Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-02
Managers
Worry Over
r. r. Strike
Many Leave Atlantic City
to Bring Companies
Together

ATLANTIC CITY, Sept. "A big black
cloud appeared on the theatrical horizon
this week. and It betokened such storm
that many managers and legitimate actors
who had been prolonging their vacations
here made mad rush for New York. The
threatened tie-up of railroads throughout
the country was a serious matter for pro-
fession which gains It's profits through con-
atant travelling, and there was no time for
ioafinR when such a condition popped up
when least expected. Annulment of passen-
ger service throughout the United states
xvould mean the loss of thousands of dol
lars to companies making one-night stands,
and IL the strike should extend over week
/ n will rtI n hundreds of managers who have
4 20 move their shows at the expiration of
weeks engagement. Even the rays OF nope
/ thrown out by prospects of compromise
could not prevent managers from hurrying
10 theatrical centers to provide against pos
1 slble contingencies. Actors and actresses
with good engagements secured for the
] coming season, but not called for rehearsals
IA until the middle of September, also got the
restless fever and journeyed to New York
i for fear that when the call came they would
not be able to travel
Vaudeville people resting here were the
only ones not alarmed by strike rumors ana
orders The vaudeville performer, having
but little baggage to carry, and having lots
of time to make his weekend jump in, al
ways has the automobile to fall back on,
and therefore that class of people, who
seldom worry over anything, worried less
over the strike. In fact, quite number
} of vaudeville people now do all their travel
ing by automobiles Out of their earnings
they buy car, learn to run II, and then
make all their journeys by this method
of conveyance. As their engagements usu-
ally end on Saturday night and they do
not have to report In the next town Tor
rehearsal until Monday morning, with
Jumps averaging 100 miles, they have ample
time to make the trip in q leisurely manner.
They usually purchase serviceable cars,
with ample facilities for carrying luggage,
and the people who use scenery In their
specialties have 1t made of the noncrackable
painted kind, which can be folded into small
space and carried on outriggers attached to
the machine.
James and Bonnie Thornton, who have
been pillars in the vaudeville business since
the days when IL was called variety, came
down here a week ago for n rest of 10 days
They liked the place and said so, and
real estate agent showed them cottage
which just Suited them. The result was
that Jim drew the money out of bank
got the deeds for the house and hereafter
will call this his home He and Bonnie
went to New York to open on the Loew
time. but after they are through with a
vaudeville tour they will come here and
remain during the time when work does
not call them away. George Monroe, while
here this summer, commissioned his brother
John to purchase him home this winter.
and he will reside here every summer.
Walter Kelly will erect a home here this
winter, and several managers are planning
to build residences here one manager hav-
ing arranged to commute here every day
on the late night train
Australia now has an annual "Follies,"
Just the same as the United States, and a
Philadelphia product is at the head of IL
went to that country as an actor and de-
veloped into the biggest manager there,
controlling as many theaters as klaw &
Erlanger and the Shuberts, puts on one of
these frivolous entertainments every year
to play all of his theaters and The project
has been a success. Sophye Bernard and
Lou Anger, also of the Quaker City, who
are here resting from a strenuous vaude-
Vile tour, are exhibiting offers from Ward
for leading parts in the 1917 production,
to be produced on or about Christmas,
and are seriously thinking of making the
trip
Circuses have been treadng the thorny
paths this summer. and a big tented or
ganization, which makes its headquarters in
Trenton, N. j., have given up the ghost
and shipped to winter quarters in the mid
die of the circus season. Another show,
hailing from n small town in Pennsyl-
vania, has also shut up shop. Lack of
help caused by the demand for muniton
workers. tough rainy spring weather, the
outburst of infantile paralysis and now
the keeping away of crowds through the
rumors of a railroad strike, which may
come, even If postponed before the harvest
season is over, has put such a crimp in
| the bank roll of all circus owners that
BOB WATT,