Variety (January 1914)

8 VARIETY RATS WILL ORGANIZE STAFF TO DO MISSIONARY SERVICE WORKING IN CHICAGO. k Chicago, Jan. 7. A report submitted by S. L. & Fred Lowenthal, Chicago attorneys for the White Rats Actors' Union of America, shows the following results achieved Ten Members Will Be Named to Act as Official Organizers since Dec. 19 on behalf of members and Carry on Campaign "In the Field" by Holding of thc bi * actors' organization: Meetings and Preaching the Cause. Tuesday, Jan. 6, the monthly meet- tion of this rule of the organization is ing of the White Rats took place, punishable by an action before the There was a big gathering of members bo * rd of doctors of the organization. r ... , The legal department of the White —in fact, the biggest the organization D . ^ . , . e ° Kats is constantly engaged in pressing has had at a meeting in some time. the c i a ; ms of mem bers of the organi- Many familiar faces were seen that had zation for the pro tection which the not been around in years. copyright laws of the country provide Great enthusiasm prevailed. Speeches f or artists. were made along sane, constructive The rapid incre asc in the number of lines; many questions were asked and theatres throughout thc country in answered. Heated discussions on sev- which vaudeville is played, and the eral questions took place and, while the difference of opinion was very posi- tive, it proved that the organization was very much alive, as difference of opinion exists in all great active bodies. A splendid motion was made and car- consequent increase in thc number of men and women engaged in entertain- ing the public, has led to an increase of "coi>y acts," mainly for the reason that the control of the matter is daily becoming more and more difficult. Secured a judgment for $50.88 pay- able to the Three Ameers; collected $52 for Wally Brooks; $62 for the Modelsky Troupe; $25 for Washer Brothers; $10 for Nadje; $25 for May Taylor; $27 for the Three Dreamers; $105 for Herman Rice; $10 for Wood and Ransom; $10 for the Macey Sis- ters; $10.43 (railroad claim) for Lohse and Sterling. Secured two weeks' time and pay- ment in full for one week which they did not work, for Killian and Moore, amounting to $166.25; secured two weeks' time for West and Van Sicklen; secured one week's time for Harry Shaw; adjusted differences for Salvail and Henry Belmont; located lost bag- gage and sent same to Warren and Blanchard in Milwaukee. ried unanimously, that the Board of Concerted action on the part of the Directors appoint at least ten official various organizations of artists is ex- organizers for the purpose of holding pec tcd to prove generally helpful, missionary meetings throughout the country to enlist new men in the ranks of the organized actor. The men to be chosen as organizers are to be those who arc tried and true and who are actively engaged in entertaining the public. Their position is to be an hon- orary one. It is expected that the Board of Directors will take immedi- ate action and appoint these organizers at their next meeting. The meeting lasted until the wee hours of the morning and it was the consensus of opinion that it was grati- fying to realize the renewed interest that has taken place within the organi- zation. TROUBLE IN AUSTRALIA. Another instance of the far-reaching protective influence of the White Rats Actors' Union of America is at hand in the recital of incidents connected with the case of Les Bates, a bonded NOTICE. Big White Rats Scamper Saturday evening, January 24. Joe Mack, Chairman Com- mittee of Arrangements. Rest of committee will be an- nounced next week. If you don't advertise la VARIETY, doa? advertls* eft all. WHITE RATS NEWS (The matter on this page has been furnished VARIETY by the White Rats Actors' Union of America, and is vouched for by that organization. VARIETY, in its editorial policy, is not responsible for it.) ACTION AGAINST "COPY ACTS." Concerted action on the part of the number of the W. R. A. U., in whose several organizations of theatrical art- ists well known throughout the country is to be taken for the purpose of elim- inating the "copyist" from the profes- sion. The White Rats Actors' Union of America has appointed a committee to meet with similarly appointed commit behalf the Australian Vaudeville Art- ists' Federation has begun an action against Brennan-Fuller, Ltd. The Australian Vaudeville Artists' Federa- tion and the W. R. A. U. are affiliated. Les Br.tes was under engagement with the Fuller-Brennan people and had 16 weeks of his contract time re- tees from other associations, including maimng when he was ordered to leave the Vaudeville Comedy Club, The Sydney for New Zealand on a few Lambs, etc., for the purpose of devis- hours ' notIce - He "fused to go, set- ing ways and means to take care of tin * forth that the notice which he the performer who has no scruples received was not a legal command, and about stealing the other fellow's brains. be cause of his refusal his 16 weeks of This movement for the protection of t,me was summarily cancelled. He ap- original ideas and the encouragement P ealed to the Australian federation, and of originality in stage work is a par- when the facts of the casc had been ticularly live one at the present mo- Presented to the organization's attorney ment, and there is every indication that in s y dne y it was decided that the con- each of the recognized associations will tract was wrongfully cancelled, and an give a full measure of cooperation. action was be * un against the Brennan- While the White Rats arc to operate Fu,ler concern. The case is still pend- in this connection only as an individual in & but therc is ever y indication that factor in a general movement, the in- the - influence of thc Australian organi- fluence of this organization whose zation wil! be of K reat benefit in ad- greatest activities have to do directly Justing a difficulty which would other- with questions of this kind, closely wise havc bccn annoying for Mr. Bates. linked with thc fortunes of the artist, —— — will be deeply felt. In subscribing their allegiance to thc constitution and by- laws of the W. R. A. U., artists bind themselves to refrain absolutely from thc use of material which is thc prop- erty of any other artist. Any infrac- RATB OPEN HOUSE. Theatrical people generally in New York City were attracted by the "Open House" at the White Rats clubrooms New Year's Day, and the young 1914 was ushered in with expressions of good feeling on the part of many art- ists, agents and managers who had not, theretofore, been seen inside the portals of the splendid building which has been erected as a breathing spot and useful memorial to the cause of the actor. The various assembly rooms in the building were nicely decorated for the occasion, and members of the organiza- tion, without exception, did everything in their power to make things enjoy- able for the visitors. ADDRESSES WANTED. Will thc following kindly communi- cate with Will J. Cooke, business repre- sentative, W. R. A. U.: Lohse and Ster- ling. Wally Brooks, Washer Brothers, Gormley and Caffery? WANDERS FROM FRIENDS. Bridgeport, Conn., Jan. 7. Walter McCauley, stage carpenter of •The Gay New Yorkers," at the Park last week, is strangely missing. Ill with pneumonia, he suddenly became delirious at the Royal Hotel, and went scantily clad to the Stratfield and Shea's Hotels. Members of the cast supplied him with a ticket and money and he was placed upon a train for his home in Holyoke. Up to Sunday night he had not arrived. RORK AT IT AGAIN. The name of Samuel £. Rork is linked with the failure of "The Merry Countess" in Los Angeles, a week or so ago; and that another company of 30 or 40 artists has been left high and dry more than 2,000 miles away from the city in which they were en- gaged elicits the remark that "He's at it again." Mr. Rork is the person who stranded "The Balkan Princess" in Dubuque, la., last season and has since been fighting to relieve himself of his debts in the bankruptcy courts. Suits brought by some of the members of his "Balkan Princess" company who had the foresight to join the White When Samuel E. Rork strand- ed "The Balkan Princess" com- pany last season, the White Rats warned the theatrical pro- fession in general to beware of him, prophesying that he would pull the same trick again. A lot of people either forgot the warning or didn't care to heed it, and, as members of this season's "The Merry Countess" company stranded in Los Angeles, Cal., are now con- fronted with the necessity of either walking or swimming back to New York City. Rats Actors' Union of America have prevented Mr. Rork's escape by the bankruptcy proceeding, and while a period of time prescribed by law must elapse before further action can be taken, there is hope that the claims pressed by these members will be sat- isfied. Of the "Merry Countess" people stranded in Los Angeles, but one, thc musical director, was able to return to New York City as quickly as he wished, and there are tales that other people connected with the company were be- ing subjected to genuine hardships in Los Angeles. ADDRESS WANTED. Will the Four Bazarnos kindly com- municate with Messrs. S. L. & Fred Lowenthal, 704 Opera House Build- ing, Chicago, 111.? INTEREST PAID ON BONDS. Jan. 2 was coupon-cutting day for the holders of the White Rats bonds on the clubhouse of the organization. The annual payment brought about a renewed interest in the investment feature of the Rats club. More bonds were disposed of last week than had been sold during any month since the clubhouse project was first promoted. NEW BUILDINGS. Bids are being taken on a $69,000 one-story theatre at 149th street and Courtlandt avenue. Manhattan. Samuel T. Jacobs, 30 East 42d street, Is the owner. Plans are In preparation for a $10,000 mov- ing picture theatre at Coney Island avenue, Coney Island, New York. Thomas .1. Cox, 2025 East 16th street, Brooklyn, Is owner. The Standard Theatre Co., of Stamford, Conn., has let contracts for the erection of a one-story theatre and store building In that place. College Point, Long Island, will have a new picture house. Plans were filed last week by Paul Besslo. of Flushing, L. I., owner. Lynchburg, Va., Jan. 7. M'. L, Hoffhelmer, who operates pictures In the south, announces he will build s house In Lynchburg, Va., seating capacity 600, and play pictures only.