measures would be taken whereby the stage hands in the theatres throughout the country would re- fuse to handle their output on the grounds of it being "a non-union product." This ultimatum to the managers is said to have had "magic" effect as the scenic artists of their own volition sought membership in the union affiliated with their craft. Efforts are now being made in the theatres of Greater New York to get the front doorman, scrub women, back door- man and other attaches to join an organi- zation which will be sanctioned and spon- sored by the American Federation of Labor. A prominent manager declares that this is the final move of the American Federation of Labor to organize the theatre attaches from front to back door. DALTON FOR "DRIFrmG" Chicago, July 7.—William A. Brady de- sires to revive the melodrama "Drifting" and has offered the chief part to Dorothy Dalton, who has been in the movies recent- ly. The play will be staged here early in September if Miss Dalton looks with favor on the idea. Miss Dalton was seen here in person last in the chief character in "Aphrodite." Alice Brady and Robert Warwick played chief roles in "Driftinp" when originally produced, but Miss Brady had to retire on account of illness. Helen Menken succeeded her. The role is be- h'eved to be one worthy of Miss Dalton's talents and attention. "HITCHY KOO 1923" SHELVED Broadway is not to have an opportunity to glimpse "Hitchy Koo 1923" after all. Messrs Jones and Green having decided to shelve it for good and all time. Ray- mond Hitchcock starred in the piece throughout the middle west and is said to have played to record receipts. It was later brought into Chicago, but didn't do so well. There is a possibility that Hitchcock may be featured in a new revue. MORRISEY AND EQUfTY AGREE The conflict that had been existing for more than a week between the Actors' Equity and Will Morrissey. producer of the musical revue, "The Newcomers," was amicably adjusted early this week by Mor- rissey "s filing of an application for mem- bership in the Producing Managers' .Association. The differences arose when Morrissey, an independent producer, had assembled a cast that was part Equity and part non- Equity to appear in his revue. Equity officials reminded him that the show would have to be one hundred per cent one way or the other or else they would not permit it to open in Atlantic City as per schedule. Then, too, the Equity insisted that Mor- rissey post a bond covering two weeks' salary for the company, which is a condi- tion under which all independent producers arc subjected to by the actors' assodation to guarantee the players at least two weeks' compensation should the piece "flop." After several stormy sessions Morrissey decided to join the Producing Managers' Association, which would permit him to operate with a mixed cast and dispense with the necessity of a bond. Morrisse/s application for membership was filed on Saturday, and although not acted upon as yet, makes the P. M. A. liable in the eyes of Equity for Morrissey's actions from now on. The "Newcomers" opened in Atlantic City on Monday night and after another week out will be brought to- either the Apollo or Times Square Theatres for a summer run. DON'T WANT ARBUCKLES TO MEET The premeditated surprise planned as an additional feature of the premiere of Will Morriscy's summer revue, "The New- comers," which opened in Atlantic City this week, in which Roscoe (Fatty) Ar- bucklc, appearing as the chief entertain- ment feature at a boardwalk cabaret, and Minta Durfee Arbuckle, appearing in the Morrisey revue, were to be reunited dur- ing a performance of the piece, seems to be all shot now. M. A. Williams, proprietor of the cafe where Arbuckle is appearing has consulted his attorneys regarding an injunction re- straining him from appearing at the theatre where his wife's show is playing. "I'll prevent Arbuckle from meeting his wife there if I have to lock him in his room," said Williams. "Arbuckle has a contract which calls for practically $6,000 a week, and we have to be careful that his drawing power is not impaired. I have no objection to him seeing his wife, but he must do so in pri- vate.'^ The contract with Arbuckle is said to be so strict in its terms that the cafe manager can tell the comedian when or where not to go, even where a stroll along the board- walk is concerned. "What a fine guy I'd be, after the way she stuck by me on the Coast during the trial, if I failed to see her, when we are both playing in the same town," said Arbuckle. "I'll be there, don't you fear." ZIEGFELD JUDGMENT ENTERED Judgment by default for $470.02 was taken against Florenz Ziegfcld, Jr., in the Third District Municipal Court last week by the Detroit Cadillac Motor Company. According to T. Murdoch, attorney for the automobile concern between May Sth and September 1, 1921, Ziegfcld or his representatives bought for Ziegfeld, auto- mobile tires and tubes amounting to $450.82. Efforts were made to collect the amount from Ziegfcld at various times, according to Murdoch but Ziegfeld was cither out of town or unable to be reached by mail or bill collectors. Finally early this month a summons and complaint was served on Ziegfcld in the New Amsterdam Theatre lobby by a proc- ess scr\'er, who earlier in the day had been informed in the Ziegfeld office that Zieg- feld would be out of town for three months. When tlic case was called for trial five days after the service of the papers as no appearance had been filed by the producer judgment was entered against him. MORE JOLSON FILM TROUBLE Al Jolson seems to be having as much trouble getting out of the movies as the corn-fed sirens of the stix have in getting into them. And it all hinges upon his abrupt withdrawal from the anema version of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," which D. W. Griffith had chosen as the vehicle with which to propel the Winter Garden comic delineator of "Mammy" songs into the realm of flicker drama. Having amicably adjusted his differences with Griffith, who appears to have relented and decided to shelve the legal action which he threatened when Jolson sailed suddenly for Europe, leaving the producer with an unfinished picture on his hands, M. L. Malevinsky, metier of Ae law firm of O'Brien, Malevinsky and DriscoU has an- nounced that he will brin^ suit against the star when he returns in behalf of Anthony Paul Kelly, playwright and scenario writer. Kelly advances the claim, according to the lawyer, that he spent a year and a half in putting into scenario form the material for Jolson's first picture, as well as in bringing Jolson and Griffith together. While Malevinsky would not state how much would t>e demanded as damages in the action, he said that he would ask "for a substantia] sum." "Jolson has not said so far whether he would pay Kelly for his work," said Male- vinsky. "Kelly sent a wireless to the comedian on the steamship, and Jolson sent back word that he had left because he was feeling ill and tired." The comedian is due to return from Europe next month. He left here on the same steamer with J. J. Shubert, appar- ently making up his mind over night after viewing the first prints of several reels of the motion picture that was to have in- troduced him as a screen star. It was at first thought that Jolson was to make only one film, but a representative of Griffith stated last week that they had hoped to make it a series, which im'ght run into four. This spokesman said that Griffith aban- doned thought of legal action after he got in touch with Jolson's personal manager, and the latter seemed agreeable to a set- tlement whidi would help Griffith to stand the loss incurred. The movie representa- tive said that the sets for the production had all been prepared and about $£0,000 had been spent on the picture. AGENT SENT TO WORKHOUSE Leo Oppenheimcr, former actor and more recently a dramatic agent, was sen- tenced to sixty days in the workhouse last week in the Court of Special Sessions. New York City, upon his plea of guilty to a cha^e of petit larceny. .\ccordmg to the complaint Oppenheimcr was charged with stealing a handbas eoa- taining ^ and four theatre tickets from the desk of Ida Bloom, a stenographer, employed by the GoJdwyn Picture Cor- poration at 729 'Seventh Avenue, New York City. Miss Bloom had testified at a previous hearing in the \fagistrates' Court dat she had left the bag in the upper drawer of her desk. She had been called to another oflke and upon returning saw Oppenheimer dashing out with her handttag in his hand. She followed him to the street and handed him over to the police. Oppenheimer was known in the theatri- cal circles as Frank Martins. Until re< cently he was associated with Helen Robin- son in a dramatic agency in the Broadway Central Building. He was also co-author of "Gabette." a musical comedy which was tried out some months ago by Joseph Byron Totten. but never reached Broad- way. MUSIC BOX SHOW TO TOUR Oarciicc Hyde will again be business manager of the "Music Box Revue" when it ROCS on tour October 1. The show will open in Baltimore on that date and after pL-iying Washington, Pittsburgh and Oere- iand will go to Chicago early in December for a twelve-week engagement. According to the present plans of the Sam H. Harris office the entire cast of the present sho-.v will go on tour.