The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-07
GIVE UP HALF Be CRUSHED!
WHAT BELASCO> SAYS MANAGER
ERLANGER SAID TO HIN.

THE AuctiOneer'-HOt Attack or
Theatre TTuSt--Checks for G5O,OI4
A MATINEE benefit could not have gathered
moro masculine Rialtoites together than
we're on hand yesterday in Special Term
Part V, Of the Supreme Court, where Justice
Fitzgerald heard the opening Of the trials
Of the suit and cross suit between joseph
Brooks and Klaw a Erlanger, on one side
and David BelRsco and Dave Warfeld on
he other Hamfatters and stars, mana =
gers and stage hands rubbed shoulders
in the stufy court room. and the officers
Of the court found Il hard TO preserve
even the semblanoe Of order ~ the audience
heard rival actors and playwrights abuse
one another.
The litigation is over the profits Of THE
Auctioneer,' in which WarReld made his
FIRST appearance az a star. Belasco signed
+ contract with Brooks for booking the play
through the country, but he claims that
Brooks was only a dummy for Klaw 4
Er.anger, who, he says, were double
crossing the syndicate of theatrical
managers known as the trust. Differ
euces arose, and Belasco sued to have the
partnership with Brooks dissolved Brooks
then brought counter suit asking for a
dissolution and an accounting.
Samuel Untemyer appears as counsel
for Belasco and opposed to him Il Abe
Gruber, the poetical politician.
Why don't you smile sometimes at
what you say TO me?' inquired Col Guiber
paintivey, after Mr. Untermyer had
remarked that 1T was about time impudent
interruptions came 10 an end.
i often have to say things that l can't
smile at was the quick reply, 'but STILL
when | look at you, Abe, just have to
laugh anyway"
Belasoo. looking a. usual more like a
priest than stage manager. took the
stand late in the day and gave his version
Of how the trust, in the shape Of Abraham
Erlauger, had pushed him to the wall.
lrlanger, sleek and fat. sat near by, listen
inE attentively, and twiddling his thumbs
o. they rested on the broad expanse Of his
gray striped wsistcoat edged with white
tspe
j am "a years old and have been a play
wright and stage manager for thirty years,
began Belasco, Then he told Of the PLAYS
he has written. Il have known warield
since he was q boy, he went on, 'and
his ability for both humor and pathos at
tracted me. / conceived the idea Of max
ing star Of him; had an idea for a play
and In November, 1900, got him 10 make a
contract with me giving me control Of him.
Then hired Lee Arthur Kahn, the play
wright, to get up the play, telling him my
idea
Mr. Belasoo told Of the evolution and
- Il
q success az last. and he wanted TO put II on
the road. He went on:
Il went TO see Erlanger at his home,
and explained my Grand That was on
Dec. 8, 1900. told him wanted q route.
and knew II wss impossible to get book
inss except through him.
well, said Granger. don't take
much stock in this Warfeld He was all
right for twenty minutes as Dutch come
dian in Weber a Fields's, with a lot Of legs
and Russell around him, but don't think
you can make a success Of him as a star
I'm willing to stake my reputation on
him, replied.
Well he went on, the managers don't
want him. And where do we come in on
this2 We are not in business for our health
Why l said, I'm give you the usual
rates. $500 or 500 for the season, or a small
.'Oh, to hell with peroentaRes,' said
Erlanger 'What's a few hundred dollars
TO us' IN tell you what, Belasco, you let
me- in this and III make the managers
1Wallow this fellow anyway. Now, what
do we getT
ITS not fair for you to hold me by the
throat replied, after all I've done for
you and the syndicate. Don't push me to
the wall. Il looks like blackmail'
Don't you dare say blackmail to me.
said Erlanger. II you want a route you've
got 70 let me in on this right.
III give you 20 per cent, ] said.
Twenty per cent. be damned he
half the profits, and II you don't give me
that III crush you. IN kick you out OF
this theatrical business
was dun founded, and said I'd take
q week TO thinl 1t over. When / say him
= week later MY manager, Mr.. Roder, was
with me ! told Erlanger l could see no
escape from his proposition, but l would
insist on my own royalties as a secret author
and | wanted a salary. too, as stage director
he agreed TO the royalties, but declared
] could throw in my services free. Then
we came 10 terms.
Now he said, remember. I want no
one to know Of this, or there will be an
. wful mess I'll send Brooks TO you to
slgn this contract. He h our agent, and
will represent US, but want the partnership
IN MS name, so no one can say klaW A
are your partners. II there's a
row, Brooks will be your partner. II those
fellows across the street knew about this
they'd raise hell
Who were the fellows across the streetis
Mr.. Untermyer asked.
|Frohman and Al Hayman,' replied
Belasco quickly.
I object / object' shrieked Gruber,
jumping to his feet and waving his
arms. After a long wTangle Mr. Cnter-
myer asked Belasco II the names had been
mentioned at all.
oh yes; they were mentioned later
was the reply.
-Hal Hal Ha.- gufiawed Granger from
the back Of the court.
Il wish, your Honor" said Mr.. Inter
myer that the KlRw 4 Erlanger claque !
could be put out, OF at least kept quiet"
i promised Granger I'd keep our COM
pact secret Mr.. Belasco remarked, "and !
he warned me specially that all checks for
profits must be paid direct 10 Khw a Err
Ianger not on any account TO BROOKE.
This IL a great Joke on those other
iellows' ErlanRer said TO me a great Joke. |
We've been doing business with them for |
years, and IL they only knew about this they'd |
Aise Cain. II Il should ever leak out about |
nur understanding about Brooks there'd |
be no end Of a row. But it's bully as II IL, |
ain't itr ] agreed that IL was.
In the course Of the year / sent checks |
10 Klaw a Granger, as their share Of the |
profits, for tSooiI The checks were put |