Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-01-18
Manager Kellogg Unexpectedly Dis.
bands Company and is Put
Under Arrest.
CASE COMES UP TOMORROW.
Members Of the Organization Say They
Are Entitled to the Customary
Two.Weeks. Notice,

exists In contracts between theatrica
managers and performers has stirret
up a small, but Interesting fracas II
the ranks OF the late lamented HELD
Bill" company, which closed It's season
urexpectedloy Saturday night, after
the performance at the Grand theater
Manager Melville Kellogg threw thc
company into mild hysterla when hc
made the announcement that they
would be released here, and supple
mented It with the statement that he
would not, or could not, pay railroad
transportation TO New York, and did
not feel II incumbent upon him TO pay
salaries in lieu OF the two weeks notl-
flcatlon. All salaries up to Saturday
night were paid, however.
Four Of the actors at once took steps
to stop the departure OF the manager.
They charged that he was an abscond-
Ing debtor and secured warrant.
Frank Mostyn Kelly, one Of the COM
plainants, accompanied deputy sheriff
In hot haste to the station, and they
rant from the train, just before II
started. Angered at the delay the pro-
ceeding would cause him, Kellogg
started TO resist arrest, but thought
better OF 1t when pair Of hand-cufs
flashed into view. He was taken be-
fore Judge Diehl, where he furnished a
5000 bond to appear before Judge Tan
ner this morning.
Tho plaintiffs, represented by Judge
firm OF Goodhue & Kellogg, accord
Joseph Richards, besides the several
members Of the company, were In the
courtroom In eager anticipation this
morning, but the case was continued
until 2 O'Clock tomorrow.
The performers maintain that the
firm OF Goodhue and Kellogg, accord
Ing to the managers own statement
has plenty OF money and has made
money out of their services; that the
early closing OF the show is but ruse
through which they attempt TO get out
of paying railroad fares so long dis
lance.
Manager Kellogg laughs at these
charges and declares he doesn't owe
any Of the performers,
BY virtue Of all precedent. as theatre
cal men well know. there Is an ethical
side to the situation.
When contract II made between
a manager and q player, almost In
ynriably II contains the familiar two
weeks-notlce.' This takes the place OF
guarantee that the company will not
ar pa IA go Ia nlr ~ An ha nm
some desert Isle. as II were, far from
New York. II II an express understand
Ing that the player shall be Informed,
by means OF 'call-sheet' posted In
the theater, OF the date Of closing, at
least two weeks previous thereto. At
the same time the player obigates him
self not to leave the company except
upon two weeks notice,
Then, too, Il Ia an unwrtten law In
the professionalism not actually stlp-
ulated In the contract--that the man
ager OF company shall pay the rail-
road transportation Of the players back
TO the place, or places at which they
were engaged. Usually, In the alb
sonce OF contract, the manager vol
UNFAIRLY obllgates himself to do this,
and very rarely one encounters the
spectacle OF q manager going back on
his word, and on his people.
In the Hello Bill" case, II Is alleged
that both obligations. of two weeks no.
tce and transportation, were ignored,
Notwithstanding that the company
season seemed to be prosperous.
WHILE IN THE SOUND COUNTRY.
San Francisco Dramatic Review: The
Hello BIZ company which has been
playing on Puget Sound for several
weeks, closed Friday OF last week at
Chehalls. Wash It had been billed to
play Wednesday evening, but the man
ager OF the company Cancelled the ELL
gagement, explaining that one OF the
stars had left making 1t impossible to
go ahead with the performance, In
consequence Of this failure and his In
ability 20 secure settlement. Man
ager Brunswig OF the Chehalis opera
house attached the oompany's baggage.
The manager reluctantlr produced
nearly $50 before the baggage and seem
cry could be secured from the sheriff
The members of the company have
gone to Portland, with the possIbili
~ OF going out on the road again
from there. Such occurrences are
quite usual with this company. Last
years tour was succession OF such IN.
cldents, The farce Is hrst-class one
and there ls generally good company
interpreting II, but Manager Kellogg,
who Is Of very peculiar disposition, Is
continually rubbing his players the
wrong way, While here. several weeks
ago, II looked for time that the entire
company might disband. Manager
Kellogg, In fact. made several visits to
this Office for actors, although on the
road he has on several occasions taken
particular delight In disparaging The
Dramatic Review. However, with
our well known courtesy and fairness
toward all managers and actors, we en-
deayored to help him out remembering
that everybody has their little peculiar
tiles, and that there are always bound
to be some klckers and some pettsh-