Variety (March 1921)

• Friday, March 11, 1921 LEGITIMATE IS EQUITY'S CLOSED SHOP RATIFICATION MEETING BRINGS OUT CURIOUS STATEMENT President John Emerson Requests Questioner Not to Mention Nor Discuss In- ..,. dependentProducers—Sa*» "It Will Tie H*n<U of Council in Future"— Smallness of Vote Brings Wonderment—New York Members Said Not to Have Voted. "I knew someone, before the after- noon was over, would ask that question," said President John Emerson at the Actors' Equity As- sociation meeting in the Hotel Astor last Sunday. "I am sorry you asked it. The council anticipated the question and through me asks you all not to discuss it in any way, as whatever is said may tie the coun- cil^ hands in the future." The question referred to by Mr. Emerson was from a male member. He asked the chairman in what position the Equity Shop left the members of the Actors' Fidelity League and what would be the atti- tude of the Equity toward the prominent independent producers (not members of the Producing Managers' Association), naming George M. Cohan, Henry Miller, Mrs. Fiske and Margaret Anglin, among others. Mr. Emerson conti. ued: "I must ask you to trust your officers. How- ever, it's only a matter of a short time now until every actor will have to Join the Equity. If they won't obey the dictates of their own con- science or appreciate our efforts in their own behalf or if we can't get them in by strategy, then we will force them in." The meeting was largely attended. It was estimated that 2.000 were present, with everyone verified as an Equity member through close scru- tiny of the membership card. The cards were scrutinized by two sets of inspectors, one set looking at the cards as presented at the door and passing themto another set of in- spectors. The meeting was opened by the president, who announced the ref- erendum mail vote on the Equity Shop as 3,398 in favor and 115 against. Threat Against P. M. A. Mr. Emerson introduced John Cope, who plunged into the matter of the recent difference between the Equity and the Shuberts. Mr. Cope stated that Frank Gillmore, Equity secretary, and Dorothy Bryant, sec- retary of the Chorus Equity, had done some detective work amongst chorus girls and had "unearthed some fearful facts" about the Shu- berts. The agreement made be- tween the Equity and the Shuberts was then read, and in part is as follows: After the agreement is signed: No. 1.—Within seven days notices must be Liven to all managers, executives and em- ployes of .the Shuberts that there is to be no discrimination against members of Equity. No. 2—Within 14 days print- ed notices to this effect must be posted on the callboards of every theatre controlled by the Shuberts. No. 3—If any member of Equity, principal or chorus, can prove discrimination against any said employe of the Shuberts, said employe, be he manager o r in other capacity, must bt im- mediately discharged. Failure to discharge said employe will be considered a breach of this agreement and the charges and complaint against the Shuberts will be immediately reopened (or revived). No. 4—Deputies from Equity may attend all rehearsals or go , back stage of any of the Shu- bert theatres at any time, day or night, oi» presentation of cre- dentials. No. 6—Principals are to have their contracts as soon as en- gaged, before rehearsal, and the. chorus within 15 days after re- hearsals commence. If the lat- ter are not engaged they are to receive two weeks' salary. Toward the close of the meeting Mr. Emerson, when again address- ing it, observed: "We now hold a whip over the heads of the Shu- berts that will be useful to us when it comes time to talk to the P. M. A." Tirade Against Variety. Earlier, in his first remarks, Mr. Emerson had stated the Equity con- tract with the Producing Managers' Association would not expire until September, 1924. He said there were the managers of the Touring Man- agers' Association (Gus Hill crowd), stock managers, road shows, tent (Continued on page 17.) 'CRADLE SONG' ENDS IN PLAYERS'DISCORD COURT RULING BARS HUSSEY'S SETTLEMENT Art and Business Clash at the Times Square. ORIGINAL "MARY" GOES TO PH1LA. IN APRIL Plans for Road Companies Also Announced The original company of "Mary" will leave the Knickerbocker In April, going to Philadelphia for the third engagement there within one year. This was decided on' last week when George M. Cohan se- cured the Garrick, in Philadelphia, for an indefinite engagement. It Is conceded "Mary" could remain on Broadway until the warm weather despite there are three companies on tour, but Mr. Cohan choose the bigger sharing terms that an out of town continuation will afford. The Boston company will go into the Colonial, Chicago, starting March 20, which is the real reason for sending the Knickerbocker com- pany to Philadelphia, The Boston "Mary" will leave this week, the actual running time there for the attraction having been 21 weeks. It will play Baltimore and Washington before jumping to Chicago. A clash between the artistic and business end of "The Cradle Song," which started as a special matinee attraction at the Times Square last week, resulted in the piece being suddenly withdrawn after a per- formance Saturday morning. The cast assembled for Monday after- noon, but was dismissed. It drew some vory favorable notices, though the Selwyn office was not keen to continue the attraction in the Times Square. "The Cradle Song," an adaptation from the Spanish, was produced by a co-operative organization of play- ers and others. Eleven persons figured in its ownership, among them Augustln Duncan, Whitford Kane, Margaret Wycherly, Harmon McGregor, Barry McCullam, Martha Messenger, Angela McCahill and Mrs. Norman Hapgood. The same group put on St. John Ervlne's "Mixed Marriage," recently with- drawn after four weeks at the 63rd Street theatre, and which may again be offered for special per- formances at the Belmont. Actoc Willing to Pay Claims, but Bankruptcy Forbids. A hearing in the Jimmy Hussey bankruptcy proceedings was on the calender for Thursday, but his at- torney, Frederick E. Goldsmith. ask«yj for. % postponement, "Tha | Whirl of the Town" in which Hus- sey is appearing and which the Shu- J berts produced, opened in Washing- ton Sunday night. It is due in New York early next month. Mr. Goldsmith was in touch with the I. A. T. S. E. and the A. E. A^ the latter through Paul Turner, its counsel, with the result that they were not disposed to interfere with Hussey. The latter was willing to drop the bankruptcy proceedings, with the idea of settling with tha stage hands and members of his) company. This is not permitted under the law, unless an agreement to a basis of settlement is secured from all creditors. The liabilities for Hussey's "Tattle Tales" total around $11,000. About $600 is due the company and some- thing over $500 to the stage crew carrle'* A small amount in salaries is said to be owing the musicians. IN ERROR ON WORM Variety Published Misinformation About 8huberts f Press Rep. TOURING MANAGERS AWAIT NEXT MOVE BY EQUITY ASS'N FAVERSHAM OPENING TWO Hanna, Cleveland, and Apollo, Chi- cago, Starting. it GARTER'S" STAG HOUSE Only Three Women at Opening of Woods' Show in Boston. Boston, March 9. The opening of "Gertie's Garter," the new A. H. Woods' show at the Plymouth Monday, was practically a "stag" show. There were but three women in the audience, the house having been sold out to the Bank Clerks' Association. There was a turnaway, some of the clerks being unable to get tickets at the door, even with the reservation. The show as given Monday night was "some" performance. Censor John Casey had chosen to attend the "Greenwich Village Follies" opening and did not catch the Woods' show until Tuesday night. Considerable pruning can be expected. Road Producers to Play Out Current Season, Pro- vided "Equity Shop" Does Not Become Effective —T. M. A. Engaging Best Legal Talent Available. ... A special meeting of the board of directors of the Touring Managers' Association was held in the offices of Leffler & Bratton Wednesday af- ternoon, to consider the adoption of the Equity Shop by the" A. E. A. and what effect it would have on the •activities of the membership of the T. M. A. The sense of the meeting, following discussion of the Equity Shop plan at length, was that the T. M. A. would await the next move of the Equity. This means that as long as the Equity does not put the Equity shop into effect the T. M. A. WiH go flings as usual, finlshl;*;* the present season out and at the close of this season going ahead with next season's productions as the membership has In the past sea- sons. In the event, however, that the Equity should announce that the Equity Shop is effective any time between now and the end of the current season, the T. M. A. pro- ducers, according to an ofllcial -of that organization, will immediately post a two weeks' notice of closing. This of course would not apply if ■ company operated by a T. M. A. member had no Equity members in il - it was tteeided at the board of directors' meeting to engage the best i°Bai talent obtainable to protect the Interests of the T. M. A. mem- ber a. in order to meet any situa- tion that might arise, following the placing in effect of the Equity Shop, by the A. E. A. The making effective of the Equity Shop is up to the Equity Council, which is 'empowered to institute the plan at any time it desires. The A. E. A. Council also has the right to exempt any particular man- ager or group of managers from the provisions of the Equity Shop, or "closed shop" as the idea is gener- ally understood in show business. If the Equity does not make its closed shop plan effective before next scasorr; h.sf it\il l t\t it *«y * in August, the T. If, A. members ac- cording to a T. M. A. official will cast their companies with any actors they desire to engage regardless of whether they are affiliated with the lOquity or any other organization. The T. If. A. in other words will not show any discrimination against any one who applies for an engagement, making their selections on the basis of merit. Should trouble with the Equity arise from this course that would prevent the one night stand men from conducting their business, that situation, according; to one of the largest of the road managers, Will l»e met with a plan of act ion. v Rich the road men beilove will he effec- tive but which they do noi rare to disclose at present. • "The Prince and the Pauper." with William Faversham. which leaves the Selwyn for the road Sat- urday, has been assigned the honor of opening the West's two newest legitimate theatres. After several weeks in the East it will arrive In Cleveland as the premiere attrac- tion of the new Hanna theatre. April 18 it will be assigned the similar duty of lighting up A. H. Woods' new Apollo in Chtcago. In its Issue of June 27, 1119, Va- riety published an article to the ef- fect that A. Toxen Worm was not to be permitted to return to the of- fice of the Shuberts as press agent, because of the embroilments Mr. Worm's activities had caused the Shuberts. At the time Variety published that article it deemed the source of in- formation to be reliable, o erwlse Variety would not have lent its columns to the dissemination of the statement. Variety is now correctly informed Mr. Worm was in fact the press representative of the Shuberts at the time the article was published, and that he remained in that ca- pacity for several months follow- ing, until he left for Boston to take charge of the publicity and man- agerial work on behalf o' the Ihu- berts, where he is now engaged. In Boston at present Mr. Worm is in command of the six Shubert theatres in that city. Business at the Shubert houses, Boston, has noticeably prospered under Worm's supervision. This belated correction is made la justice to Mr. Worm. IMPORTANCE OF GALLERY OVERLOOKED BY MANAGERS Kelly—Wooster Wedding Bells. I Boston. March 9. Miss "Boots" Wooster and Paul Kelly, members of the "Honors Are Even" company, playing at the Park Squara theatre, announced their en- gagement during the week. The date of the wedding is May 2%. The couple mat at Long Beach last sum- mer. Last Minute Changes in Plans for New Theatres Made as Builders Realize Potential Money Value of an Extra Seating Section. A COMPLAINT K,.n<.- COM.FI.AIN they're on Numfur t»«i. S .Mic (OMl'l \I\ (tic billliig wot | do Other* COMPLAIN of the lark of tt.c t*«,»t».f. I lunh f >r « rut l*»t Jtet *-*r» I«mfc1nf R'j »<*■ tft-r week ant week aft.* wee* Tticy ««..■'• let me h*»e the »»••*» m I HELENE 'SMILES' DAVIS That maaagers do consider the importance of gallery business is shown by last minute changes to plans of several theatres of recent buildinj where some provision for seats Is made above the balcony. This change in opinion is angled on the rise of admission scales within the past few seasons and the In- creases have carried through to the top of the house successfully. Where a hit is berthed it is no trick to sail tickets for the gallery at $1.50. and* f1 an-l t'<#jsV..goe« nof only for musi- cal but dramatic shows us well. It is for that reason that there is a revision of building plans over those used for the past half dozen years. Most of the new theatres built up to last season are more of the intimate type, planned to ac- commodate between soo and i.ooo persons. That such a house is suffi- ciently large enough can he judged from the grosses secured by "The Bat" at the Morosco. Business has run between $17,000 and $19 000. mostly through manipulation of the scale. other moderately sised house* of newer construction have noi the exceptional ground floor capacity. But it has been notice* thai the hits will bring opacity in the g»f- lery where presented. That ex- plains the sudden change thai pro- i ib-d s small gallery i<»r the new itits th at re, due to open .March 21. The addition is more like a shelf than the usual gallery con- formation. A similar stunt was provided in the building of the Cen- tral about two years ago. Managers have discovered a peculiar antipathy of patrons for cheap seats, principally where a success is offered. When "Enter Madame" moved to the Pulton thea- tre early in the fall the gallery was priced at f.O cents. Though the at- traction drew turnaway business. there was a general refusal to ac- cept the gallery scats. It was te- termlned to advance the price to fl and almost immediately the house was going "clean" and getting $l.6t for the front gallery rows on Sat- urday night and holidays. There are any number of houses charging $1 for the front gallery rows and a majority of Broadway theatres have galleries contrary to the general idea on that point. A few nouses are priced at 75 and 5t cents for the top floor, but nons under those figures. It Is doubtful if the 28 cent seats will ever be again offered regardless of whether there tl I downward rcvlsloa of ad- mission scales. .Managers say the native New V«»i!.« r is not more a general patron in the gallery than downstairs, since many natives await the ar- ■ I Ol attractions in the neighbor- hood houses where orchestra floor ticket) are priced the same ss now chare d in the galleries of bouj in the theatre /one.