The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-15
MEMBERS WON'T PAY UP.
GROWING TROUBLE ABOUT DUES nv
THE pAUDEVILLE CLUB.

| II Is Felt that Variety shows Arc Denr at
| SIS e-ason-Oiiver Summer Tenn Frees
His Mind In Letter TO she Directors.
There is trouble brewing In the Vaudeville
Club again. and the present little social cy-
| clone looks as II It would make an end OF this
| select beer and skirt-dancing organization
The members OF the club paid $50 apiece last
year for the privilege OF seeing variety shows
that ordinary mortas could attend for fifty
| cents. But In addition to this tho member
could also pay round prices for refreshments
and laugh at the performers until long after
midnight.
When the club's season closed last spring 1t
was given out that tho performances would
begin again this fall. On April 20 MIR. Preble
Tucker. the Secretary OF the club. sent out
notices that the dues Tor 1898 would be SIS
and would be payable Sept. ].
Very few members responded to this call.
and now tho directors threaten to eSpel from
the club all those who fail to pay their
dues. Even the enthusiastic o. Sumner Tenll.
who has always been n prime mover OF the
enterprise, objects to this 90 per cent. arbi-
trary increase OF the dues. and to show his re-
sentment he has resigned rs director. lie
letter to the Board OF Directors:
10 he director. efhe rduferWe t7n5
GENTLEMEN: In August OF last year cir
cular letter was sent to the club men OF New
10TH luNlIlnRtnolll 10 JOIN tIe
Among other. Inducements offered were the
following. which have copied from the orig
~ Your attention is particularly called to tho
fact that for the annual dues OF 500 the club
will provide its mem bers not only with the
class performance nightly during period OF
that as far as the, CLUB facilities were concern,
ed they practically amounted to netting and
Ayinulpd intp n n arfunl OF ton weeks.
No one bam cd the management for the short
ness Of the season. as there was an unavoid;,
large part OF the subscriptions
Club was never designed to be social club.
as was evidenced by the Joint formation OF
SetSer Under sonssct by the terms Of Which
the club first deducted from the dues paid in
an amount sufficient to pay, the rent and i'm
provements, and then turned over to the COM
pany the balance Of the dues. the company
agreeing to give and be responsible for the
signed to be, and really was. when most OF tho
mem bers Joined it. proprietary club. pure
na Wth se pFe
tits unnecessary to discuss here and at this
time tho question as to why the corporation
ject OF the dual formation was to avoid the re-
ment OF the rent by the club an entertainment
could be given whore liquor was sold after II
s9s rnf w tai the
:"Of the members who last year paid $50 for
admission to the Vaudeville Clue. over half
never entered the club rooms not even once.
and 1t does seem n hardship to tax these men
fair opportunity to release them selves II they
desire. During July and August. and part OF
rGe ma1o. g Of these men n were o
after such things.
'Inasmuch as five Of the twelve directors;
xuhn off f,, fhn m
circular. have resigned from the Board and
inasmuch as many Of the members expected
new plans. most respectfully beg to suggest
that. before any action be taken by your
may the dues for the Year
circular be sent to all last years Nom bers ask
ing them IL they desire to continue their sub
them in detail Of the new plans. such as the
withdrawal OF the privilege Of Introducing res
tho payment of 81. adm ission fee. and Of the
fact that the opera box Is for the benefit Of the
of be es 70
and guests Of Members. and there is to be no
entrance into the main body OF the opera house
otthe Club. but stil n the I POSITION Of
not yet resigned from the club. neither have
yet paid my dues for tho coming year. there
and am i'm PEELED to do so by the many letters
have received from last years members in
curing as to their liabilities for this years
dues. and by the numerous personal applica-
tons have had for information on the subject.
Respectfully yours
"OLIvER SUMNER TEAIL."
The Vaudeville Club has signed a contract
with Mr.. Abbey for the use OF the Assembly
koom in the Metropolitan Opera House. but IL
this S15 plan OF raising funds proves unsuc-
cessful there will probably he no Vaudeville
Club this winter In case the club disbands
no one seems to know who can be held for the
contract.
Petitions for Receivers.