The Billboard 1921-12-31: Vol 33 Iss 53 (1921-12-31)

yy YjfYyy Uf yy Yj YY sii 4/ peeoo-E DIGNITY~ DECENCY (Copyright 1921, by The Billboard Publishing Company.) WORLD-WIDE ACTORS’ UNION WOULD OBVIATE POLITICAL CENSORSHIP IN THEATER Authors’ League, American Dramatists and Actors’ Equity Inaugurate Movement—Produc Plans for Gigantic Undertaking Now in Process of Formation ENGLISH-SPEAKING ACTORS ALREADY AFFILIATED And Movement May Embrace All Players in All Countries New York, Dec. 24.—The first part of the new year will probably see a world-wide confederation of actors well on the road to formation. Frank Gillmore, executive secretary of the Actors’ Equity Association, told a Billboard reporter today that that organization had already affiliated with the Actors’ Association of Great Britain, the Actors’ Federation of Australasia, and the South African organization of actors was expected to join soon. This means a union of all the English-speaking actors of the globe, and it is believed that in the course of time actors speaking all tongues will come into an international confederation. This, it is expected, would be a Joose form of organization, with each country retaining complete autonomy in its own country and taking jurisdiction over all visiting actors from foreign countries. This arrangement is already in effect between the Actors’ Equity Association and the Actors’ Association of Great Britain. When an English actor who is a member of the Actors’ Association plays in this country he automatically comes under the jurisdiction of Equity, and vice versa. The same arrangement is also in effect between the American Artistes’ Federation, the Variety Artistes’ Federation of England and the Variety Artists’ Union of Australasia, An organization on the lines planned would be of particular use in the event of a strike in any of the countries in the union. In that event, if a manager attempted to import strike-breaking actors from ancther country, they would automatically come under the control of the striking organization and be amenable to their rules and regulations, In return the organizations in the several countries would give protection to visiting actors after their membership cards were transferred and while in the country. I’rank Gillmore stated that so far the bringing in of actors speaking other tongues than English was still rather nebulous, but it is believed that they will be receptive to the idea after the actors speaking the English vernacular have proved the worth of international organization. Mr..Gillmore also said, when asked (Continued on page 101) MAY WIRTH, famous equestrienne, who will be a big feature at fairs next season. WIRTH FAMILY TO BE FEATURE AT BIG FAIRS SEASON OF 1922 ing Managers and Civil and Religious Institutions Asked To Co-Operate New York, Dec. 24.—The Authors’ League of America, the Ameridan Dramatists and the Actors’ Equity Association of America joined yesterday in an effort to formulate measures which will obviate the necessity of political censorship in the theater, according to an announcement by officials of the organizations concerned. Invitations to co-operate in the movement have been sent to the Producing Managers’ Association and to the heads of civil and religious organizations that have a clean theater as their objective. The organizations now definitely committed to the movement have memberships covering practically all of the authors, dramatists and actors in the United States. The Authors’ League covers 1,800 writers, the Dramatists’ Guild has a membership of 275 playwrights and the Actors’ Equity Association includes more than 16,000 players. A system whereby prompt action will be taken regarding the production of plays which provoke public protest is planned. This, it is declared, will be MIDDLE-WEST FAIR CIRCUIT Contracts Signed ¥i With United +, Hold Poe Meeting at Fairs Booking Assn. Salary Extraordinary and Bonus Paid for Signature Famous Equestrians Now in Vaudeville on West Coast Tt is officially announced that May Wirth, with Phil and the Wirths, has definitely signed to play the fair season of 1922 under the direction of the United Fairs Booking Association. The big equestrian act, which is conceded the biggest and most expensive to play the outdoor exhibitions, was secured by Ed. Carruthers, who has given out the following statement: “It is quite true that we have secured the services of May Wirth and Phil for (Continued on page 105) Baltimore Hotel, Kansas City, January 12 The annual meeting of the MiddleWest Fair Circuit will be held at the Baltimore Hotel, Kansas City, Mo-, on Thursday, January 12, opening at 10 a.m. This circuit was organized some years ago, but was not active until 1921. Officers elected at a meeting in Kansas City in 1921 were: A. R. Corey, Des Moines, president; Phil Eastman, Topeka, secretary-treasurer, and B. C. Biggerstaff, Kansas City, traffic manager. Members of the circuit are: Nebraska State Fair, Lincoln; Iowa State Fair, Des Moines; Missouri State Fair, Sedalia; Kansas Free Fair, Topeka; Oklahoma State Fair, Oklahoma City; Oklahoma Free State Fair, Muskogee; State Fair of Texas, Dallas; Texas Cotton Palace, Waco, and the Louisiana (Continued on page 101) far more efficient and far more corstructive from the standpoint of artistry than any political censorship. The announcement sent out by the associations concerned reads as follows: “The Authors’ League of America claims and holds sacred the right of the dramatist to deal sincerely with any subject of dramatic value, but it joins with all persons who regard the theater with esteem and affection in deploring resort to salacity and vulgarity, with no object other than private profit. “The Dramatists’ Guild is convinced (Continued on page 101) “THE FOLLIES” ALMOST MISSES ITS OPENING IN CHICAGO Equity Representative Calls Out the Entire Cast And Holds Curtain Until Agreement Is Reached New Contract Is Expected To Eliminate Abuses Chicago, Dec. 26.—There came near being no opening of the “Ziegfeld Follies” at the Colonial Theater last night, when Frank Dare, Chicago representative of the Actors’ Equity Association, acting on orders from Equity headquarters in New York, called out every actor in the cast of ninety-six people and held the curtain until Ed Rosenbaum, manager of the “Follies,” signed an agreement which, according to Equity officials, will protect its mem (Continued on page 105) Last Week’s Issue of The Billboard Contained 1,419 Classified Ads, Totaling 6,405 Lines, and 613 Display Ads, Totaling 21,546 Lines; 2,032 Ads, Occupying 27,951 Lines in Ali The Edition of This Issue of The Billboard Is 66,650