The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-06-01
NOT A TRUST.
Tho Association Of Vaudeville
Managers Was Organized for
Defensive Purposes Only.

New York. June 1.-For the first time
In the history of the amusement pro-
fession In this country an organization
Of vaudeville managers has been effect
ed, based upon sound business princi-
pies, and SO framed as regards its In
ternal conditions as to secure continui-
~ OF effort and the absolute permanent
cy of the organization.
The Association OF Vaudeville Man
ayers of the United States is now an
accomplished fact The membership
includes almost every vaudeville man
ager OF standing in the country. from
Boston to San Francisco.
The officers OF the association are:
President, Benjamin #. Keith OF Bos-
ton: vice president, George Middleton,
OF st. LOUIS; general secretary, Plymp-
ton Ii. Chase OF W ashinglon; treasurer.
Louis C.. Behman OF Brooklyn; assist
ant treasurer. Charles T.. Kohl OF Chi
cago; eastern board OF managers. Ed
ward r. Albee OF New York, Louis G..
Behman Of Brooklyn. George Il. Lo-
throp OF Boston, +. r. Proctor of New
York, and Michael Shea of Buffalo;
western board of managers, Charles
4. Kohl, John ID. Hopkins and John
j. Murdock Of Chicago. Morris Meyer
field, Jr.. of San Francisco and M. G..
Anderson OF Cincinnati. Hon. John r.
Cronan OF Boston, who has figured as
the legal adviser Of the association In
the discussions, has been retained as
counsel
The association Is not In any sense
a trust. nor a combination to prevent
any performer from obtaining a rea-
sonable wage for his service, but an
effort viii be made TO regulate the SAL
aries of actors who have taken advan-
tage OF the sudden growth OF vaude-
vile so TO initiate their salaries as to
render II impossible for a manager
TO conduct his business upon a rea-
sonably paying basis.
The association also aims TO make
possible the booking OF more COM
pact route for the performer. 1t Is pure
ly defensive organization, the forma-
ton OF which has been virtually COM
PEELED by the action OF the perform
ers themselves. The scope OF the asso-
citation embraces the establishment OF
central booking agencies In this city
and Chicago. under control OF the east
ern and western board of managers.
respectively.
Ii will be possible under this arrange
ment TO give a wider choice of acts to
each house, and II Is not the inten-
tion to lessen the quality OF the bill.
but rather TO replace the old style bill
by a restoration of salary values that
will enable a manager to get better
show for his entertainment appropria-
tion.
The association Is the outgrowth OF
the labors of Mr.. f. F. Albee. with
whoro the whole plan originated, and
who for the past Is months has deyo
mucn time ana careful consideration to
IT'S accompIishment In this he has had
the cordial cooperation OF Mr.. B. r.
Keith, and the hearty support OF many
other managers in various parts OF the
country, who. one after another, have
been taken into his confidence and have
lent their assistance TO him. All the
labor of development and organisation.
however. has fallen UPON Mr.. Aibee;
and the result of his efforts is what Is
probably the most complete and thor
ough. as we'll as the most likely to
prove enduring and practical. defensive
combination of amusement interests
without being in any sense a trust
that has ever been effected in this
country.