New-York tribune., 1919-08-12
Managers Sue
Actors
For$s500,00O
Principle in Danbury Hat
ters' Case Is Invoked in
Damage Suits Filed on
Contracts of Strikers

Damage suits aggregating 100000
were filed yesterday afternoon in the
United States district court against
nearly 800 actors who are prominent
members and officials of the Actors
Equity Association. The suits we're
brought by the Winter Garden Com
pany (The Shuberts) which, until the
actors strike ended the performances,
was presenting Schubert Gaieties OF
1919" and Monte Christie. Jr"
The complaint which charges the
actors with conspiracy, follows the
general lines of the famous Danbury
hatters case, in which the defendants,
members of labor union, were sued
successfully for $4,000, many of the
workmen losing their homes by attach
ments. Representatives of the mana
gers said last night an effort would be
made to attach the bank accounts and
other property of every actor named in
the suit.
Ziegfeld Obtains Injunction
Simultaneously with the filing of
the Shubert suit Florenz Ziegfeld, jr
obtained from Supreme Court Justice
Richard P. Lydon temporary injunc-
tion restraining the Actors Equity
Association from interfering with the
presentation of the "Ziegfeld Follies'
at the Amsterdam Theatre. Then Mr.
Ziegfeld informed the Actors Equity
Association that he had become a
member OF the Producing Managers
Association.
Representatives of the Actors Equity
Association who were waiting in his
office for definite statement from
him as to his affiliation with the man
ayers then were served with copies OF
the injunction. At the same time an
injunction was served on half a dozen
members Of the cast of the "Follies,
who as members Of the Actors Equity
Association were expected to go on
strike, restraining them from break
ing contracts with the Ziegfeld Fol
lies, Inc.
While word of these legal steps was
being circulated along Broadway sew
eral hundred chorus girls and men
crowded into Martera's restaurant, in
100 West Forty-fifth Street, were cheer
ing an announcement that chorus girls
had walked out at the Winter Garden
and that the "Follies" chorus had voted
to strike.
This news made easier the work of
Ed Wynn and Barney Bernard, who
were persuading the girls to join the
| chorus auxiliary of the Actors Equity
Association and strike.
Rich Men to Be Interested
The chorus girls from plump little
"pOnieS" to tall and stately "shOv
girls" cheered and stamped their fee,
when Wynn, with the visor of his
cap resting on one ear and emphasiz
ing his points with a cigar, told then
that he and other members of the Ac
tors Equity Association were going tc
see Mortimer Schiff to-day to seel
! financial backing for certain pro
ject" This is understood to be {
scheme whereby the actors will gair
possession of theatres and amusement
halls and "provide the public with the
amusement the managers are now in
capable of furnishing"
Barney Bernard told the chorus peo
pie Vincent Astor was a friend of the
stage people and had "a few dollars
4 left" Barney indicated that when MIR
Astor was seen to-day he would be in
vitcd to aid the same project.
Actors Stage Demonstration
AS darkness fell on Broadway ant
Forty second Street last night hun
dreds of actors appeared wearing il
their hats placards informing the worlt
that members of the theatrical pro
fession were striking. In single fill,
about 100 of these began to Glc bac!
and sorth in front of the New Am
sterdam Theatre, where theatre-goer
were beginning to seek their seats 70
the evening performance of the Follies
A policeman informed the leader o
the pickets that an injunction had beer
issued forbidding the picketing of tn,
Follies. He said that if they continued
to pickt. the theatre they would b.
in contempt of court. The actor picket.
then were told by their leaders t
carry on their efforts IN front of tn
cast as a result of the strike.
Others crossed the street and begal
Conan Harris theatre, where "a Roya
Vagabond" is playing with crippled
Continued ON aert un0e