Variety (December 1916)

V AXJ TJXVIX, L E CHICAGO RATS HEAR HOT AIR; BUT; NO FACTS AT MEETING Newt of That $3,000 Mortgage Transaction Cook Enthusiasm of Strike Supporters. Managers Continue Watchful Waiting Policy. Chicago, Dec. 27. The watchful waiting policy if still in vogue in the vaudeville situation be- tween the managers and White Rats, without a single consequential happen- ing up to today. The expected strike has failed to materialize, but under- ground rumors point to some activity between now and New Year's Day. A rumor gained circulation here this morning that Ernest Carr, who A left here last week for Kansas City, A had made preparations for a walk-out there tomorrow, with the change of split- week programs. At the managers' headquarters it was said all arrangements had been made in anticipation of such a move, but lit- tle credence was placed in the report. J. J. Murdock, after announcing an intention to spend Christmas at his home in Lake Bluff, Wis., quietly slipped awav to New York last Satur- day, and is expected to return this Sat- urday. Harry Weber left today on the 20th Century, accompani d by Max Hart, who came here to spend Christmas. With the return of Harry Mountford and James W. FitzPatrick from New York came the story the Rats had mortgaged the clubhouse furniture for $5,000. This threw a considerable damper on the enthusiasm of the local Rats contingent. It was persistently rumored Henry Ford, George Cohan and several others had contributed lib- erally to the Rats' war fund, but suc- cessive denials from each principal strangled the stories, notwithstanding the efforts of the Rats' executives to give them a touch of truth. The Rats' meeting held here last week was but lightly attended, and, while the speak- ers fairly radiated with enthusiasm, they failed to enlighten the audience in any matter as to their immediate plans. The platform held John Fitz- Patrick, president of the Chicago Fed- eration of Labor, and one Oleander, of the Seaman's Union, in addition to the Rats' officers. The support of the la- bor federation was promised, and it was planned to have committees sent the different managers by the labor or- ganizations, to advocate the closed shop, but any one intimate with the situation can realize the impossibility of such an action. A meeting was held in the Rats' headquarters Christmas Day, attended hv a score or more of Rats, and it was thought some action might be taken, but. with the arrival of theatre time, nothing had occurred, and it was be- lieved the meeting was called to keep up the interest of the locaj members. All signs point to some move New Year's Day, and, unless Mountford makes some offensive move then, it looks as though the Rats are through, in so far as any strike in this section is concerned. Even those Rats who are wearing their buttons and devoting their time to Mountford's orders are beginning to look on the affair as a colossal bluff. Unless something defi- nite is done it is doubtful if Mountford could muster enough active deputies to cover the local theatres with strike or- ders. Meanwhile, the managers are detail- ing duplicate programs in all danger zones. h\\t have cut down the general supply out of town. RATS REVIVE "PLAYER." The White Rats revived 'The Play- er" last Saturday, publishing a four- nage pamphlet about the size of Variktv's "Daily Bulletin" (issued shortly before it and then discontin- ued). 'The Player" announces itself as the official organ of the White Rats and will be published every Friday, 1t says. The price is set at five cents. The first issue, was given away. An announcement is made in it that as Variety- broke its contract with the Rats, the Rats preferred to publish its own paper than to pay Varibtt the rate per page agreed upon, $37.50. One of the objects of the announce- ment, according to report, was to make public the page rate paid Varibtt by the Rats, in the belief the Vaudeville Managers' Protective Association would then learn the Rats had been paying Varibtt less for advertising than the V. M. P. A. had. Vabibtt never had occasion to publish the White Rat advertising rate, and more especially since Harry Mountford re- quested it be kept dark, as he said he wanted the managers to keep on say- ing the Rats were paying $150 a page to Varibtt, when He could show tne members of the Rats how little the managers knew about his (MountfordJ dealings. James William FitzPatrick, president of the organization, had a signed arti- cle in the first reissue of "The Player." stating the Rats had found it impossible, to publish the matter they wanted to in the trade press and referred to Variety's editorial stand against the order as "Varibtt at last tearing oft? its mask." Another article was signed by Robert Henry Hodge and had a headline stat- ing it had been refused publication by every theatrical paper. The article which then followed had never been submitted to Varibtt. Another item was a displayed refer- ence to Irene Franklin having been re- ported as saying in the St Louis "Times" of Dec. 13 she would not ap- pear in vaudeville if the White Rats ordered a strike. The article made no mention of the contradiction of this story by Miss Franklin in the St. Louis "Times* of Dec. 14. The resignation of Tames A. Timony as attorney for the Rats was also an- nounced, and it was stated Joseph J. Myers had been secured to act as gen- eral counsel from Jan. 1. It is reported Mr. Timony's resignation, after having held the office of attorney for the Rats less than one year, was induced in part at least through inability to secure a settlement of his claim for services. Clippings from other papers were re- produced. Each referred to a pending White Rats' strike. One of the stories, from the Chicago "Tribune" of Dec. 18 was headlined "Theatre Strike for Christmas?" Its publication by "The Player" was likely intended to convey to "The Player's" readers a strike would happen Christmas. The other clipping, trom the "New York Call" of Dec. 20, said: "The strike fund (Rats) was swelled yesterday with a contribu- tion of $50,000 and a pledge of $100,000 if necessary from Fred Zorn, a lawyer with offices at 66 Broadway, it was announced." "The Player" failed to mention the White Rats had given a chattel mort- gage Dec. 19 for $5,000 upon the furni- ture of the clubhouse. Y**vaz.£<izsB?Uz jnatifrd *ht MChftc^ Rats on Dec. 23 it was violating its ci/titract with this, papsr by publishing •The Player." "The Player" is published by a union shop, the Erbert Press at 318 West 39th street. BOSTON HAS A FLURRY. Boston, Dec. 27. What the White Rats proposed to do here Monday will probably never be known excepting to the vaudeville managers, who say the Rats in New York left it to the Boston Rats to "pull a strike" if they wanted to, leaving the option with the New York Rats of afterward saying when the strike failed that it had been unauthorized. About 20 extra acts came on here Monday from New York, prepared to go into any theatre they were told to. None was called. The local Rats may have gotten news of the arrivals through seeing them in and about the theatres. Whatever might have been in prospect was called off for want of strength, it is said. Monday night the local Rats held a meeting, attended by about 40 people, five of whom were women. Geoffrey Whelan, tjie Rats' organizer for this district, presided. Edward Clark, vice- president of the Rats, was present and spoke, but said little and nothing in- flammatory. Harry Breen was also present and told a funny story for his speech. Mr. Breen said he was thought to be crazy because he had a crazy act, but his short talk indicated quite some sanity on his part One of the speakers reported to be named Kelly announced there were more White Rats at the Hotel Rexford at that minute than there were at the meeting. He said he had spoken to 50 at the hotel who 'had promised to at- tend, but he only saw-two in rue room of those who promised. Whalen opened the meeting by tell- ing those present he was glad the Rats had broken with Varibtt, as that gave them a chance to again publish 'The Player" and he hoped no one in front of him would buy VxRiBTr again, which would soon leave Varieit without any circulation. Other speakers mentioned indefinite- ly about a strike and used the phrase so often heard at Rats' meetings for the past months that it has grown to be something of a joke. It is "Be ready when you are called." After the meet- ing some of the members said they had been told that so often that some- one ought to get called even if they weren't. No information was given nor any- thing of importance spoken of during the meeting, which lacked any enthusi- asm through the meagre attendance and broke up early. BUFFALO PREPARED. Buffalo, Dec. 27. Through a telegram sent here Sun- day from the Rats telling their repre- sentative to "stand by on Christmas Day" a report got about the White Rats expected to strike here on the holiday. While Buffalo managers were fully prepared this rumor turned out to be like all of the rest of the many Rats strike reports. NEWSBOYS APPRECIATIVE. Indianapolis, Dec. 27. • Following a volunteer performance by 10 acts here last Saturday for the newsboys, the newsboys subscribed $50 to present the actors with a token of their appreciation. Owing to a recent* order from the White Rats forbidding acts to appear when not paid for their services, the house managements in town communi- cated with the volunteers before they reached here, receiving an acceptance from every one. N. V A.'S SPURT. An unmistakable spurt in member- ship has been made by the National Vaudeville Artists during the past two weeks, and hundreds of voluntary ap- plications have been received by the new vaudeville artists' society. The N. V. A. clubrooms at Broad- way and 48th street are fast approach- ing completion and "At Home" day will soon be announced. When the N. V. A. was started by a few artists and fostered by the man- agers of the Vaudeville Managers' Pro- tective Association, some artists be- lieved they were being asked under compulsion to join the organization. They withheld action apparently until lately, when ..they and any number of others applied for membership. The N. V. A. is not a secret organ- ization, organized only for the better- ment of vaudeville conditions between managers and players. It has an agree- ment with the V. M. P. A. to rectify abuses that may be complained of by its members. Several cases have al- ready been adjusted. A few of the better" known members of the N. V. A. are the Dolly Sisters, Sam Morton, Frank Bush, Beatrice Herford, Felix Adler, Sam Chip, Paul Morton, Fred Bradna, Mercedes, Sam Liebert, Eddie Foy, Sylvester Schaef- fer, Lillian Russell, Harry Fox, Andy Rice, Charles McDonald, Ben Mowatt, Willy Zimmermann, Joe Weber, Lew Fields, Eva Tanguay, Nat Wills, Ben Bellclaire, Valerie Bergere, Henry Bergman, John Philbnck, Charles Ahearn, Tosie Flynn, Olive Briscoe, Minnie Allen, Sam Bernard, Emma Cams, Bert Baker, J. Francis Dooley, Jack Clifford, Mike Ltonlln, George Auger, Clara Morton, Ed Reynard, Jo- seph B. Verdi, Al Fields, Charles Grape win, Johnny Ford, Gertrude* Hoffmann, Eddie Leonard, Claude Gil- lingwater, Manahall Montgomery, Billy Hart, Mabel Russell, Adelaide. Fred Haydn, Flo Irwin, Dorothy Jardon, Loney Haskell, Joseph Jefferson, May Irwin. ^ The officers of the N. V. A. are Wil- lard Mack, president; May Irwin, treas- urer; Henry Chesterfield, secretary; Hugh Herbert, 1st vice-president; Bob Albright, 2d vice-president; Oscar Lor- raine, 3d vice-president; George Mc- Kay, 4th vice-president. There are 10 different boards, with the Advisory Board the principal one. Among those on it are May Irwin, Eddie Foy, Lil- lian Russell, Joe Weber, Lew Fields, Lew Dockstader, James Mclntyre, Julia Nash, Bessie Clayton, Cecil Lean. ^-.Srbcn"K.Pf.tMGiinp :.S*zLJN**]l. ... Marcus Loew and Joseph M. Schenck, who- have- bee-n west -with- their wives are expected to return to New York the mid Me of next week. They will spend New Year's in Chi- cago, i FRED MACE RESIGNS. Los Angeles, Dec. 27. Fred Mace, the comedy picture star and a life member of the White Rats has wired his resignation to the or- ganization. The following is the night wire Mr. Mace sent Dec 20 to the White Rats: As a life member of the White Rats I want to register my disap- proval of the anarchistic methods pursued by the so-called Interna- tional Executive Harry Mountford. You allow an Englishman to dictate to real American citizens and try to tell managers who have their good money invested how to run their theatres. There may be things which are not entirely equitable which I feel could be amicably set- tled between the actor and manager, but never by such bulldog tactics as emploved by Mountford. Doubt- less I will be very little loss to the White Rats, but as long as such agi- tators as Mountford belong I do not care to have my name associated with the club, so I hereby tender my i esignation until such time as Mount- for'tTi?. ousted. A Tier all ne "Imposing 3S a fiphtcr and T should think his. own country would appreciate him at this time. Fred Mace. If you don't aoVorttto In VARIETY, don't odvortlao.