The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-09
THE TRUST WEAKENING
FIGHT AGAINST THEATRICAL SYNDI-
CATE CRYSTALLINE.
Joe jefferson Denounced 1t, Mrs. Fislxe
Fighting 1t, and Mansfield Has
Gone Over to the Opposition.
special to the Indianapolis journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
NEW YORK, Dec. S.-The fight against
the theatrical syndicate or trust has become
so vigorous as to attract general attention
throughout the country. 1t has lately as
sumed such proportions as to lead many to
predict the downfall of the syndicate The
pioneer in this crusade is the New York
Dramatic Mirror, edited by Harrison Grey
Fiske, whose talented wife, Minnie Mad
dern Fske, is touring the country in Tess
of the D'Urbervilles, playing in theaters
not controlled by the syndicate. The men
who compose the trust have left nothing un-
|, done to injure her business, opposing her
everywhere with strong attractions, and
forcing her to play in some cities at the 10
5000 houses. This scheme has reacted on
the trust to certain extent, and the Anfor-
tunate attractions which were thus used as
clubs against Mrs. Fiske have often suf-
cred The increased advertising has brought
thousands to see Mrs Fiske who might not
have taken the trouble. She played cheap
house in Pittsburg to nearly $4,000, and at
another cheap house in Cincinnati last week
to about $4,000.
A year ago none scored the theatrical syn
dictate more severely than the great Ameri-
can comedian, Joseph Jefferson, and it was
thought Jefferson would be in with Francis
Wilson, Mrs. Fiske, Nat Goodwin Crane
and others, who were then expected to have
no connections with the syndicate, but bust
ness reasons are understood to have COM
PEELED Mr.. jefferson to give in to the man
ayers. Most of the others, who at first an
nounced themselves opposed to syndicate
methods, also embraced the opportunity and
permitted the trust to direct their tours.
Recent impositions on both out of town
managers and actors have aroused those
who would like to see the trust go to
pieces
The fight in this city has recently re-
ceived powerful aid from the New York
| World, whose daily assaults on it during the
past two weeks have materially weakened
it and given courage and strength to its OPP
ponents. A meeting is to be held here
within few days of individuals and in
terests opposing the theatrical trust, and a
policy will then be outlined which will add
to the already heavy load carried by the
men, who have sought to corner the the
atrical market, as it were.
Richard Mansfield heaped odium ON two
members of the trust while playing in their
own theater In Philadelphia a few days ago
and he has cast off the trust shackes.
There was a sensation in the Chestnut
street Theater, Saturday night last, when
MIR. Mansfield talked to the audience on the
wrongs of the trust against himself and his
brother artists. Every one in the damned
house understood the situation and cheered
the actor enthusiastically at mis- telling
points.
II may perhaps, be permitted to say to
| YOU said Mr.. Mansfield to the audience,
| how deeply l regret that it is much more
| than possible that next week may be the
| last week l shall enjoy the honor, mayhap
| for many years to come of appearing in the
| city of Philadelphia 1 could not forego
| coming to you this year, but | have done
| so under peculiar conditions, involving loss
and humiliation, and you know humiliation
| is not in my line. After the more than
| generous patronage you have ever bestowed
! on us, it does seem strange that at the con-
| cluSion of fifteen years of labor any COM
bination of men should be able to bring this
| about The fact, however. remains that If
we should come here again in the near fu-
| ture miracle will have occurred; either
| some wealthy patron or patrons of art will
| have builded in this great city OF Philadel-
| phia q modern theater land in such event
will pledge myself to appear in it, If l am
| wanted, for at least month every Season)
or the liberal gentlemen who now control
| almost absolutely and exclusively the the
atrical fortunes of this city will have been
| converted and Will have repented. My i'm
preston is q know not If it be a true one)
| that the general interest in the actor does
not go beyond the entertainment he af-
| fords his audiences. The people care very
| little, personally, for actor or manager, but
my relations with you. ladies and gentle
| men, have always been so delightfully."- cor
| dial that / feel as If ! ought not to leave
you without making this fair explanation"
Under the caption of The Theater Trust
| Collapsing" the New York World of Mon
| day printed the following editorial: 1.-THE
| Worlds publicity has manifestly beaten the
| come but it is inevitable now that prac
| tically all the really great actors, under
| the leadership of Minnie Madden Fiske,
| have declared their purpose to resist. The
| impudence of the scheme was colossal-al-
| most admirable and definitely amusing. A
| group of unlearned spectators and janitors
arbitrarily what plays the American public
| should see, and even to own and control
great artists, prescribing their work and
their wages, as any factory boss might do
with his hands When the World called
| attention to the enormity of the presump-
| ton the great actors revolted, and now the
| end is near. The SPECTATORS and ianitors
| are beaten. The intelligent managers and
| the. capable managers will again assume
control of our amuSementS.
Augustin Daily. Fanny Davenport Frank
Daniels, Edwin Knowles and others prom
inent in the theatrical world have. de-
nounced 1t and renounced 1t as we'll Min
ME Madden Fiske and Francis Wilson will,
from now on, have plenty of support in
their brave fight against it.
The trust Is being largely discussed in
England. The last issue of the London Era
devotes a lot of space to what is called
profession in England it concludes, has
| its troubles and anxieties, but at present,
at any rate, its members do not groan
which can only be compared to the Irish
Land League or the French convention
reign of terror.
The movement to form a defensive alli-
aEce of the stars is progressing. The ex-
act situation in this respect will soon be
made public. Those to be in the Associa-
ton for the Protection of the American
| Stage are talking loud of their ability to
overthrow the trust. The calm, convincing
words of Augustin Daily, Francis Wilson
and other prominent members of the pro-
Tession are bearing fruit.
The trust is also being scored all around
for it's action in ringing in No. companies
where No. IS were expected. AT Albany,
N Y, Thanksgiving day. the No. First
Born" company appeared at the Hermanus
Theater. On the programme Francis Pow
ers was cast for the part of Chang Wang
and May Buckley for that of Loey Using.
Mr.. Powers and Miss Buckley are both mem
bers CT the original San Francisco company,
and on Thanksgiving day appeared with it
at the Broad-street Theater, Philadelphia.
The part of Chang Wang was in reality act
| ed by George Holland and the role of Loey
Using, opposite which Miss Buckleys name
appeared, was in the hands of Gertrude
| Tidball who was cast on the programme
for another part. 1T Is such methods as
these says the New York World, that
are bringing the trust managers and their
attractions into disrepute and which will