The Billboard 1922-06-03: Vol 34 Iss 22 (1922-06-03)

The Billboard : JUNE 3, 1922 —— ne CIATION | _ JOHN EMERSON, President. ETHEL BARRYMORE, Veatonedent. FRANK BACON, 2nd Vice-President _ PAUL N, TURNER, Counsel. AOS ANGELES “OFFICE / 4, AI2 Hollywoed Boulevard. 777 Yi ip y UY A. E. A. Moving Day in Kansas City The address of our Kansas City office has been changed. It is now the Victoria Motel of that city. Upon whatever literature of the association you happen to carry, your card for instance, we suggest that you note this change of address because one can never tell when it may be necessary to communicate with an association office. What May 31 Stands For Members are respectfully reminded that, ac cording to the by-laws of the association and the rules passed by the council, if they don't pay their semi-annual does by May 31 they are marked delinquents on the records of the Assoclation, and thet the assessment of 25 cents a month for such delinquency starts July 1. Two More Closings Without Pay We regret to have to state that two shows closed in New York May 20 still owing members of the company part of their salaries. One was “Go Easy, Mabel’, and the other ‘‘Marjolaine”., However, we are glad to say that the choruses in both cases were paid in full. New Use for Equity Card The value of carrying your Equity card was exemplified the other day when an actor asked for the courtesy of the house to see a performance, The manager replied: ‘How do I know that you belong to the profession? Have you your Equity card with you?’* He further said that this would be sufficient proof to him. Equity’s Actors’ Theater Of course we are all enthused over the wonderful new project which the A. E. A. has just launched, to-wit, the signing of a lease on the 48th Street Theater, and the formation of a real Act@s’ Productions Company. The possibilities are tremendous, and will be watched with much interest by our friends as well as by those who may be opposed to us. For three months a committee of the council has been working hard on this matter. For many reasons, too numerous and too obvious to mention, it was advisable to keep the matter quiet while negotiations were proceeding, but now the announcement is out and has received widespread publicity in the metropolitan press. It should be distinctly understood by our members that, while Equity Players, Inc., will be to a great extent controlled by the council of the A. E. A., not one penny of our money is invested in it. At the meeting at the Ambassador Hotel of the few members who could be hastily gathered togetner, numbering not more than 40, a sum of over $93,000 was subscribed. Within 24 bours thereafter nearly $10,000 more had been subscribed. The books will remain open for some time, and it is believed that before they are closed the amount will reach $250,000. The public, which may be interested, is welcome just the same as our own members. No dividends will be paid to these guarantors. The subscribers must be people who believe in an actors’ theater, and who are willing to put up money to insure it against financial loss, put we do not believe that any of them will ever be called upon to face such a thing. The council will have nothing to do with the casting of plays. This will be in the hands of the director general and of the executive com mittee. We are very gratified that our President neritus, Francis Wilson, has accepted the esidency of Equity Players, Inc. In another column you will probably find further details, but it should be distinctly understood that we in no way intend to try to replace the regular commercial managers. Such an idea would be foolish. It goes without saying that they are necessary to the theatrical business and we believe our plans will ultimately prove a benefit to them as well as to the theater-coing public and ourselves. Another fact which must not be lost sight of is the plans for the Festival Week at the end of the season, when the classics of all ages and countries will be given single performances s0 that the lay students of the drama, as well as the actors themselves, can see and, we hope, profit by all that is best in dramatic literature. Our Own “Chamber of Deputies” The regular monthly meeting of New York deputies was held in the council room of the association May 22. The chair was taken by the executive secretary. Detailed information was zg ven out and many interesting suggestions were made by those who attended. These meetings will now cease until the autumn. The Noncombustible Mr. Cope It is curious how false impressions get out about people and bow they stick. One some 15 WATth St. NEW YORK. Tel. BRYANT 2141-2 times gets a mental picture of someone as a big bully, whose methods belong to the big-stick variety, or, again, as a mild and gentle little man, who would not say boo to a goose. When We come to meet these people we are amazed that the reality is quite contrary to our proconceived opinions. So it is with the officers of the Equity. The particular case we have in mind is that of John Cope, who seems to have acquired the reputation of being a fire-brand, whereas nothing could be farther from the truth. Mr. Cope’s advice is always sane and constructive. He advocates temperate measures and never anything which would disrupt or imperil the theater as an institution. Investment Tip One of our members writes: Enclosed find money order for $6, to cover dues for the current half year. My tardiness is due only to the disorder which frequently follows a change of engagement. I know of no wiser investment, no way in which I could get more for my money than in the small sum a send the association twice a year.” Conserving Our Hairy Apes All this talk about ‘‘The Hairy Ape” being suppressed is unfortunate... The play is cone sidered by many to be one of the greatest ever written by an American or by anyone else. Eugene O'Neil] had an enviable position before its production, but now he is acclaimed as the genius of the theater. We cannot agree with Arthur Hopkins, producer, who seems to feel that because Magistrate McAdoo sent for the script, presumably on account of a complaint from some citizen, the work of the committea opposed to political censorship should be recon sidered. The jury system, proposed by this committee, is far preferable to the snap judg ment of one or two officials, no matter how capable they may be. In our humble opinion, under the jury system, plays like “‘The Hairy Ape” would never be in the slightest danget of being closed. Mrs. Whiffen’s First Fifty Years We cordially congratulate our charter member, at present sitting on the Advisory Board, Mrs. Thomas Whiffen, on her fiftieth anniversary on the stage. At the Annual Equity Show the tremendous enthusiasm which her appearance created must have been proof, if any was needed, of the great love, not to say reverence, with which this wonderful old lady ts regarded by her brother and sister professionals. Annual Meeting At the time of writing we are working hard on the plans for the annual meeting, an account of which will doubtless be given in this number of The Billboard. CHICAGO OFFICE ~ 1032-33 MASONIC TEMPLE BLOG. . Equity Thrills We are now at liberty to tell a story about the productions committee. At first it was the intention to make an appeal for the Guarantors’ Fund to rich patrons of the theater. Certain members of the committee were talking it over and one said: “Can't we raise the money among ourselves?"’—and in three minutes over $20,000 had been promised. That is the reason why the Ambassador Hotel meeting was confined ito our own members. It was felt that they and others who followed would have the same thrill which was experienced at the moment we have been describing. Another big thrill was when word came over the phone at the council meeting May 23 that the lease of the theater had just been signed. Dressing Room Builders, Note! Chapter 405 of the Laws of New York, 1922, provides that all places of public assembly should be so constructed, equipped and maintained as to provide reasonable and adequate protection to the lives, health and’ safety of all persons employed or assembled therein. The Industrial Board is required by such chapter to adopt rules and regulations to carry into effect the purpose of the law. It is the intention of the Industrial Commissioner, Henry D. Sayer, to appoint an advisory committee representative of the various interests involved im the admisistration of this law; such committee to assist in the preparation of tentative rules to be proposed to the Industrial Board. The co-operation of the Actors’ Equity Association has been invited, and we have been requested to designate some person to act as a member of this Advisory Board. We have consented. Another Manager Speaks A manager of a stock company in greater New York called to thank us for the prompt attention given by us to the case of one of his actors, stating that had it not been for the association the manager realized that he would have been caused a great deal of trouble. The council refiects the feeling of the big majority of members in insisting that there shall be no evasion of the conditions of the contract by either the actor or the manager.—FRANK GILLMORE, Executive Secretary. New Members Twenty-one members were elected at the last council mecting held Tuesday, May 23, as follows: New Candidates Regular Members—Herbert K. Betts, Mrs. Laura Burnett, John Colvin, George Golden, Herbert Wm. Jaap, Zita Lockford, Naro Lockford, Ralph Morehouse and Chester Henry Parsons. Members Without Vote (Junior Members)— Chorus Equity Association of America JOHN EMERSON, President. DOROTHY BRYANT, Executive Seoretary. Eight new members joined the Chorus Equity in the past week. We are holding checks in settlement of claims for Virginia Banks and Dolly Kennedy. Last fall a number of our members found themselves in difficulties because they had signed contrects in the spring for full productions. When it was time to rehearse with the company for which they had signed in many cases they had found other engagements which they preferred. In some cases they had signed a second contract with another company. If you sign a contract two months before the opening date given in the contract you cannot leave that company, even within the ten-day probationary period. You can only get out by giving a twoweek notice after the opening date. That is if you sign a contract in May or June for a production which is to open in September you can accept no other engagement and the manager with whom you have signed the contract can prevent your working in another company just as you can force bim to keep you in his company. If you sign a run-of-the play contract now you must stay with the company from September, 1922, to June, 1923, provided it runs as long as that. As a good Equity member you should make it your business to see that the chorus with which you are working is 100 per cent Equity. Every new member means added strength for you. To get Equity conditions for next season non-members should join. There were a number of nonmembers with the Aborn Stock Company. They all signified their intention of joining ‘“‘in a little while’. The company closed after a week's run. The Equity contract provided that within the first four weeks a company can close without notice, provided the Equity members receive at least two weeks’ salary. All Equity members in this company received an additional week's salary, for which they did not work. The non-members who were going to join “in a little while’ received one week's salary. Members holding cards good only to May 1, 1922, are in bad standing on June 1, and Mable to a fine of twenty-five cents unless they have been granted an extension.—DOROTHY BRYANT, Executive Secretary. HORT VAMP SHOES 25 FOR STAGE AND STREET AT MODERATE PRICES. Satin Strap Pump. Gotpieeue 225 w. a4 &. m. Black. White. Flesh FREE. Stage Last Pumps Flats. Baliete—RBoxz or Soft Toe Reliable Mail Order Dent. PRANK, GILLMORE. Executive Sec-Treas. GRANT STEWART, Cor. & Rec Sec. / “KANSAS CITY OFFICE. Victoria Hotel. Evelyn Nichols, Frederica Winstanley and Grace A. Yeager. Chicago Office Regular Members—Maud Norton Curtis, Herbert Macdonald, Jean Rose Taylor and Grace West. Members Without Vote (Junior Members)— Lois Elaine Aldrich and Phillips W. Johnston Kansas City Office Regular Members—James J. Rice and Irene Taylor. Motion Picture Section Member Without Vote (Junior Harold Normand. BREACH OF CONTRACT Utica, N. Y., May 26.—An undersheriff served a writ of attachment Thursday on the property of the Utica Theaters Company in Member)— connection with the breach of contraet action instituted by the Goldstein Brothers’ Amuse ment Company to recover $24,298.08, claimed to be due the latter on loans, properties an! merchandise. The Utica Theaters Company at present operates the Park, a picture house. The building in which the Park is located ani also its contents were attached by the under sheriff pending the outcome of the breach of contract action in the Supreme Court, which may. be taken up here. Goldstein Brothers formerly ran the Park. CHICAGO BRIEFS Chicago, May 26.—‘‘The O’Brien Girl” will quit the Wednesday matinees for the rest of its engagement at Cohan’s Grand, but there will be an afternoon performance Decoration Day. Altho ragged sections of the front of old MeVicker’s Theater are still in evidence, the rear of the new house is rising rapidly. The dressing rooms are all completed. For months before the house closed it was practically a theater on stilts, work progressing eteadily on the foundation and basement plans. GAZZOLO AND HANKS WILL TAKE OVER STUDEBAKER Chicago, May 26.—Frank A. P. Gazzolo, owner of the Victoria and Imperial theaters, and Tom Hanks will take over the management of the Studebaker Theater, October 1, the two men owning the majority of the stock in the company controlling the theater property. Both will go to New York this week to arrange for the policy of the house under the change of management from the Shuberts. BOSTON’S NEWEST THEATER Will Cost $3,500,000 and Seat 4,000 Boston, May 29.—Plans for one of the largest theaters in the country, which will be built in this city, on Tremont street, adjoining the Wilbur Theater, have been completed and work of (Continued on page 18) The Lakeview Inn~ Hillsdale Manor, Bergen County, N. J. Telephone Westwood 63-J. A delightful retreat for motorists and vacation ists. 18 miles from New York, in one of the pretth sectiong of the State. Easily reached from ail ferries, over fine new asphalt amd concrete roads Our arrows guide the way No dust or fotse! Set back feom the road on the edge of a woodland surrounded by beautiful trees a gardens ine fishin’; lake cose by. Delightful walks. Excell French cuisine. Accommodations over week-ends or by week or month. Special dinners Saturdays amd Sundays. Two minutes Fine train gervice. from station Write for booklet OPEN ALL YEAR. 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