Imperial Valley press., 1914-01-26


a chance to increase her musical score.
Unless all signs fail in dry weather.
Those who have seen the remarka-
bly, attractive setting of the second act
of "Sari" were reminded forcibly of
the illustrations used in the advertise
ments of the "Johnawalker" stores.
For beginner in the pamphleteer's
art, Johnson Forbes Robertson, now
winding up almost half century's ca
reer on the stage with a farewell Am
erican tour, is remarkably comprehen-
sive as well as modest. An article by
him in current magazine is the first
he ever wrote for publication and ap-
pears under this pretentious caption:
"The Theatre of Yesterday, Today and
Tomorrow. Forbes Robertson says in
introduction: 81 might preface my re-
marks on this subject by the statement
that during my career of forty years
on the stage, | have never previously
contributed an article to magazine or
put my name to book, which is some
thing of record in these days, when
every man is his own Boswell"
At last it has come-the actors
union. Under the name of the Actors
Equity association, some of the leading
thespians of Broadway have organized
for mutual protection, and they are
weekly embracing within their ranks
the leading players Of America, both
men and women. The stage hands or
ganized themselves into the Theatri-
cal Mechanics association and by
sheer numbers obtained improved con-
ditions for themselves. They got more
pay and less work. The vaudeville
performers formed themselves into an
amalgamation known as the White
Rats and thereby won betterments for
themselves in the shape of transporta-
ton, more stable contracts, more effi-
cient stage assistance from the thea
tres and other improvements. Now
the legitimate actors have formed an
association for the purpose of insist
ing on their rights. Francis Wilson is
president of the new organization.
Henry Miller, who is, is not, is-have
it your own way-going to retire, is
vice president; Bruce McRae and How
ard Kyle, secretaries, and Howard
Purdy, treasurer; George Arliss, Dig
by Dell, Jefferson De Angels, Robert
Edeson, Wilton Lackaye and sch well
known actors form the council of the
association. Here are few things
that the Actors Equity association
will work for:
Transportation for actors from New
York when they join road company
out of town and transportation back to
New York when the show strands or
the actor is given his notice. To limit
the period of free rehearsals. To re.
establish the two-weeks' notice clause.
To protect an actor who shall be given
more than a weeks rehearsals, from
being discharged without compensa
ton. To prevent the increase of eXtr;
performances without pay. To get full
pay for all works played. To seek an
adjustment with regard to the cost of
woman's costumes. These are reason
able demands say the actors. AS mat
ters now stand, actors frequently are
engaged in New York to go west, per-
haps as far as the coast, to join a
show. They are given their fare to
the point where they join but wher
they close, they have to pay their own
/ fare back to New York. Often they
have not the money. The traditional
two weeks notice is often overlooked
/ by the managers, but the players arr
never allowed to ignore it. Actors
now rehearse indefinitely without pay
and if the production fails in the first
week, the performers get no pay.