Variety (January 1917)

VAUDEVILLE ACTS FLATLY REFUSE TO OBEY fc 0RDER TO STRIKE IN BOSTON Everything Sett But White Rate Decline to Back Up Mount- ford. Not a Player Absent from Monday Shows. Boston, Jan. 3. The "Boston Tea Party/' which was to have been the beginning of the long heralded White feats' strike here and which was to have started on New Year's day and then spread rapidly throughout the country) according to Gocffry L. Whalen, the local deputy organizer, turned out to be a bloomer— in fact, it never began. Whalen said that everything was set for "by? doings" Monday and in the afternoon Of that day received a wire (perhaps from James William FitzPatrick, who was at his home in Waterbury) to "start the Bos- ton Tea Party at six o'clock." But it was apparent J. J. Murdock, C Wesley Fraser and John L. Shea (president of the New England Vaude- ville Managers' Association) were aware of Whalen's wire and its con- tents 8/ soon as he was, for their per- fectly prepared "preparedness" pro- gram was set in motion as smoothly as u it was on oiled skids. Substitute acts which had been waiting in the Boston theatre all day were assigned, every house in the city and suburbs being supplied. Most of the acts were placed in the audience and their baggage piled at the stage entrances. ^Sixty-three acts were working in the various bills in greater Boston and ex- actly that number "were on hand, each house having a complete substitute bill under its roof. Not one instance of a walk-out or threat was made by any of the^working acts and not one case of disorder was reported in or around any of the theatres. Of the 63 emergency acts only two were known to be White Rats whose allegiance could not be definitely determined. Messrs. Murdock and Shea's system of protection seemed impregnable. No White Rat acts, or those suspected to be so affiliated, were booked in. There was a substitute act for every act work- ing. Booking agents who knew and handled the acts working (there was quite a New York representation) were on hand and covered the field to see that there was no defection. In addi- tion reports were made by house man- agers to Mr. Shea of the U. B. O. Bos- ton headquarters every hour Monday. Their orders were to communicate with him at once in the intervals should even a suspicious move be made. In addi- tion there were provisions made in case of disorder at stage doors and in the front Saturday and Sunday 150 emergency acts .came to this city. More than half were moved out of South station, upon arrival, to other New England points. In that way every house in the terri- tory was protected—even the smallest of the houses using but two acts. There were four other grouping points, Provi- dence, Portland, Lowell and Haverhill, the acts being held in instant readiness to travel to the towns in each zone. The duplicate bills were not designed for U. B. O. houses' alone, but for every house in the New England Vaudeville Managers' Association. That practi- cally includes every theatre in New England, taking in the Loew and Gor- don houses. While the substitute acts were sent here on a half salary basis, in the event ,,t „~A \ ... ...11. ' V ± m -. will result to a majority. Most are acts which have never played the territory, many from the west. They will be given bookings immediately and moved around the circuit. A riper time for the proposed walk- out could hardly be imagined. It was the first time New Year's Day had been celebrated in New England as a legal holiday and almost every place of amusement held capacity. Boston and environs has 75,000 on the rolls of or- ganized labor and that means at least double that number of theatre-goers who might be depended upon to affect theatres* were organized labor but ap- parently not in sympathy with the Rat movement, Monday papers held short yarns on Whalen's statement the White Rats were striking for a closed shop. Tuesday papers did not carry a line. An explanation by one who knows regarding the local White Rat order, presents the logical solution of that lack of sympathy. The group whose destinies are controlled by Whalen are known here as "coast defenders," said to be acts who rarely if ever leave the territory/ They have lost or are losing their usefulness because they have re- peatedly played the same houses over and over again, until the managers' determined objections necessitated the bringing in ofa larger number of acts,* new to the houses. The "coast defender," reduced to playing the two-act houses and then only occasionally, are ready to "fight for their rights." It is such a condi- tion that caused the Rat order here to name a minimum scale, that of $5 per day and as there are few "Sundays," that scale assured a wage of $30 weekly. Acts that will work for any such maxi- mum money are hardly desirable for regular vaudeville houses. Even the smallest houses will pay double that sum. In this group are said to be about 150 acts never playing west of Providence. As far as is known there are seven houses that haye been declared a closed shop, four booked by the Quigley office and three by Lester Mayne, giving in all three and one-half weeks' work. These houses are scattered over the field. This came out at a public "scamper" given by Whalen in Commercial Hall in Washington street on New Year's Eve. Admission to the affair was open to any one paying a quarter. Cf the 350 persons attending, only 50 profes- sionals were reported present and hard- ly any women. Stuart Collins of the Quigley office and Mayne both ex- pressed themselves to the effect, "Boys, we are with you for a closed shop ana we will employ none but White Rat acts." In the course of Whalen's speech he remarked that across the street in the lobby of the Globe theatre there were 16 gorillas" from New York who had been sent up by the booking in- terests to "do him up." But he de- clared defiantly that he would go home as usual and if there were any present who wished to accompany him, that would be all right too. Forty in the party volunteered to act as escort and they piled downstairs to look the New York bad men over. All they found was little Bennie Burke and when one in the bunch said "He ought to take a punch at him anyway," Bennie wisely did a quick fadeaway. The only actor in the escort was ; iid to be Billy Glea- son. Eddie Clarke, who is in town looking over Arth .r Hammerstein's she had been taken in o the order upon payment of $5 to the loc-1 branch. Her resignation. . dated ...Jan. ..1,. read: "Mr.. Geoffry Whalen: Since paying my dues I have cnarigecf my views considerably and since one cannot serve two mas-' ters and be faithful to both, I wish to resign from the order." Stuart. Kollins, formerly with J. J. Quigley, has joined with M. R. Sheedy in the newly incorporated firm of Sheedy, Mayne & kollins, booking acts through New England. Kollins will have charge of the Bos- ton branch of the agency. In his change'of connection he brings a num- ber, of houses to the Sbeedy-Mayne books. Among them are Fay's, Provi- dence; Music Hall, Lewiston; Central Biddeford; Opera House, Bath; Cen- tral, East Boston: Hyde Park, Hyde Park; Scenic, Waltnam, Marlboro, Marlboro; Opera House, Waterville; Opera House,' Augusta; Star, West- brook; Rockland, Rockland, and Nash- ua, Nashua, Quigley will continue his interests in musical comedy enterprises and in the producing and booking of musical tabloids. SEARJEANT GOT "ORDERS.-" St Louis, Jan. 3. The St Louis papers Sunday printed stories quoting George W. Searjeant, the White Rats deputy organizer for this city, saying he nad received orders from New York to call a strike New Year's Day. No strike was called. Asked concerning the "orders," Harry Searjeant, brother and secretary to the deputy organizer, said the first story was true but they were waiting for additional orders. Few in the profession around here believe there will be any more White Rat Strike agitation after the New Year's bloomer. N. V. A. QUARTERS NEARLY READY. The quarters of the National Vaude- ville Artists, at Broadway and 48th street, are nearing completion. The executive officers of the N. V. A. moved the early part of this week, and a house warming will take place as the formal opening in about ten days or so. Invitations are to be sent out for the affair. Applications are continuing to reach the N. V. A. in very large numbers daily. Ninety-one had been received^ up to 2 p. m. Tuesday for that day. All managers connected with the Vaudeville Managers' Protective As- sociation theatres are advocating to artists playing in their houses that they join the N. V. A. Henry Chesterfield, the secretary, states over 125 complaints of various nature have been received from mem- bers cf the National Vaudeville Artists and disposed of in a satisfactory man- ner to complaining members, without trouble or publicity. BECK SEEING CIRCUIT. Martin Beck, with Morris Meyerfeld, Jr., who had been in New York for a few weeks, left for the west Tuesday, with Mr. Beck intending to again .sur- vey the Orpheum Circuit theatres be- fore returning to the metropolis. Mr. Meyerfeld is president of the Orpheum Circuit. the book, was present at the scamper. The scamper, designed to attract re- cruits, is reported to have brought about an opposite result. At least one known resignation was sent in. That was from Lillian Morely. who said that Called "Joke" in Philadelphia. Philadelphia, Jan. 3. A report circulated Saturday the White Rats had sent out its strike or- der to take effect New Year's Day put every manager here on his guard. Nothing, however, came of the report. It was expected something mipht theatres, but the managers could have filled any vacancy. Several vaudeville acts approached on the strike subject treated it as a joke and declared they would pay no attention to any order it it did come. OKLAHOMA STRIKE LOST. Oklahoma City, Jan. 3. -Although Kotftiug ■■• specifically ha» .been, sa'dw.fcy there, iu*. charge rJ.Mi.. - strike of White Rats and union mu- sicians, stage hands and operators de- clared agaiust the Oklahoma City The- atre Managers' Association last July, being called to an end, it is a fact that practically all the activity conspicuous licre two months ago and which at- tracted attention , in theatrical circles throughout the country has ceased. Occasionally pickets appear in front of the Lyric and Liberty, but not for some time have the other so-called "unfair" houses been given attention. Picketing of the Empress, the largest exclusive picture house in the city, ceased entirely about two weeks ago, while there has been comparatively lit- tle activity in front of the Majestic. Picketing of the Liberty and Lyric has been spasmodic and without effect, ac- cording to the managers. The managers say the strike, so far < as Oklahoma City is concerned, is over and the strikers have been decisively beaten. The strikers say that while their activity probably has diminished somewhat lately, thev are by no means through with the tight and it is their intention to keep up the controversy until they have accomplished what their original intention provided — closed shops. The theatrical situation here now is normal, the theatres are doing good business, better than eyer before, ac- occupy the boards at the Liberty. Little if any difficulty securing acts is bemg experienced. The Lyric and Liberty always have full bills. The Lyric is playing exclusive vaudeville, furnished by the Interstate Circuit, while musical tab and vaudeville still occupies the hoa^s at the Liberty. Nothing can be learned here regard- ing the habeas corpus proceedings in- stituted by a woman picket following her arrest after passage of a non-picket- ing ordinance, It was tp have come up in the Criminal Court of Appeals on' divers occasions, but always was con- tinued until now it is thought to have been quashed entirely. It is thought the recent decision of a Chicago tribu- nal relative to picketing in favor of the strikers prompted a rxquest for with- drawal of the local proceedings by those representing the city. If there is aTtheatrical strike now on in Oklahoma City there is no outward evidence of it, either at night or by day. Those interested and acquainted with the situation are convinced the Chicago "threat" failed to materialize, and wi*h this support consigned to the discard the Oklahoma City strike died a natural death. STRIKE SUPPORTER DISMISSED. San Francisco, Jan. 3. George Stanley, a White Rat who plays a minor role in "Twenty Minutes at Coffee Dan's," was charged with agi- tating among the artists back stage at the Empress and was dismissed from the cast, being paid pro rata on the week. Not only has the strike flurry calmed down, but there is little discussion heard in local theatres about the Rats and its controversies with the managers. WANT TO GET BACK. Chicago, Jan. 3. Half a dozen vaudeville acts whose active agitation of the strike principle led to the cancellation of their routes when the question was alive, have been hanging around the Western Vaudeville Managers' Association office this week either openly asking for reinstatement in the good graces of the managers, or busily letting it be known they have ^uf^.r™?^ chfiJizs.^ciL an ; aiaa CUBAN TOURISTS. Thursday there sailed for Havana Max Wins/low, Jack Curtis and Henry Watcrson, Jr. They expect to be gone about two weeks.