The Detroit times., 1910-06-02

ers around there used to ask me TO
get their bookings for them. Soon We
had a little circle OF theaters, which
formed the first play circuit In the
country. Always the man in the next
town wanted TO get In on the book
ings, and the circuit Just naturally
grew until was booking and control
ling 14O theaters In the northwest. l
used to book through Klaw & Erlanger
in the days before they were strong,
and when they formed the trust l was
loyal to them. / was about as strong
theater trust servant as there was
In the country.
Was Loyal to Trust.
In Seattle I own a magnificent
theater. Bernhard and some OF the
greatest stars on the stage came to
Seattle and had to play in roller rink
because I wouldn't open my theater;
you see Bernhardt and the rest were
not paying tribute 10 Klaw & Err
LANCER. was ashamed OF myself when
saw the citizens riding to the dusty
roller rink and sitting In hard chairs
or slipping on the waxed floors, while
my theater was dark. But was l~yal.
L
my 40 theaters. II was the public
that suffered, OF course.
"Klaw & Erlanger had so much
booking power that they wouldn't send
any company on the road that didn't
pay certain percentage to Klaw &
Erlanger This was just graft, pure
and simple, for the owners Of theaters
were paying the trust TO get bookings
for their theaters. Man after man
was broken by the trust. Theater men
were ruined by the scores: names that
were famous 10 years ago you do not
hear mentioned now. They were
ground down by Klaw & ErlangeT and
turned into begging servants Of the
trust
This wear got mad. ,Klaw &
Granger had booked only IA shows
for my coast houses. | went 10 Err
hangers office. You know, he thinks
he Is the Napoleon OF the theatrical
business He barks and growls and
browbeats every visitor; sometimes he
uses his fists told him didn't have
enough shows. lie promised me some
shows which had not yet even been
produced wanted stars, but he Is
on the outs with so many OF the most
famous actors and actresses that he
couldn't furnish me good shows.
Outlines Plans For Fight.
Right then and there we we're quits.
walked out; he declared that he would
not send me any shows. ] kept silent
and he sent for me TO come TO his
ONCE. didn't go. | had notion that
all over the country there were theater
owners who felt as I did about the
trust. and who had seen their theaters
dark and useless while some produce.
Just because Klaw & Granger hap.
pened to be having a Tight with him.
had to give his show In some barn or
rink or tent In their towns
II sent kilograms to men who con-
troll 800 theaters, so-called one-night
stands. the best paying minis OF the
theatrical business, asking them TO
hurry to Jersey City, across the river
from New York.
IN a private residence there on
May 2. 20 Of us met in secret. told
them my plans. | wanted TO form an
association OF theater owners who
would open the doors Of their theaters
to any shows, either trust or indie
pendent. Every one of these 20 men
came In. We formed the National The
alter Owners association, and | was
elected president for one year This
association can never be trust. The
president can be deposed by the vote
OF any Ave Of the members. Then we
got 200 play producers to agree to sup.
ply ms and book over our circuits. Up
20 this time the producers had not
dared TO break away from the trust,
but when they saw our power they
yielded.
I'm FIVE days time, before anybody
knew II, we had upset the results OF
20 years Of work by Klaw & Granger.
To-day there is not a city I'm the
country where there is not an open
door theater.
Stars Thrust Into Private Life.
THE trust which left a trail OF
ruined. broken lives; which degraded
the stage: which grated and played
boldup man with the weapon Of book.