The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-18
NINETEEN MATINEES
FOR ACTORS FUND
Theatres Here and in Other
Cities Give Shows to Aid
Old Players.
IDLE ACTRESSES HELP
Total Receipts, When Reported,
Expected to Be $4,000
or $4,000.
IDLE ACTRESSES HELP

~ The National Actorr' Fund Day. which
theatrical folk hope to make an annual
event. was celebrated yesterday for the
first time. BENEFIT matinees were given
In many Of the larger theatres In New
York. Philadelphia, Boston and Chicago.
Next year It Is hoped to extend the move
ment to all the large cities In the country
Members of the committee having the
| receipts In charge were unable late last
| night to tell just what had been rea lized
In this city The best figures obtainabIe
Indicated that the gross amount for the
nineteen theatres giving performances
here would amount to between 10000
and $4,000. In addition to this II was
certain that about $4,000 Or possibly
more. would be added through the
sale OF the special programmes. Many
actresses who are temporarily out of
employment. but who are Interested in
the movement. were visiting restaurants
and cabarets last night selling the pro-
grammes. Then. too. there have been a
number OF private contributions to the
fund. The amount was not known last
night II was explained that II would be
unfair to give the names of q few donors
until all were known.
1t was generally agreed last night tina
the weather yesterday had not been IA.
vorable for full houses for the special
matinees. There was no denying that the
pleasant weather had kept many away
from the thu aires. but there was no COM
plant OF the general response.
The committee In charge declined las,
night 10 make pthliC ha
the theatres which had given the special
matinees. Several had a small seating
capacity. 1t was pointed out and In the
case OF Mr.. Maude at wallacks Theatre
it would hardly be fair to draw a comparI.
son. as he offered Il special bill. whereas
the other theatres gave their regular
bills
Up to n late hour last night no word had
come from Boston. Philadelphia or Chi
cago OF the receipts. although Dan ell
Frohman. president OF the Actors Fund
had telegraphed for information. Each
city gave special matinees In a half dozen
large theatres. and 1t was expected that
the receipts in each city would amour,
to at least $4,000. In all II was thought
that the Actors Fund on the day. would
benefit about $4,000 or $4,000.
At the special matinees yesterday the
actors gave their services. the producers
the feceipts ana the managers the use
OF the theatres and employees.
With the exception of Cyril Maude. the
English actor. who gave a varied pro-
gramme, at Wallack's Theatre. and Mar
garet Anglin. who presented scenes from
Twelfth Night" AS You Like II" and
The Tanning Of the Shrew" at the
Liberty Theatre. the special performances
offerc d the regular attraction.
These were the attractions to choose
from: Cyril Maude at Wallack's Thea
tire. THE Beauty shop at the Aston,
Margaret Anglin at the Liberty. THE
Yellow Ticket at the Eltinge. Help
Wanted" at the Maxine Elliott. 1.-The Rule
of Three" at the Harris. THE Dummy"
at the Hudson. THE Crinolne Girl" at
the Knickerbocker. "Sari' at the New
Amsterdam. Seven Keys to Baldpate" at
the Gaiety. THE Midnight Girl at the |
Forty fourth Street, Potash and Perl |
mutter'' at the Conan. Kitty MacKay"
At the Comedy, THE Misleading Lady" |
at the Fulton and burlesaue at Miners |
Bronx, Miners Peoples, Hurtig a Sea-
mons. the Murray Hin and the Column |
ba.
Charles Burnham, manager OF Wal |
lacks Theatre and prominent In the man. |
agement of the Actors Fund. said last |
night that there seemed to have been a |
mistaken idea AS to the use the money |
raised by the matinees was to be put to- |
1t was not for the Actors Home on Staten |
Island alone. he said but for the assist |
ance OF all needy actors throughout the |
The home would benefit In a |
general way. he explained. but not ex-
And II seems peculiarly appropriate
that the benefits should have come at |
this time" ne said. ut was lust fifty |
years ago. on April 10. 1864. that a SINH
lar set OF special matinees was given for |
the theatrical folk. The benefits were un-
der the auspices OF the American Ora
matte Fund. which is now out OF exist.
ance. having been merged In the Actors
Fund. The special performances were
given at Barnum's, Wallacks. the Winter
Garden. Niblo's. Bryant's Minstreis. |
Woods Minstrels and the Old Bowery
Theatre"