The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-15
MOVE TO BAR STAGE
STARS FROM FILMS
A. II, Woods First to Act A.
fer Billie Burke Decides to
quit Frohman Co.
FIRST DEFINITE A

As a result of Billie Burke deciding
10 leave the Charles Frohman Company,
ms. 90 act for motion pictures a long
snould,r,'g icud between the theatrical
managers and the big motion picture d.
rastors cluc to a head yesterday after
noon. when a movement was started by
ii. 'hct'tical men TO prohibit their stars
from appearing In pictures and to refuse
all cou,tI. Is to new players unless they
Will agree to keep out of the movies
! during the time Of their respective en-
gagemeuts.
A. II Woods started the ball rolling
by announcing that henceforth he will
10, permit his players to appear on the
screen while taking part In his produce
lions. exception being made in the case
OF those players who were already under
contract previous TO their making ar
raugemetts with him. Other leading
theatrical managers are expected TO take
the anne action. The big time vaude-
vile interests in the United Booking Of
ncet nave dITtduy zone so.
This is the first time that a definite
stand has been taken by the big thea
uical producers. SO many OF them are
actively engaged In the motion plcAure
business themselves that they did not
care 10 commit themselves against the
moves indications were yesterday
that the matter will be threshed out dur
Ing the summer by the United Managers
Protective Association, organized for
this purpose.
Permitting an actor or actress TO pla
before the Gamer and on the legitimate
Stage at the same time is not a reciprocal
arrangement said Mr.. Woods yester-
day vo.cing the general attitude. The
moving picture people derive the gain
and We bear the loss. The regulations
the movies capitalize are made In tho
legitimate theatre and these same repu-
tauons come back to plasue us from the
screen with 10 cent competitions.
Another point that can't be over
looked he continued. "is the inability
OF the actor To do both things. After a
DAY at the moving picture studio he is
PHYSICALLY and mentally unable TO do
Justice to his work in the theatre. He
cannot IN other words, serve two mas
itrs at the same time"
Among the other nag who share
TINS view and will act ON IL are H.. IL.
F~Tazee, Lee %Shubert, l.. +. Albee. Martin
be'k and in certain instances the
mares Frohman interests, as illustrated
by All Hayman in his ultlmatum 10
Billie Burke. Daniel Frohman, however,
Goes not entirely agree and klaw & Err
anger the largest producers In the
country, nave at present nothing to say
either for or against the movement.
Iae theatrical district was stirred yes
terda! as II has not been In a long
time BY the announcement that Billie
Burke woul henceforth be under tn.
management of her husband. Flo Zieg-
ied' IL, quitting the Frohman company
y accept a picture engagement and
fNereDy stlrriig up "A row among the
managers n picture men.
NJ Hayman, when asked the exact
status OF the points at issue between
h'msels and Miss Burke. said the Froh-
MAJ Company would stand on the state
men. he ISSUED Tuesday that If Miss
Burke signed "A motion picture contract
her engagement as II Frohman ia
would be at an end.
Nj Ziegfeid and Miss Burke both an
!9uEc-d yesterday that q definite de-
,s.uu 10 ave Miss Burke leave the
froAmdN Company had been arrived at
ana that a contract for pictures had
bcea drawn up. After a short engage
meat Miss Burke will go under the man
agpmeut OF her husband.
Charles -, Baumann, president OF the
New York Motion Picture Corporation.
which expects to sign Miss Burke. in-
,ma,ed that her contract would be
signed to-day. He said a definite an
uougcemeut would be made this morn
rg The delay in signing the contract.
u was learned, results from a new
proposition made to Miss Burke. The
picture company wishes to obtain her
services for a year instead OF five weeks
and is Offering a big cash bonus.
l. IS understood that Miss Burke con-
tends that her Frohman contract was
with Charles +. Frohran personally and
nat II was ~abrogated by his death.