The San Francisco call., 1909-01-26
WARWICK, ACTOR,IS
NOT AT VALENCIA
Has Differences With Manager
Seely That Can Only Be
Settled i'm Court


the Valencia theater is no more.
He is just Robert Warwick now,
actor, and out of job
Walter Hoff Seely, general mana ger
of the theater Informed Warwick yes
terday that his services were no longer
needed, that his contract was void and
that he didn't like him anyway.
1t all came about through a clash be-
tween Warwick's artistic temperament
and the lack of it on the part of Seely.
Warwick claims that he was not fea-
tured. either in the plays presented or
on the bill boards, as his contract stipu-
lated. Seely says that Warwick did not
appear at rehearsals, took offense at the
slightest unintentional, imagined af-
front. and was featured as never was
leading man before.
PREPARE FOR LEGAL BATTLE
Meanwhile both parties to the contro-
versy are preparing for a legal battle
over the contract. Warwick has con-
suited Attorney j. Delmore Lederman.
and affirms that he will hold Seely to
the letter of the contract under which
he secured his position. Seely has
called Attorney Frank Powers to his
aid, and declares most vehemently that
Warwick has no ground for contention.
Powers remains silent. Lederman hints
DOESN'T APPEAR AT REHEARSAL
Only yesterday morning occurred the
incident that determined Seely TO dis
pense with his leading mans services.
When Knighthood Was In Flower was
to open last night, and then its opening
was postponed until tonight. A re-
hearsal was to have been given yester-
day morning, and to begin at 1890
o'clock sharp. The time came, and with
it the company-all except the leading
man. Miss Blanche Stoddard. the lead
ing woman, was ILL., and though she was
to appear last night her part at the re-
hearssl was to be read by Miss Helen
Lackaye
Tire time for the rehearsal arrived .
Seely affirmed yesterday, but Warwick k
did not. Eleven o'clock came and an
other half hour passed, but Warwic k
still was absent. We JeIephoned to the
St Francis and were informed by the
operator there that Warwick had given
orders not to be disturbed until u
o'clock by any one.
AT that ] sent a messenger to the
hotel, and he telephoned to me that he
would not be allowed to tap at War
wick's door until noon. / told the
messenger to tap anyway, and when he
did so Warwick rang me up and said
he would be right down. He appea red
at the thedtef shortly before , 1na the
afternoon. and ! told him Robert Ho-
mans, who once starred in When
Knighthood was in Flower would
take Warwick's part of Brandon
Our trouble with Warwick began
before he even had come to the theater,
and had just signed the contract 1t
has not ended.
Warwick did not appear for re-
hearsal Tuesday. he was late Wednes-
day, and had to read his lines at sun
day rehearsal. When The College
Widow was playing he would not taxi
his curtain calls because he. thought he
had been slighted. He was angry be-
cause Miss Stoddard once had her name
in larger letters than his on the bill
boards. We are through with Warwick
SECURES NEW LEADING MAN
Mace Greenleaf, who has been lead
ing at the College theater, Chicago. will
succeed Warwick two weeks from now
and until that time I have talent
enough and to spare to carry on the
shows
There is nothing in the contract re-
garding being late at rehearsaIs." said
Warwick yesterday, and / will hold
Seely to his contract with me. 1t was
agreed that / was always to be fea-
tured, and Seely broke that and several
other clauses of the agreement"
Warwick received a salary of $500
per week during the first 10 weeks of
his engagement and $3.50 per week dur
ing the latter 10 weeks.