The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-11-08
THEATRES WAR
LOSSES T0CUT
PAYOF ACTORS
Big Broadway Managers
Discuss Remedy for Drop
in Their Receipts.
GOOD STARS 10 NOT DRAW
Box Office Intake in One Show
House Only $1,000 for Week,
Against Usual $1,000.

There Is a movement on foot among
the big managers along Broadway TO re-
duce the salaries OF their players or
make them In eome way share part OF
the burdens caused by the great reduce
fions IN the business Of the theatres
caused directly and indirectly by the
war. IN fact the movement reached
was considered at . special meeting OF
f,e United Managers Protective Asso-
citation
Whether general steps should be taken
by the managers toward cutting down
salaries was laid on the table after some
discussion. II Is expected that action
will be taken by the managers at the
next meeting nine days hence No den-
mite form for tho reduction has yet been
nxed on-whether II will be a Nat de-
crease or an arrangement by (which
many Of the actors will perform on a
profit sharing basis.
Tho fact that the theatrical business
has been falling of OF late has become
increasingly evident. particularly with
the hurried departure OF 80 many plays
which have shut ,fp In q few nights
when in an ordinary season they would
have clune to Broadway several weeks
In the hope Of coaxins the public into
the belief that they were successful. A
few weeks ago the advance sale Of one
actor who has heretofore been able
to draw good audiences even with a
mediocre vehicle was 81 At s o'clock on
the hrst night
Advance Sales vsry SNAIL.
Recently an actress Of very high
standing had no box ONCE sale whatever
by o'cloa, OF one day on which che
was TO appear. Another actress Of .
dashIng ana vivacious sort who usually
has . large popular folio wing played
to business Of $40 on one night last
week. A distinguished player with years
Of profitable work to his credit brought
in S56 as his draft on the public not %
long ago
theatre which ordinarily would be
good for An average Of $1,000 to $4,000
easily during an ordinary season took
III $1,000 week before last. One Of the
leading cut rate ticket dealers was said
to have lost $4,000 in q week. and as
one manager pointed out. a loss by this
man was surely an indication OF q
marked depression in tho theatrical
market.
OF course there are a limited number
Of successes in town which are playing
to standing room business nightly They
have attained prosperity that Is un-
questioned. But as a prominent MEM
Der OF the theatrical profession said :
I'm many other companies there have
been some CHASTITY nights lately"
Most Causes Traced to War.
Phe causes ascribed are various, bu.
generally trAceable to the war. Some
managers point out that business before
election Is generally iessened. but this
does not account for the marked decline
which began many weeks before No
vember 8. War time economy has az
fected the theatregoing public. The
playhouses also experienced a decided
Tightening of business during the last
sale Of Liberty bonds. as many persons
have bought them on the instalment
plan and have not felt they could afford
theatre ticket until they were all
paid for.
| Another angle that has proven vexa-
tious to some Of tho managers in the 81
| houses has been the war tax. This
matter also was discussed At the man.
ayers. meeting yesterday. and II IL ex-
| pected they will have a conference on
| the subject with a delegation Of Con-
, Rrsssmen at their next meeting. One
! of the chief causes OF concern for then,
lies In the cut rate agencies. Accordins
to the law tho agencies must pay to the
Government 10 per cent Of the price
they pay the theatres for the tickets.
Managers have declared that there Il
nothing to prevent the dealer from ex.
acting from his patron double the
| amount OF tax paid on the origina
price. Thus a seat sold to a deaie,
for 81 would require . tax Of 10 cent,
from him. but he might charge a theatre
eoer -. plus 20 cents which he might
represent as the necessary Government