The Washington times., 1919-03-29
Artists of Vaudeville
Open Magnificent
New York Club

Roland Robbins. manager of B. r.
Keith's Theater, entertained a dele
cation of Washington newspapermen
on trip to New York for the opening
of the new clubhouse of the National
Vaudeville Artists last Thursday
night.
The opening was primarily in honor
of the press, more than one hundred
dramatic editors, representing the
principal Eastern cities. being guests
of the club. New York new wspapermen
joined with y. V. a. members as a
committee OF entertainment
The theatrical clubs were repre-
sented by committees OF members:
Abbott George VI. Cohan, of the
Friars; Shepherd r. II. Burnside, of
the Lambs: PTompter Edwards Davis,
of the Greenroom Club; President
John Drew. of the Players; President
Rachel Crothers. OF the stage WON
ems war relief. all headed delegations
from their respective clubs.
During the evening hundreds Z
artists. managers, composers, drama =
lists and newspapermen visited the
new club.
Edwards Davis, prompter OF the
Greenroom Club. delivered an elo-
quent Address, in which he dwelt upon
the new spirit Of brotherhood and CO.
operation among artists so wonder
fully expressed by the new clubhouse.
He said that vaudeville had been e
constructed and was the pioneer IN
showing the way to a better and
fairer relation between artists and
managers. He explained the aims Of
the y. V. A. and declared that II bore
out President Wilson's declaration in
his Manchester speech that friendship
must have a machinery, the means
of constant friendly intercourse, the
means for common watchfulness over
common interests.
The n. V. A. represents more than
twelve thousand artists with a direct
and powerful voice in the conduct Of
vaudeville and the right of collective
bargaining The N v. A. is based
upon the belief that the artist who
invests his life in the theater is en-
TITLED to a voice in the conduct Of
the terms and conditions of his en-
ployment. The unrest that once ex-
listed in vaudeville was simply one
symptom of a condition that we now
see is world wide. Z. F. AIbee, fore
seeing that the old rules and ways
were no longer adequate, took coun-
sci with the artists and the result was
the organization of the n. A. and
the Vaudeville Managers Protective
Association, which work in harmony
and have corrected all that needed
correction and bound one another to
fair and just dealing. Mr. AIbee ac-
complished a great pioneering work
in the economic life Of the theater
when he worked out his reconstruc-
tion of vaudeville. The speaker re-
marked that il was Significant Of the
trend of the times when that great
man OF the theater, George NJ. Cohan,
cave his portrait with a highly COM
mandatory inscription to Mr.. Albee
for the sole picture 4 in the beautiful
lounge. and thereby expressed his
sympathy with the n. v. A and it's
achievement in bringing artists and
managers together in a close and
fraternal bond.
Following the reception and sup
Ier at the clubhouse. the newspaper
guests were given a theater party by
the y. V. a. at the Ziegfeld Midnight
FTolic" All the dramatic editors
from out Of town lived at the club
house during their stay in New York.
The club Touse. incidentally, is
without doubt the most artistic
structure of its sort ever attempted.
The decorations are all the sole work
OF Mr.. AIbee. and he has proven that
his is a master hand.
1t is situated at 229 West Forty
sixth street, the site of the old White
Rats CluE.
When they returned to the city
today, the Washington newspaper
AMIIcEMENTc