The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-07-12
Strikers Confuse Plans.
Mansfield, Sothern, and Other Stars
Now 'Up in the Air"

New York dispatches indicate that. al
| though it is difficult to get anybody con
nected with one OF the theaters now in
process Of construction to admit that the
building viii not be completed in ample
time to open on the advertised date. It
is nevertheless true there is great I'M
easiness among managers on account OF
the strike OF the building trades. II the
new theaters fail of completion the
plans OF several distinguished actors and
actresses-among them Richard Mans
field E. II. Sothern. and Ethel Barry
more-will be seriously disarranged.
Oscar Hammerstein. who IS IN a posi-
tion 10 know Of most matters theatrical.
and Alt Hayman. Charles Frohman's
general manager. give it as their opin-
ion that. judging from the present out
look. none of the playhouses viii open
on the date promised on the flaring bill
boards throughout the city
Mr.. Hammerstein. when asked about
his own theater, the Drury Lane. and
about his opinion in regard 10 the prob
able opening OF the others. said:
Though ! can't speak from authority
1
cidedly OF the opinion that none Of the
new theaters is likely to open until the
first of January. Work is apt TO be stop
ped at any time, and when IT will be re-
sumed is matter over which the owners
Of the new theaters have about as much
control as helpless children. As far as
the Drury Lane is concerned. II VIII not
be open until January l at the earliest,
and perhaps not until late In the
spring"
May Delay Mansfield.
Richard Mansfield is billed to open in
the Lyric Theater early in October. and
the contract date for the completion OF
the building is a month or two earlier.
The representative of the Shuberts is
confident. apparently, that there viii be
no delay IN the opening. The contractor
himself. however, while sure Of finishing
If he can get labor, is visibly afraid of
the fluctuations in the supply Of work
men. One day during the week he was
standing in front of the theater in For
| ty-third Street, looking intently at the
workmen. Asked about the probability
or completing the work on time, he said:
You can't tell about the workmen
that will turn up. II the strike is settled
permanently and all the men come back
/ the theuter will be finished a long way
| ahead Of time. But it Is all so uncertain
that IL is impossible to count on any
/ thing. The whole thing depends on the
strike situation
The part OF the Lyric fronting on For
| ty- second Street viii certainly he EN-
ished in a short time. for there is very
little more to be done there. This sec
ton. going up several stories above the
| theater proper. is to be used for all the
| offices of the Shuberts, and they expect
to move in within a month The theater
proper fronts on Forty-third Street and
II is there that the crowds OF Mansfield
worshipers will pour inf the building
is finished. The street wall above the
| large entrance already has the glossy
! look Of completion, but. as Mr., Hammer
stein says about theaters in general "the
| outside Of a theater Is not the whole
| thing" The inside OF this building.
| however, is well on the way, for the bal
| cony, even including the seats. is prncti-
cally complete. The very nearness to the
end In itself is what eXasperates the
J contractor of any of the new theaters.