New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-12

After the opening promenade by Mr. and Mrs. [. T..
Burlngame the festivities continued uh'I early
this morning.
STEELE AACKAYE ASKING RELIEF.
HIS UNHAPPY EXPERIENCE AS A MANAGER.
THE EXTRAORDINARY CONTRACT HE MADE WITH
MARSHALL H. MAILoRY-HIs OPINION or TIE
MALLORY BROTHERS BLUSTLY EXPRESSED
Steele Mackaye. tho wel-known manager ana
actor. and the Messrs. Mallory. proprctors OF the
Madison Square Theatre, have broken OH ticlr
friendly relations and Mr.. Mackaye has applied 10
the courts to be released IRON o
tain ambitions and ideals III regard 10 the stage,
which he telt could only be realized III theatre OF
his own lie was brought III contact Win the iIef.
George II Mallory, an Episcopal clergyman and his
brother. Marshall II. Mallory, the proprietor OF
religions paper called The Churchmdn. Both eX-
pressed desire to purify and upliltthc stage Mt.
Mackayo was anxious TO carry ont MS aspirations
i'm regard 10 his art. Tho : suit was that money
was advanced for the theatre, and Mr. Mackaye
signed contract. In effect tins was that MI
Mackayc's entire services as author actor mana
ger or director the "Cntirc product or ms ntcllec-
1ual and physical labor and skill" with the copy
rights OF his plays and any patents that he on,
tanned should be devoted 10 the service OF MarSail
II. Mallory for ten years from July /, lS1", WIN
privilege OF renewal in consideration OF yearly
salary of IS 900. Whenever the sum OF the profits
amounted to twice the amount with interest, e1-
pended by Mr.. Mallory, Mr.. Mackayc was to re-
ceiyc quarter part OF the net profits IN addition.
Acting under the contract. Mr. Mackaye states
in hs complaint that no transferred 10 Mr.. Mallory
the copvrirht OF Hazel KIrke" and the letters
patent Of the double stage. In May, Mr. Mackayes
salary was raised 10 $50 weekly, but there was
difficulty about obtaining an accounting OF receipts
from performances IN ana out Oh the Cly' Alr Mac
kaye states in lis complaint that the accounting
offered December | he believes TO be hCtitlOus;
that since that time he has received only 500
weekly that the management has been arbitrarily
taken out OF his hands, that prices have been
changed Mt the bOI-OihCc, and the Rev. George II.
Mallory has been brought into the business TO his
detriment He therefore asks that the contract
be Icscinded and his property restored
In order to gain fuor information IN regard TO
the case, IRlBUNE reporter called yesterday
afternoon upOn the cGntendlng persons. Inc Rev.
Dr. George II. Mallory was found at the Office 81
The Ckurckmdn in Lafayettc-placc and showed
himself TO be q cautions man.
" ! really only know what | am told. he said
I" I have had no part in the matter nor connection
with it further than giving my brother adj ice and
exercising some censorship over the plays No,
could tell you nothing except the h"arsay OF
third person" lie declined 10 express an opinion
TO whether the theatre had been qecunlarily
profitable, whether Mr.. Mackayc was stu manager
and even az to whether there was any disagree
mcnt OF not. "My brother IL the business man
and has to do with all hese things he said. adding
imprcssvely, the whole truth of this matter wall
not be known until II comes out III the courts
a call WAS then made upon Steele MachaNe. He
said d" | ask any one to read that contract care
fully bear III mind all the circumstances, and then
say whether this has not been deliberate plan
on the part OF cOd-hOodcd schcmcrs 70 dciraud
myself my wife, and my children OF the woIk of
my own brains, and then drive ne out regardless
of what might become Of me. ! acknowledge that
| wasa fool 10 have signed such a contract but
labOring under dclusOn. / had met these
men IN pleasant way. | had certain ideas and
theories III ] wanted to put into practical shape
q show tina was not an idle dreamer. For twenty
years. from the time when began as n super IN
the Bowery Theatre, have de, oted myself To my
art and have never written limo SAID a word. nor
done any act that would tend to lower the Gheatri-
cal profession or reflect on my own personal honor.
Not hcing "a man of business nor tTckster and
being naturally inclined 10 trust those with HON
| m brouVhf in contact | had % gilspiriou of arV
thing undcrhand. | only saw opportunity to
nut nv views INTO practice, TO introduce certain
changes that | believed would raise stage art TO
. higher plano. ! had made myself personally
familiar with every detail. mechanical and other
wise pertaining to the stage II had been the study
OF my life. The MaOrys put the whole thing on a
footing of mutual confidence. They said they re-
posed trust in me as they did not wish to lie
known. and told no one Of the contract They
and that the ioImalitirS Of the contract were
matters Of form TO secure themselves as they did
not know me we'll.
:" did everything in a mans power for the
theatre. discharged the duties of al, crtising
agent and even call-boy dutrs that no other mana
ger would stoop to, III my zeal for success And
splendid surcoss WAS attained both in the theatre
here and by the travelling companies. Thousands
and thousands OF dollars were made for the NAL
lOrys, and the enterprise was firmly established
But no profit and little credit were given TO me-
Then found the Mallorys coming to the front and
usnrping the management instead uf islng To re-
main unknown, as they had professrd. | was forced
to endure daily indigni.ies, even 10 having my
In
grant insult that could be offered manager They
changed prices at the boX-ollcc drftauding the
public and constantly intcrfered. putting me i'm
a false position. My people at the theatre are
ladies and gentlemen and | mean them 10 DO
treated as such. They are attached to mo, but the
MaOrys have endcaVOred TO make them believe
that they were the masters OF the company. All
contracts have been in my name and have been
held personally responsible even for what tho Mall
OrVs have done This persecution nj tho theatre was
planned with "A view to force me TO break the con
tract drive me ont aud allow them to seize ali tho
results of nv work. | could get account rem
dtrcd in spite OF the profits that accTling until
some figures were handed INC on December l.
There is much that must be told in the courts and
the deliberate inlquity Of these men will become
attcnpt TO defame my character, which is open TO
the scrutiny OF the world. did Il foolish thing for
the sake Of carrying ont my ideals ! have OBJ |
tanned 20 per cent and - per cent royalty lght
at Wallacks and 80 per cent at the Fifth Avenue |
Yet signed that contract
&" understand that the Row. DR.. Mallory hal no |
connection with this matter" said the reporter
" II he says that he consciously utters an I'M |
TRUTH said Mr. MackaVe. lie was the yIime |
mover and his brother hut the cats paw"
Marshall II. Mallory aftcIward found. He |
said: d" deny all the allegations in Mr.. Macklye's
complaint. lie has not been removed from the |
position of manager. There has been no moe in |
reference at the theatre than was necessary and |
proper and nothing done ut the box Office tina; was
not customary In theatres. The pTOifS hare not |
amounted TO the sum mentioned III the contact as |
necessary for Mr. Mackaye To obtain ar additional |
per centage though the theatre has been ruhning |
along prOsperously. At the proper time an answer |
Cd fhO tar fla1 n ira