The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-22
Ernest Hogan, "That Coon, us
Again in Trouble.
NOLAN'S VERSION OF 1T
A Violation Of Contract Which Hogan
Denies-Stuart Robson in 1.-THE Med :.
dler"-A New Comedy at
the Union Family.


fortune out of the colored comedians
popularity and talent, are threatening
to prevent him from starring in "a
King of Coontown." John J. Nolan, one
Of the managers, claims he has a con-
tract with Hogan until May, 1900, and
he told Of his grievances against the
comedian in an interview in New York
recently.
1--WE had Hogan with us last sea-
son." he said, land as he did well
enough in his way we signed him for
two years at the conclusion Of the tour.
Feeling safe in the contract, we made
a successful effort last summer to give
him a New York appearance, that we
might benefit through his appearance
utation, and through my connection
with the Hammerstein testimonial he
was brought to the attention of E. E.
Rice, who put him in the cake walk
at the Casino roof.
Through the liberal extra advertis-
ing we gave him he was enabled to
make a hit, and he promptly arrived
at the conclusion that he was destined
" ne d SldI. All lue season
he has been pursued by the idea that
he was strong enough to be STAR and
for that reason he has done things OBJ
jectionable in the hope that we would
discharge him and enable him to carry
out his plan.
I'VE of course desired to realize on
the money and labor we had expended
on his advertising, and refused to let
him go in spite of a continued course
of misbehavior. The end came in New
Orleans week ago last Sunday, when
he became involved in an alteration
with a stage hand at the Crescent the
alter because he refused to observe the
rule of the house against smoking on
the stage. Hogan removed his trunk
from the theater and then came and
told me he had done SO, and that he
would not play unless the stage mama
ger was made to suffer for his inso-
lence.
Il investigated and found that he had
been in the wrong, and when I told him
so he called me liar OF course I let
out on him, and he left the theater
in a hurry. but he was down at the
theater that evening and offered to play
that night if l would release him from
his. contract. evidently of the belief
that the performance could not proceed
without him. I disabused his mind of
that idea, and, as matter of fact, the
company did better on the way back
from New Orleans than it did when
he was with us.
I'VE propose finding out just what
theatrical contract is worth, and if We
are able we propose preventing Hogan
from making a profit out of the adj
vertising our money and our energy
have gained for him until he has car
ried out his agreement with us. He
came to us unknown and unframed;
hanaft m
known. and we will not stand quietly
by and permit him to calmly disre-
gard his contract in this fashion,
Hogan's friends in Butte and else
where, who have known him for years,
will hardly be inclined to accept No
lan's version Of the trouble, but will
rather believe this statement of it from
the colored comedian himself:
I'm the first place, neither Voelckel
nor Nolan knew of my going to the
Casino roof garden last summer until
l had begun the engagement; conse
quently they had no hand in placing me
there. Managers will corroborate this.
Concerning the Crescent theater cpl
sode: / did not smoke in the theater
my experience as performer and
stage manager would not permit me to
disregard SO important a rule.
las a matter of fact, I was insuted
by a stage hand, and Mr.. Nolan up
held him instead of giving me the pro-
lection deserved.
II admit calling Mr.. Nolan a liar, but
it was only after he had distorted
facts in order to shield the stage hand.
knowing well the environments and
disadvantages under which a coored
man labors in that section of the coun-
try, especially involved in an alterca-
ton with a white man, be he right or
wrong.
I'm my career of Is years in the pro-
fession ! have appeared in nearly
every city in America, and this is my
first time to have quarrel with a
stage hand.
4 comported myself as a gentleman
in this cOmpany-have ever kept in
view that the negro has an uphill fight
at best-have never lost sight of the
fact that to gain respect one must
| first respect himself-this none can
| deny, and the attack of Mr. Nolan as
sumes the form of persecution rather
| than that of prosecution.
"Relative to starring next season,
| this report was conceived, circulated
| and advertised by Messrs. Voelekel &
| Nolan, and they alone are responsible
| for its existence. One thing is certain.
| I will not be with their show next sea-
| son.
THE claim of violation of contract
| cannot be sustained. tMr. Nolan knows
| this better than any one else.) My
| loyalty to Messrs. Noelckel & Nolan
| cannot be questioned. Several New
| York managers stand ready and willing
| to prove this.
Last season when performers fatty
| refused to sign with the company when
| it looked as if Black PATHS Trouba-
| dours' would consist of Black Patti
and Ernest Hogan only, l remained
| steadfast and used my personal influ-
| ence to secure for them a company
During their many conflicts and
| troubles with performers in the past
| two years I have stood firmly for Noel-
| excl & Nolan. have advocated their
| cause. defended them in season and
| out of season, have given them the full
| benefit Of my popularity and expert
| ence, and I certainly feel that I am en-
| tieled to better treatment at their
| hands.
IF there has been a violation of
| contract it has been violated by
Messrs. Noelckel & Nolan and not by
Ernest Hogan, and l stand prepared
to prove this assertion at the proper
| time and D1ace