The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1918-01-14
"MOV|E" THEATRES
JOIN FIGHT AGAINST
COAL SHUTDOWN
Edict Would Paralyze Stage
Industry and Save Little
Fuel, II is Argued.

The state and Federal Fuel Ad-
ministrators will be asked to-day 10
appoint competent investigators 10
verify figures prepared by represen-
tatives Of lls legitimate. vaudeville
and moving picture theatres In New
York. showing why theatres should
not be closed. william Travers Jerome
has been engaged by the theatrical men
10 represent them.
Mr.. Jerome made the following
statement to-day:
'The National Agociation of Mo-
ton Pictures Industries. with 1000
theatres and 10000 Employees to-day
toined with the 1is New York City
theatres In n petition to Alfred II.
wiggin. State Fuel Administrator.
asking him 70 appoint q stan Of en-
| Plneers and accountants at the ex-
pcnse OF themselves to examine their
books and investigate their fuel needs
! and report 70 Mr.. Virgin on the facts
concerning tho necessity OF restrict
ing their business.
'T delivered this petition 20 Wiggin
In person. A closing order such rs
no and his associates are reported 20
be considering would AFFECT tho NOV
ing picture industry all over the
country and throw an army OF men
and women out OF employment"
Reprosen tatives OF those l1s the
atros held meeting in the offices
of Marcus Loow. who made the on
NJ unoemont, saying all the forty or
fifty first class Broadway theatres
were represented.
Engineers who had made n thor
ough inspection for the managers
reported that II tho theatres were
closed three nights a week only 16F
tons day. worth about N.7oo. could
be saved in those iis theatres.
whereas tho Governments loss OF
revenue from the tax on theatre
tickets would be s1i 800 In ono day.
Mr.. Loew also said that $500 actors
and 1900 other workers In those
theatres would bo thrown out OF ON
ployment or put on ham time and
half salaries.
kilograms have been sent 20 Sec
rotary McAdoo and TO forty-seven
Representatives in Congress. calling
attention to these figures.
Mr.. Jeromo's petition to the
Fuel Administrator will include a
statement by Moses. Popo q Mes
ser, heating and likhting engineers.
OF No. acc Fifth Avenue. This
firm said that even II tho thea
tres were closed three days a week
80 per cent OF the coal now consumed
would have to DO burned on those
three days to prevent the freezing
OF tho sprinkler systems.
The engineers said that closing tho
theatres would actually cause more
coal to bo burned in New York. be-
cause 'unquestionably tho amount
OF electricity and fuel used In pro-
viding heat and light for crowds Of
people assembled In halls will be
only a fraction OF the amount they
would use II they remained at home,
burning their individual lights and
using their own heating apparatus"
The presence in town OF Joseph p.
Tumulty. SECRETARY 20 President VII
son, started the report to-day that he
was hero 20 intervene In behalf OF the
theatre managers in the coal situation.
When seen at the knIckerbocker Ho-
tel Mr.. Tumulty said:
II am not In New York TO partici-
pate I'm any way in the coal situation.
At the request of a delegation OF thea
. tire managers ! did consent to arrange
, for them TO meet with Fuel Admins
traitor Garfield. Beyond that ! am not
taking any part In the present situa-
ton. This Is purely personal visit"
The arguments presented 70 Secre-
tnry Tunulty we're that no coal would
, be saved, all the theatrical industries
would be ruined, man gers bank
rupted, actors, stage hands and other
en- ployees thrown out OF work, the
big Government Iovonue from axes
on theatre tickets reduced by half
and tho public thrown into gloom, in
stead OF provided with tho cheer that
might onset unrest.
I'VE could not save any coal even
by closing three days a week." said
Mr.. Shubort we would have Ia
keep the heat turned on those three
days 10 keep the pipes from trcezlnp
and TO keep the offices warm. don't
believe they could be foolish enough
10 issue such an order, but II they dc
~ will mean the closing OF tho the
atres entirely instead Of thrco days q
week, and II will wipe out all the
thea trical Industries. II would throw
a million people out OF work"
Every New York manager is linet
up against tho hroe- day a. weel
plan.