Variety (June 1916)

VAUDEVILLE LEGIT ACTORS' SOCIETY VOTE FOR UNION AFFILIATION Membership Authorizes Actors 9 Equity Association to Join American Federation of Labor* Association's Council's Discretion as to Method. White Rats Holding Only Charter Issued to Theatrical Trade. How the Actors' Equity Association is to become affiliated with the Ameri- can Federation of Labor appears to be as important for the actor interested as the fact the Association, at its meet- ing Monday, voted through its general membership for the affiliation. The membership of the A. £. A. is about 3,200. Around one-half that number placed their vote, by a very large ma- jority, in favor of the move. The matter now passes to the Asso- ciation's council, that meets once weekly. It is said the officers of the Actors' Association have already inter- viewed Samuel Gompers, president of the A. F. of L., who intimated that as the White Rats Actors' Union holds the only charter which could be issued by the parent labor body to the the- atrical profession, the logical method of becoming an integral part of the Federation would be through the Rats. All other questions on the direct affiliation of the A. £. A. and White Rats aside, the thing of moment to the Actors' Association on such a move would be the increase of its annual dues. The Actors' Equity Association now charges members $5 yearly, with- out an initiation tax. The Rats' dues are $10 annually, with an initiation fee of $15. To become a "local" of the Rats would mean the A. E. A. would have to increase its entrance fees to at least the amounts charged by the Rats, as the A. F. of L.. regulations forbid any local exacting less from its mem- bers than the chartered body for the trade which gave life to its local. As the A. F. of L. grants but one charter to any trade, the means by which the legitimate actors might be- come a part of the Federation, other than through the doorway of the Rats, remains unknown at present. Still, it is reported that the Actors' Equity As- sociation has not yet fully determined to become a Rats local, and it may be seeking another avenue before finally settling through its council how the Federation project it has voted so heav- ily in favor of shall be completed. Whatever course is adopted by the council will be ratified at the next gen- eral meeting in November of the A. E. A. The A. E. A. asks for an equitable contract, full pay for all time its mem- bers work, a limit of the rehearsal period, pay for extra performances and wardrobe protection in short-lived pro- ductions, transportation to and from starting point to be provided for, be- sides decided time for term of work (with two weeks' clause included). Following the action of the A. E. A. Monday, a prominent firm of theatrical managers had a sickly reading an- nouncement Tuesday it had decided to hereafter pay full salaries for Holy -Week and the week before Christmas, something well known to all show busi- ness the A. E. A. had contended for since its inception. Some of the legitimate managerial interests have expressed themselves in favor of certain reforms asked for by the A. E. A., if they are made uniform. DOBSON TURNS LONDON DOWN. The contract agreed to by Frank Dobson to appear as principal come- dian for the Oswald Stoll London hall, Alhambra, has been turned down by him. Mr. Dobson was with Billy Ar- lington in "The Golden Crook," a Co- lumbia Circuit show. He was engaged by Charles Bornhaupt at $150 weekly to play eight weeks in an English revue. Dobson was to have sailed last week and did not. It is said Born- haupt will bring suit against the come- dian for commission. MRS. AL BRUCE SUICIDES. San Francisco, May 31. At Santa Rosa, Cal., May 24, Mrs. Al Bruce committed suicide at the hotel she was stopping at, while her husband (comedian) was rehearsing at the the- atre with the James Post Musical Com- edy Stock Co. Mr. Bruce said that when leaving the theatre his wife was in good spirits and he knew of no reason for the deed. Husband and wife were appearing with the Post stock. They are known in vaudeville and burlesque as Bruce and Calvert. If you don't advertise in VARIETY, don't advertise. N. V. A/t PALACE BENEFIT. The managements represented by the Vaudeville Managers' Protective Asso- ciation have offered the new vaudeville organization, National Vaudeville Ar- tists, either the Palace or American theatres, New York, for a midnight benefit for their society. This week, according to report, the N. V. A. had about decided to accept both houses, holding the midnight shows on differ- ent evenings toward the end of the month, though it is possible but one performance of that sort will be given around now, the N. V. A. holding over the privilege of the other until early next season. The N. V. A. announced this week a general meeting of its members would be held either June 26 or July 10, the date to be later settled upon. It was also stated all becoming members be- fore June 15 would be entitled to vote at the first general meeting, while those becoming members after June 15 will not secure a vote until the first of the year. The N. V. A. elected temporary offi- cers last week. They are Eddie Leon- ard, president;, Oscar Loraine, first vice; Hugh Herbert, 2d vice; Robert Albright, 3rd vice; Harry Carroll, 4th vice; George McKay, treasurer; Henry Chesterfield, secretary. In addition Mr. Herbert was appointed the press com- mittee for the club. One thousand members were claimed for the organization Wednesday. The officers are folding meetings daily, an 1 have had several conferences with managers belonging to the Vaudeville Managers' Protective Association. It was said several concessions had been secured from the managers, and that a new form of contract to be used be- tween members of the N. V. A. and V. M. P. A. was being drawn, subject to the joint approval of both orders. BURLESQUERS SAILING. Chicago, May 31. The burlesque players engaged for the proposed season of burlesque in Sydney, Australia, under the direction of Ben J. Fuller and George Marlowe, via the I. Herk offices here, sail on the "Sierra," June 13 and are expected to arrive in Sydney July 4, the show open- ing about July 15. Among those leaving are the Grand- ford Sisters, Messrs. Franks and Murry Simonds, Walter Johnson, Mrs. Franks, and the Duqucsne Comedy Four. The prima donna is to be Rose Lee Ivy, now in Australia. Herk is also organizing a second company to follow the first Australian burlesque expedition. DAVE OPPENHEIM The general manager of the SHAPIRO-BERN- STEIN CO. music publishing establishment. To New England for Girls. New York is noticeably scarce of chorus girls for this season of the year, with producing managers contemplat- ing musical shows for the summer seeking elsewhere for girls. A firm to have three musical pieces out during the summer has sent a rep- resentative to New England for chor- isters. The territory furnishes plenty of girls of the right type, but the man- agers must pay railroad fare into New York for rehearsals. IN AND OUT. Brice and King were shifted from this week's program at the Majestic, Chicago, to the bill at the Palace, New York. Kirk and Fogarty were sub- stituted in the Chicago show. Louise Dresser threw .up her part in the Frazee piece, "Nothing But the Truth," continuing in vaudeville. She is playing this week at the Palace, New York. m Lohse and LeMaire withdrew from the Hippodrome, Chicago, Wednesday last week, owing to differences with the management, and Maidie DeLong was substituted. Judge and Gale, billed to open at the Princess (Loew), Montreal, Monday, did not appear. Nip and Tuck re- placed them. Reine Davies and Co. replaced Nellie Nichols at the Colonial this week. NEW ACTS. Ed. Mahoney of Hartford, Conn., connected with the traffic squad of the local police department, has secured • year's leave of absence and is to enter vaudeville as a single turn. Mahoney will appear in his policeman's uniform and specialize on Irish numbers. Paul Durand has placed under con- tract for one of his big acts Franklyn George, Leola Kenny, M. H. Herri- man, Mahdah Weems, J. H. Green, Thomas Faber and Sam Frils, secured through the Oily Logsdon Agency. Paul Durand has engaged Franklin George, Leona Kenney, M. H. Harri- man, J. H. Green, Thomas Faber, Sam Friez and Ike Lowenthal, carpenter, for a new act. "The Age of Reason," one of the playlets at the Bandbox theatre this season, is to enter vaudeville via United Booking Offices as an "office act." Henry Chesterfield has engaged Mary Benton, Anna Jordon, Ed Dmr- ney, and Dan Lawler for a new act he has in rehearsal. S. Miller Kent in a dramatization of one of the O. Henry stories. Cast in- cludes Eugene Ordway and Jane Carl* ton. "A Wedding Day in Dogland," new animal act, in three scenes, by Merian's Swiss Canines (for next season) (H. R Marinelli). Harriett Rempell, in "Jane," by George V. Hobart. Five people. (Lewis & Gordon.) T. Harrison Roberts and Marion Hutchins in "Sons of Sylvester," sketch. The Gliding O'Mearas, with a white band of five pieces (Charles Potsdam). (Louis Hallett). John Miltern, in tabloid version of "Raffles." Adelaide French in a sketch, "What a Woman Would Do." Mme. Besson in "The Vampire Woman." Edwin Holt and Co. in "The One Night Stand." Diane D'Audrey, with Fred Clinton at the piano. S. Miller Kent in a dramatization of O. Henry's "Marionettes." Evelyn Ware and Hilda Barr.