The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-08
GOT OPEN DOOR AND
THEN SHUT 1T AGAIN
independents Double Cross Pub
lie by Creating Another
Trust.


About the only way to express what
hiss just happened in the fight between
the theatre syndicates is by saying
that the public got the double cross
After lighting for years to demand the
open door: after expanding his great
energy, his time and his money to
build up formidable opposition to the
klaw & Erlanger syndicate, and after
getting from those producers the alb.
solnte assurance that they would not
oppose independent bookings in houses
where they played, Jake Wells has been
forced to break away from his inde-
pendent associates because his inde.
pendent associates endeavored by fair
means and foul to create a syndicate far
worse than anything handled by Klaw
& Erlangey. 1t is the most remarkable
1 situation that has ever developed In
this theatre tight.
Independent or Nothing.
What the effect will be is rather diff
f,cult to say Mr.. Wells fought consist
emily for the open door. He was
blocked by Elaw &; Erlanger, yet when
Klaw & Erlanger gave in the "inde-
pendents" announced that theatre man
ayers had TO take independent attrac-
tions or nothing, thus depriying the
public Of the open door after tho
hinges Of years had been priced off.
mainly through the efforts of Jake
Wells. The public sentiment which
was created by newspapers in behalf
Of an independent program will un.
questionably react.
Before leaving for New York on
Wednesday Mr.. Wells explained in de-
tall to representative Of The Times.
Dispatch exactly how the independents
had acted. BY telegraph last night
he authorized the publication of let.
ter which he wrote from New York on
July to his representative. H. l. Car.
doza, In Atlanta.
How Thing Worked.
This letter from Mr.. Wells will give
the theatre patrons in the South a
clear idea OF that independent double
Cross:
THE perpiexing situation OF this
| present theatrical mlx-up has made
1t almost impossible to give you intel
| ligept information about what was go
Ing on I realize how necessary 1t Is
TO keep you Informed. so that you
might distribute such Information to
our associates in the South. who are
| anxious to know what the conditions
are. have been hoping from day to
day that the situation would get into
such shape that ] could send you tidings
pleasant to hear, and very much re-
\ gret the delay. 1t is very essential
| that you have certain information, ano
| thereby be in a position to intelligently
/ act on short notice. wired you some
/ days ago to stand still until you heard
/ further from me. This was due TO
complications that I was not then in
a position 10 explain. These conditions
still exist
Il want TO bring 10 your mind that
IN our two years struggle for the bet
terment OF our theatrical conditions
have not al any time advocated the
licking or the putting QUIZ OF business
of any one. ] went into the open
door movement. fighting against the
conditions that Klaw e. Erlanger had
. created in excluding the Shuberts and
4 some other producing managers from
the theatres We fought TO open the
doors to all legitimate producing man
ayers who had nieritorious attractions
to offer, and also TO be the managers
of our own theatres, and not the jan
itors. You know too we'll what a game
ne were up against and how hard i,
was to keep some OF the ttmid one,
lined up.
Syndicate surrenders.
Now. TO the present situation
About ten days ago Klaw &; Eriange,
gave up their opposition to the oper
door policy, and stated in my presence
that they were satisfied to call of al
theatrical booking contracts and to per
nit the theatres to book and play an,
: and all attractions they saw AT, theil
only request being that they and tn.
producing managers associated. or al
!, hi!ated. with them be given the SAM
consideration that was to be accorde.
the so-called independent producing
managers. This to ME meant the Sc
:. curing OF what me had been contend
ing for, that the battle was over, an,
that we were in a position to manag
our own theatres and to open them t
any and all producers alikei Imagin
. my surprise, disappointment, and, Il
fact, my disgust when the situation
) dawned upon me fully that the Ma
tional Theatre Owners Association di
not want this. but, drunk with thei
ing the complete humiliation OF Klay
& Erlanger. and practically the re
versal Of the situation that had ex
listed and had about put US all out 0
business; the open door to those VIII
!. had hitherto been shut out, and tn
: shutting out OF those who had KEEP
: them out before, unless they submitte
: TO some ridiculous or humtliating con
|, ditions.
NO Help to Theatres.
ITO my mind, am sorry to say,
simply meant a reversal OF the situa
S ton, and no betterment for the the
atres. 1t is the passing OF king
dom and the creating OF an empir,
There is no system, or business pre-
cedure. about this national organize
ton, and they are not living up to tn
" policy upon which the organizatio
was created. and the impression give
> the press and public as to what "
! We're lighting for. We received tn
!. universal support and Endorsement {
t the press, and led them to believ
: that we were hghting to secure til
I management of our own theatres an
/, throw the doors open to all legltimat
: producers, thereby trying. as near q
possible, to give the public what
wanted and in return. realize a prot
for our efforts and labors It wa
never In my mind that we were abo,
/. to create an organization that was e