The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-11-22
ACTORS AT OUTS.
Trouble in the German
Theater.
MANAGER HAS RESIGNED.
And the Star of the Company
WithdrawS.
SALARIES ARE YET UNPAID.
Receipts Had Fallen Off Until the
Management Gould Not Meet
Its Contracts.
SALARIES ARE YET UNPAID.

There was "shakeup" among the actor s
who compose the German Theater Com
pany yesterday. which resulted in the de-
posing of F. Hitzgratb, who was serving
his second season as manager, and also
leaves the star comedian, Emil Thomas,
out of the company.
The cause of all OF this was "strin-
gency" which lately struck the office,
and the dissatisfied Thespians decided TO
take matters into their own hands and at
least insure what they think a fair division
of the receirts. even though none of the
members receive their salary in full.
When Manager Htzigrath made up his
company for the present season he secured
Thomas and his wife as the star players in
his com bination. and signed a contract TO
pay the comedian $500 month, from Sep
TENDER 26, the date of the contract, to
January 49, 1894. The other members of
2 the company were also under contract for
the season, which ends in April, but, of
course, at much lower salaries.
Manager HitZlgTath raised quite an
amount by subscrlpton among the friends
of the German Theater before the season
opened, but most Of this was Used TO pay
.. the advance money To the players and in
meeting the bills for their expenses, which
were quite heavy, as some of them came
I{OIn NTtTuldDN QiEGCks anu ali Vi lQcIu
the East.
The season opened auspiciously in Sep
TENDER, and the house on the opening
night was worth over S1100, but after
few nights the receipts began TO dwipdle,
aud on last Sunday night the b0x-Uf1ice
turned over only $500 to the manager.
This was the ninth performance, and, in
Guiding the subscription, the average re-
ceipts for the nine nights had been 1926.
and the expenses about $500, this seeming
to show net profit of about $50 night.
But HitZigrath had used quite portion
of the amount raised by subscription in
paying advances, and, as the receipts kept
growing less, there came time when they
were not sufficient TO meet the demands of
the payroll, and that time fell on the last
pay day but one or the first of the present
month. But when there was DOT enough
In the treasury to pay everybody in full,
instead of paying a pro rata to each one,
Thomas. being the star. received the full
F. amount under his contract. which left very
little for anybody else.
The same thing happened again on the
18TH inst and the unpaid actors would
stand ii no longer, but after an indignation
meeting had been held they sent their ulti-
matum to Htzigrath, which was very ex-
pressively put-''No pay, no play" Like
many another theatrical managers 1t was
not case Tor choice with HitZigrath and
he Informed the members of his company
. that the condition of his excheQuer posi-
:. lively forbade his acceding to their just de-
.mands as Thomas INSISTED on nothing less
than his salary in full. The other actors
agreed 20 accept that portion Of the re-
ceiDts which their salary would Justify,
but they objected to getting nothing.
On Monday com mittee from the CON-
pany again waited on Manager HitZgrath
and asked him to resign, which he did. A
stock company was then formed, includ-
ing all the former members, HitZgrath
along with The rest, and they claim that
they asked Thomas to become a mem Der
and his share Of the receipts should be in
proportion 10 the salary he formerly re-
ceiYed, but that Thomas declined and re-
fused TO become a member of the new
organization.
The members of the company and the
manager as well have nothing but praise
for Thomas as an actor. They appreciate
his ability as a comedian. but they simply
drew the line on his being paid the full
amount Of the contract and their getting
nothing.
There is also another feature which they
urge in justification Of their action. Since
the opening night nothing but comedy b ad
been presen ted, and they say the audience
wanted change. The patrons of the
German Theater are generally the same
surfelt of comedy. but the repertoire
could not be changed, because Thomas
plays only in comedy This is given in
explanation of the fact that the houses
have dropped off almost 30 per cent in tie
two months since the season opened
The new organization has HltZigrath's
lease on the Baldwin and its managers
say they will continue playing without an
interruption.
1t is said that Thomas thinks of forming
a company of his own, and intends finish
ing the season in the city, as soon as he
can secure the necessary actors from the
East to assist him.