New-York tribune., 1919-08-31
Hippodrone
Gives In to
Actors Union
Equity Contracts and $35 a
Week for Chorus Are AS
sured After Big Playhouse
IsClosedby Players Strike
Surrender Is Complete
Marie Dressler Claims Credit
forFirst BigVictory When
Manager Offers Contracts

Manager Offers Contracts
The striking actors won their first
real victory yesterday, when the man.
agement of the Hippodrome, after
treating with representatives of the
Actors Equity Association and the
Chorus Equity Association, agreed to
give their principals Equity contracts
and granted the chorus girls a mini
mum wage of $35 a week. So Happy
Days" will reopen at the Hippodrome
for the matinee tomorrow, after miss
ing five performances.
The agreement was signed by Mark
Luescher, business manager of the
Hippodrome; Frank Gilmore, execu-
tive secretary Of the Actors Equity
Association, and Marie Dressler, pres
ident of the Chorus Equity Associa-
ton. Miss Drcsslcr insists that credit
for calling the Hippodrome strike be-
longs to her and it is not chivalry
that prompts the officials of the Ac-
tors Equity Association to agree with
| her.
Credit to Miss Dressler
All of them were frankly disturbed
Thursday night when they learned
Miss Dresslcr had ordered the chorus
girls to strike and the stage hands
had struck in sympathy.
The least they expected was a juris-
dictionA dispute with the White Rats,
for it had been agreed that the Hippo
drome, because it was two a-day''
show, should be classcd as vaudeville
Accordingly they had assured R. II.
Burnside, of the Hippodrome, and
who is shepherd of the Lambs
that Happy Days" would not be in
terfercd with. One Equity official said
Thursday: of Marie pulled strike
at the Hippodrome she also pulled a
boner"
In upon the Actors Fidelity League,
asScmbled in the Hotel Biltmore last
night, there burst breathless mes
Cohan, president, the following report ::
"The Equity is forming raiding
party he gasped They're coming
over here with bells and horns and
everything, and bust up the meeting
Meeting Is Adjourned
Instantly Mr. Cohan impaired this
intelligence to the other members of
the league.
"We'll beat 'cm to it," he cried
"Lct's adjourn,"
And adjourn they did
Search for the raiding party prov
ing fruitless, reporters went to the
headquarters of the Equity and asked
about it. owe never even heard of it >
members of the Equity said. "some
one has been stringlng Mr. Cohan"
Before the meeting of the Fidelity
ended so abruptly, the 100000 check
given the organization by Mr.. Cohar
was presented to Daniel Frohman for
the Actors Fund of America. William
Collier made the presentation. Arthur
Hopkins also addressed the meeting.
In opening the meeting Mr.. Cohar
announced that the Producing Mana
gers Association intended to reoper
their theatres within ten days.
Allan Dinehart, secretary of the
league, read the new form Of con
tract. One clause of this provided
that actors in case of dispute may
select an association as arbitrator, bu
only one association may represent one
disputant Some of those prescn
asked if the Equity association coult
be named, but Dinchart said he was
not in a position to say.
Yesterday, Frank. Gilmore issued thi
statements:
, "The Hippodrome strike is one of tn,
first big Victories for the Equity. II
view of the fact that Charles b. Dill
llngham, former manager of the Hip
podrome and a member of the Produc
{ ing Managers Association, was forcet
to resign and that the Hippodrom
chorus girls were conceded a minimum
wage of $S5 week, it is regarded a
, great victory"
!. = String to Resignation?
+ The decision Of Mr.. Dillingham; t.
sever his connection as manager o
the Hippodromc- Rialto GOSSIP
! adds that it was $4,000 jobs no
, believed to be irrevocable. 1t is ex
/ pected he will be rcappointed as sool
n as the strike is settled.
a Mark Luescher, speaking for tn
h Hippodrome. said
Although the chorus girls now get
standardized wage of $35 week som
of them will lose money. The old wag
was $25 a week and girls who di
special stunts were paid from SIS t
7 $50 week extra"
Big Victory, Says Marie
l Marie presslcr also issued a state
ment. Here it is:
"Thc management of the Hippodrom
is the first theatrical management i
, this country to recognize tho Actor:
" Equity Association as part Of tn
= American Federation of Labor. 1t is
/ marvellous victory for US. l want t
= compliment the management on tn
! wonderfully generous way in whic
! they met our terms.
;, "The Managers Association were al
~ tacking us through the Fidelity Leagu
y and struck back. | alone am respor
a sible for the Hppodrome strike
III could not let the members of my asss
-. citation play in a theatre displaying tn
5. bill board, MIR. Dillingham; presents
u for this is war and Mr.. Dillingham;
~ my enemy.
AZ There is no other theatre like th
81 Hippodrome in this country. and fe
y. y. that reason the terms of settlement al
IL unique. The Equity contract calls fe
"a "a eight performances a week, at mii
III lmum salary in New York of $50. a
u other performances to be paid for at
IA IA pro rata rate. Because the Hipp,
.u .u drome always gives twelve perform
~ ances week, this would bring tt
~ weekly minimum salary of the chorl
w to $45. l realized that the managemer
~ -, could not afford that, and, as the the,
~ ~ tire is unique, | compromised on weel
" ly salary of $35, the Equity minmu
. chorus salary for the road. The Hi,
podrome will open Monday as an Equii
theatre"
:, The man most pleased by the settl
- ment of the StriEo at tho H;ppoJ ro ~