The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-08-13
ACTORS
STRIKE
SPREADS
Two Chicago Theatres Closed,
While Others Expect to
be Dark To-
night.
PRESIDENT Is IN TOWN
Head Of Actors Equity Association,
Francis Wilson, Comes from
East to Guide
Strikers.
PRESIDENT IS IN TOWN

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service.
CHICAGO, Aug. l3.-Witn two
theatres already darkened by the
actors strike which reached Chicago
last night, and other closings In pros,
pect for tonight, producer-managers
were to meet today to determine what
steps to take against officials of the
Actors Equity association and indi
vidual actors.
The strike. closing the Cort and Co
hans Grand opera houses was called
here after Francis Wilson, president
of the Equity association arrived from
New York and held a midnight meet.
ing of the equity members at the ILL.
nois Athletic association. Shows
playing at the two darkened houses
were 'Cappy Kicks" at the Cort and
"A Prince There Was" at the Grand.
Grant Mitchell, star in the latter show
and VIM. Courtenay and Tom Wise
of "Cappy Ricks' attended the Will
son gathering and made speeches in
favor of the strike.
| The LaSalle theatre manager assur-
ed it's patrons show by putting it's
orchestra into the pit by $50, claim
ing the equity agreement prohibits a
strike after the orchestra had been
seated Boyle Woolfolk's Honey
moon Town is playing at the LaSalle.
| j. j. Rosenthal Of the Woods
theatre, outwitted the strikers by
locking the stage doors and prevent
! ing pickets from informing actors
playing up in Mabels Room" about
the proposed strike.
| Other shows were allowed to pro-
ceed, equity members said, because
| their producers are not members OF
the Producing Managers association,
against whom the actors are direct,
ing the walkout. In this class fell
Scandal" playing at the Garrick;
"Angel Face" at the Colonial and
"Fiske OHara" at the Olympic. First
| intimation that the strike was on,
reached the ears of the management
of the two darkened play houses about
1890 D. M, when committees inform
ed managers the shows were off.
Chorus Girls Union.
NEW YORK, Aug. 13.-The chorus
girls of New York, whom popular
fancy had always designated as the
| improvident butterflies of the the
! atrical world, today had become a
factor in organized labor.
They had formed the Chorus Equity
association as a subsidiary Of the
Actors Rqu,ty association to SYM
chronize their efforts In aiding the
latter's strike. At mass meeting
| late yesterday, attended by 100 cho-
rus girls and men, Marie Dressler
| was elected president. Most OF the
! TOO already had struck in sympathy
with the actors.
Among the other Developments
were:
Ethel Barrymore became an active
worker for the strikers. She adj
dressed the chorus girls meeting
pleading with them to "stick."
David Warfield issued a statement
telling why he had aligned himself
with the new actors organization
being formed by e. H Sothern to
oppose the Equity.
George M Cohan, resigning from
the Friars' club and Lambs club be
cause of alleged insults, pledged his
last dollar to defeat the strike.
Lillian Russell declared her allegi
ance to the Equity.
The Producing Managers associa
ton announced they intended to OBJ
tain injunctions in Chicago, Boston
and Philadelphia to prevent actors
and members of the chorus in their
shows in those cities from joining
| the strike.