Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-06-23
STAGE EMPLOYEES
SAY CLERGYMAN'S
VIEW IS WRONG
Object to Rev. Mr.. Moments
Ideas Regarding Sunday
Shows in Local Theatres.


William NJ Sutton ard Michael ]
! Matthews, both employed as stage
carpenters at Loews Theatre, today
took exceptions to certain statements
which they feel reflected upon their
craft, which were made by Rev. John
j. Moment pastor of the High Street
Presbyterian Church, and published
last Saturday i'm the Evening Star.
Mr.. Sutton said that he felt an in
Justice had been done by Mr.. Moment
to members of the Theatrical Stage
Employees Association, which has
membership of sixty, drawn from the
various theatres of Newark.
ut appears to us, from the way MIR.
Moments interview in the Evening
Star reads" said he, that the clergy
man has an idea that the stage hands
are anxious for Sunday performances
for the compensation they get, but, as
a matter of fact, benefit held by us
at Keeney's Theatre on Sunday, Feb
ruary 81, was the first and only bene-
fit given for us exclusively in the city
of Newark in the last twenty years.
This was the only time that the asso-
ciation which is composed of stage
employees, appealed to the public for
assistance on other occasions man
ayers have given Sunday benefits for
their respective theatres, but the last
henefit of this character was held at
Keeney's in the spring of 1914
Our association had made plans for
holding a benefit at Keeney's Theatre
on Sunday, January 81, for the pur-
pose of swelling our sick and death
benefit fund, but we were notified on
the Friday preceding the proposed
performance that it could not be held.
The notification came to the manager
of Keeney's, j. B. McNally, from Chief
of Police Michael 7. Long.
Then we got busy and used what
influence we could, with the result
that we were allowed to hold our
benefit on Sunday, February Il. The
change in dates meant loss to us of
about 5000 for printing and tickets,
which were thrown back on us after
the first date was Cancelled. Our
benefit actually netted us between $3.50
and $500.
"Our organization gives a death
benefit of 800, and when we find a
man who is in distress he Is always
given assistance. Our members pay
fifty cents a month to the organiza-
tion, and this means only $50 a month
for all running expenses including
the renting of hall for our meetings,
which are held the second Sunday of
each month in our rooms in the Cen
trail railroad building on Broad street.
ut seems to us that Mr. Moment,
in his interview, was striking at our
organization, and thought our mem
bers were in favor of Sunday per-
formances for the benefit they derived
from them. This is an erroneous inn
preston. AS regards Sunday perform
ances, we, as employees of the theatres,
are not expressing any opinion. In
fact, these Sunday performances are
so few and far between that we are
not seriously inconvenienced thereby.
As we view the matter, however, the
managers frequently have such poor
are almost forced to resort to Sunday
performances to defray their actual
running expenses and keep their heads
above water
''It is a well known fact that the
people of this city who are looking for
Sunday amusements will take the
money they should spend in Newark
and go elsewhere for the amusement
which is denied them here"
Mr. Matthews said
There are lots OF times when the
church people come to us and borrow
scenery and properties for their own
shows and entertainments i'm halls.
thus getting away from the idea that
they are, in reality, holding theatrical
performances themselves. No COM
pensation is ever asked of the church
people for these favors. The stage
people all feel that at any time they
can assist any church, no matter
what the denomination, they are glad
of the opportunity"