Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-08
lift UNDERSTUD|ES
TO FAME BY WALKOUT
New York Theatres, Closed last
Night, Will Reopen With
New stars"
MANAGERS FIGHT STRIKERS
Ry The Associated Press

New York, Aug. s.--Understudies.
who hardly hoped to appear IN mrs.
night performances or even to be thrust
into the spotlight of new play during
its summer debut, suddenly became the
objects of much attention from Broad
| way theatre managers today. In sew
eral of the thirteen theatres where the
! stages we're darkened last night by the
strike called by the Actors Equity AS
sociation. under stars will appear with
hastily arranged casts for tonight's S per-
formances. IL the plans of the man
ayers mature.
The strike is confined SO far to per-
formers Of the legitimate stage in this
city alone.
In the thirteen houses where the
strike was called more than 300 per
formers were prevented from appearing
This affected such we'll known players
as Frank Bacon. Fay Banter. Hol-
brook Blinn. Olive Wyndham. Harry
Kelly. Frank Fay, Frederick santley.
Newbod Robinson, Tcssa Kosta and
Ralph Morgan. Not all these players
struck Of themselves, but were kept
from performing by the closing of their
theatres last night.
| More than $4,000 persons, including
many who had braved the Brooklyn
street car strike In order to reach the
theatres. were disappointed. In most
cases the suspension Of performances
was announced from the stage after
managers had waited from fifteen to
thirty minutes to see whether the ac-
tors would put in an appearance.
The following theatres were af-
| fected
Thirteen Theatres Closed
Broadhurst. showing "The Crimson
Alibi": Forty fourth Street, showing
"The Gavetics of 1o10": Booth: THE
Better OLE; Shubert. ooh. w hat
Girl: Gnicty. "Lishtnin' ": Astor.
East is West; Princess: "Nightie
Night; Republic, "a Voice IN the
DARK" Es,rn h1,ic rhc cnp1erss rhe Eye obno ,on
Harris. "a Royal Vagabond" Play
house. AT o 40" and Knickerbocker,
'T.istcn. Lester"
The strike order followed close on the
heels Of rejection by the Producing
Managers Protective Association. of ar
ultimatum demanding action by p. m
on demands which had been submitted
several DAYS ago.
These demands included recognition
Of the Actors Equity Association
which recently was affiliated with thu
American Federation of Labor. extrt
compensation for performances in ex
cess Of eight week and continuation
of the standard "equity' form of con
tract in use since 1917.
Managers to Retaliate
Officials of the Managers Associa
ton have announced that they arr
ready for fight" and that steps hav'
been taken for an organization of th'
Legitimate" vaudeville, burlesQue ant
moving picture interests to combat th
efforts for unioni2atioD of stage ant
screen artists.
Efforts were made at several OF tn
theatres offering musical attractions t
! continue the performances with choru
girls and performers Of lesser parts
but large sections of the audience
= started toward the box Office window
{ to obtain refunds and this plan wa
t called off.
, The rising curtain at the Cohan &
. Harris Theatre disclosed the chorus ii
street costumes, and Sam Forrest. stag
director. addressed the audience, in
forming them of the strike and assert
I ing it was working great injustice t.
z the chorus girls.
t "You have no grievance agains
4 Cohan & Harris. have you?' lie asked
4 turning toward the girls, who replie
:, in chorus:
mo sir"
This ended the evenings performanc
and the audience. after collecting re
i funds at the box Office. joined tn
t Broadway throng of those who wer
$ "all dressed up and no place to 60