The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-29
HIPPODROME is p.
CLOSED; STRIKE
VICTORY NO. %
412 Stage Hands Fail to Ap-
pear and Dillingham;
Loses Immunity.
COUNTRY NOW MENACED
Washington House Darkened
and A. F. of L. Demands a
State Hearing.
COUNTRY NOW MENACED

The striking players sprang one OF
their biggest surprises last night, when
they closed the Hippodrome, the stage
hands failing to appear before the
show and Mark Leuscher, the house
manager, deciding his talents didn't lie
In shifting scenery. This marks the
twenty-third house to give up the
struggle.
At the same time news came from
Washington that at the shubert-
Belasco Theatre the opening perform
ance OF John D. williams's production
Of up From Nowhere" by Harry
Leon Wilson and Booth Harrington,
had been attended by every one but
stage hands and musicians. Its closing
was generally regarded as the har-
binger of further spread of the dark
age in the theatre, which action the
American Federation of Labor is ex-
pected to carry to every town where
theatres and tired business men exist.
Happy Days" at the Hippodrome,
which opened last Saturday. had been
regarded as inviolable. since it was re-
ported from a reliable source that one
of the leaders of the Actors Equity As
sociation believed they would injure their
cause II they closed this big house, so
popular with New Workers and those
who make special trips from out of town
Just to see the diving maids and the
elephants Furthermore. though Charles
Dillingham; made the production and is
member OF the Producing Managers
Association. 1t had been represented that
other interests. the United states Realty
, Company. have the largest finger IN the
Hippodrome pie, and that in any event
the production, with two performances a
day, came within the unshorn fold OF
| vaudeville.
Last night, however, the stage en-
ployees failed to appear in time to dress
the stage, though no reason was given
TO the management for their sudden shy
| ness. The musicians were present. AS
patrons began to appear at the doors
which open at 80. they were told that
Happy Days would have to say good
night. When the production will come
ployees numbering 1882 are out of work
William A. Brady with AT 8 AS" at
the Playhouse is the only manager who
| is not a casualty. John Ferguson" at
the Fulton and the Greenwich Village
Follies' down town alone tighten the
theatrical gloom.
To Darken Entire Country.
! The hundreds of actors and actresses
AS we'll as mere mortals-who fiockec
| to the Hotel Astor last night to attenC
the gala ball of the Actors Equity As
sociation for the benefit of their strik,
exchequer, were thrilled not merely by
! the spectacle of great stars In the bal
room hobnobbing with schools of the les
ser theatrical fry as II after all artist,
are plain. democratic citizens. The,
were set afiutter by the prospect of new!
! from Washington, to be announced at {
mass meeting to-day, that the American
! Federation of Labor intended to tie VI
every theatre In the United States anC
possibly Canada. thus bringing the pres
ent stage thunder almost within th'
| scope of the League of Nations.
This move was foreshadowed yester
day by the departure for Washington o.
| Frank Gilmore. executive secretary o
the A. E. A: Charles c. Shay, president
| of the International Association OF Stag,
Employees and Motion Picture Machin,
| Operators, and Joseph n. Webber, presi
dent of the Federation OF Muslcians-al
| OF whom made their exit toward tn,
capital in the wake of Samuel Gompers
II was reported that they went to com
plete the theatrical lore of tho executiv,
council of the A +. L. respecting IN,
short circuiting OF 80 many theatrica
signs on Broadway.
4 ENnPctatiOn ruaa rife alopU tho pIoI,,
that as a result of this the stage handi
and musicians would spread the strlk,
| all over the country by walking out into
tho night and that the Canadian stag,
| hands, affiliated with the American
might follow suit voluntarily and extent
| tho sdusiching OF art to the Dominion
| where American productions frequent,
penetrate after having worked their will
with broadway Besides Chicago anC
Boston, which have already felt the the
atrical frost emanating from New York
Philadelphia, San Francisco and st
Louis might be affected. together will
other large centres where managers ar,
| grading the new season. 1t is estimated
that with such universal walkout owe,
thirty. road companies now tourin,
would be laid to rest
state Inquiry Demanded.
An earnest of how strongly labor Il
! backing the actors came from Syracus
when the State Federation OF Labor II
convention there unanimously adopted ,
resolution requesting the State Indus
trial Commission TO hold public hearing
In the immediate future to determine
what made thousands OF actors discar,
the chance of hearing themselves ap
plauded in the theatre. This resolution
| sA1 fWAr, Il ei.y.
special committee appointed to hold al
inquest on the strike. and which re
ported in effect that the managers ar
no had 40 aua could axpact