The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-20
CHORUS GIRLS
TO FORM UNION.
Labor Movement About to In
wade the Stage.
Theatrical Managers Must Face
a Problem.
MORE MONEY is ASKED.
Also New Dresses and Bigger
Dressing Rooms.
Rehearsals Must Be Changed to
More Convenient Hours.
lore MONEY is ASKED.

Chicago, June 20.-NeW dresses or more
money with which to purchase them,
dressing rooms IN which to put them
on instead OF Railways or corridors, and
pay for all rehearsa1s are the demands
to be made by all stage employees and ar
lists Vaudeville artists, chorus girls, and
supernumeraries are to begin an attack
upon the exchequers Of the various Chi
cago theatres If their plans do not fail
The vaudeville actors want a blacklist
containing the names, OF ali "hy-by-nfght'
managers who take companies out on the
read and desert them.
The chorus girls insist they must have
more money demanding a minimum wage
scale Of S25 a week and 80 cents for each
rehearsal the rehearsals to be shorter
than at present and held at some other
time than after the performances, when
they interfere with supper engagements.
The young women ''supers' demand a
minimum scale of SO a week and so cents
for all rehearsals. They insist they must
have this, or the managers must give
them more costly gowns In addition to
receiving more pay they say the wings
or corridors are s'drafty'' places in which
to dress, and that where they are given
dressing rooms too many are crowded into
the little two By fours." They want
suitable rooms in which to attire them
selves, even If they are compelled at
present to work for the modest salary
81 IS to IS a week.
All these grievances have been present
ed TO Lee NJ Hart, secretary of the Theat-
ricsl Stage Employees National alliance.
Mr.. Hart last night received orders from
Secretary Lew Morton of the Actors
National protective union n New York
TO Organize the three branches of annuse-
Enent puryeyors. He has the names of a
large number OF the vaudeville players al
ready and delegations Of chorus girls
and supernunaeraries called upon him
yesterday az BartFs hotel to tell of their
woes, ana urge him to lead them from the
slough OF despond into which they have
fallen.
There is no question about them hav-
ing real grievances" said Mr.. Hart. II
know because have had years of exper-
fence myself. They complained to me
-l-e-t t1ey ere NlcLi1a1Aeu oy irresponsible
managers from whom they have no pro-
lection. The girls say they are com
PEELED to work too hard and too long for
the salaries they receive. Some of them
70 keep their Wardrobes properly stocked.
aHd that they had no time to do their own
repairing because OF the long and tedious
FeheaTsals which they receive nothing for
attending. am going to organize the
three branches immediately.
The vaudeville performers, of which
there are LOCO in the city, viii be formed
into a union which will be affiliated with
the Actors National protective union, and
through Ii with the Am ertcan federation
Of labor AS there are Te0 men and 800
women playing on the vaudeville stage
who have their homes in Chicago. or
make it their headquarters, Mr.. Hart ex-
and one for the women.
The chorus girls viii be organized into
a separate union. They are not eligible
to membership in the Actors National
protective union, so Mr.. Hart expects to
start national organization for them,
President Samuel Gompers already hay
Chaperons" that he would issue them
charter. These girls receive from SIS TO