New-York tribune., 1919-08-08

night, when the results of the strike
had been made known:
"The strike has exceeded our expec-
tations. Several theatres we did not
believe We could reach have been
closed. Musical shows are running be-
cause we made no effort to call out
actors in those productions. 1t is not
the aim of the association to turn
Broadway dark. Those who struck to-
night are out of pocket because of
their action, but they have taken this
step for principle and for the future
betterment of the condition of all
actors"
At the Forty-fourth Street Theatre
announcement was made from the stage
that most of the principals had desert
ed, but that the chorus would attempt
to carry the show forward. A large
proportion of the audience imm ediately
sought the box Office. An attempt 20
give a performance failed.
At the Cohan & Harris the audience
assembled to witness "The Royal Vag-
abond" was turned away 1t waited
until 9 p. M, when the curtain rose.
disclosing the chorus in street dress.
Sam Forrest. general stage director,
informed the audience of what had oc-
Cured and spoke of the hardship that
the actors had placed upon the chorus
girls by the strike.
Cohan e. Harris, have you, girls?" he
asked the chorus, which replied in
chorus:
"No, sir!"
That concluded the evenings per-
formance and money was refunded at
the box Office. At the Princess IT,. atre,
where "Nighte Night" was scheduled
for it's premier, the theatre remained
dark.
Conference Is Rejected
The Actors Equity Association de-
cided to strike at a meeting held yes
terday afternoon in the Hotel Astor.
Into the assemblage that was clamor-
ing for walk-out. came f. H. Sothern,
who, on obtaining the floor, announced
that he had just come from a confer
ence with the managers and wished to
suggest that committee be appointed
to confer with the Producing Manag-
ers' Association.
Mr.. Sothern got no chance to tell
why he thought it advisable to hold
another conference, for boots and
Kisses drowned his voice. Francis
Wilson, the chairman at length
calmed the gathering. and it was de-
cided to send Mr.. Sothern as an ennis
sary back to the managers with the
message that a conference was useless
unless the managers were prepared to
recognize the Actors Equity .Associa-
tion and it's right to arbtrate.
He was also instructed to tell them
q Il
the actors would call strike at o. m.
Resolutions were adopted by the
meeting which set forth that the man
ayers mo longer recognize the Actors
Equity Association. and will not deal
with it and will not arbitrate the diff
ferences between the Producing Man
ayers Association and the Actors
Equity Association"
Broken Pledges Charged
The resolutions also charged that
the managers association "had broken
and repudiated their existing con-
tracts" They continued:
Resolved, That we agree each with
the other that until the Actors Equity
Association is recognized as the rep
resentatve of the actors, and until
satisfactory !tl arrangements are made
with it governing the work and con-
dition of the actors, we will not per-
form any service for any manager
who is a member of the Producing
Managers Association or vino refuses
to recognize our association, either in
plays now being presented or plays
which are now in rehearsal or plays
which may hereafter be rehearsed."
Thus instructed, Mr. Sornern set out
to find the managers and acquaint
them with the ultimatum. At this time
the Producing Managers Association
was meeting in the Cohan & Harris of