New-York tribune., 1919-08-29
Strike Ends
Hippodrone's
"Happy Days.
Continued from page 1

evidence of the temper Of our com
pany is displayed by the fact that every
member, from the stars to the last
member of the chorus, reported and
was eager to give performance.
I'm turning 1,132 working people
who are happy and contented into the
street the cause which Is represented
in this I'M justice will lnot be benefited,
but it is likely to prove an over
whelming boomerang to those who are
responsible for It,"
Nearly $t,0O0,O0O was invested in
the production "Happy Days." it was
said.
Affiliated With White Rats
Mr.. Stewart, adding later to his pro-
testatons of astonishment, declared
that the Actors Equity Association had
no jurisdiction over Hippodrome per-
formers. Having two shows a day, he
explained, the Hippodrome was classed
as vaudeville, and it's union players
were affiliated with the White Rats. n
coordinate branch of the American
Federation of Labor organization of
actors.
ut would have been a bit ungrateful
had the Actors Equity Association
called the strike" said Mr.. Stewart, "as
we received check for $1,000 to-day
from Mr.. Burnside, the author of the
play"
Harry Mountford, head of the White
Kat branch of the actors union, like
wise firmly disowned the Hippodrome
strike. 1t took place without the sane
ton or knowledge of the vaudeville
organization, he declared. A confer
ence has been called for to-day of both
Mr.. Stewart's and Mr. Mountford's or
CARNATIONS with the stage hands
union to ascertain who started the
strike and why.
While almost every one was disclaiu-
ing responsibility for the closing Of
the Hlppodrome and the stage hands
whose mysterious strike is thought
really to have started the trouble.
MARIE Dressler was blithely announcing
at the Lexington Theatre that she had
gone IL with her little Chorus Girls
Union.
"The Hip has walked out.n cried
Miss Dressler from the centre of the
stage and the theatre burst into an
pause. This is my answer" she CON
tinued, "to George M. Cohan and his
Fidelity League!"
Later at the Equity ball at the
Astor, Miss Dressler was even more
emphatic in pressing her claims to the
strike. 1t was true the stage hands
were ready to walk out, she said, but
they could have done nothing without
the chorus girls.
"And l." said Miss Dresslcr, "am
president of the chorus girls!"
This is war;" she continued. "When
our boys went overseas to fight Ger
mans they went to fight all Germans.
not Just few. called the strike at
the Hippodrome.. No, not in person,
but some of my men were there.
only expected few Of the girls to
so out, but 1870 of them leaped FORTH"
here are A12 stage hands on the
Hlppodrome payroll. According to Mr..
Luescher the stage hands did not in
form the house MANAGEMENT that =
strike had been called, but simply
tailed to punch the clock" at 1890 y. m.
Across the street from the Hippo-
drome, in Unity Hall, the Actors
Equity Association established re-
station for the enrolment Of
such of the Happy Days" perforaers
as cared to join, and numbers OF them
promptly flocked in to pay their initia-
tlon fee and dues.
Among these, according to an an-
nounccment by officials OF the Actors
Equity Association, was Belle Story
y no mas peen the pflina donna in H;p-
podrome productions since 1915. There
were other strike recruits from amonr
the elghty-two principals. 2O4 chorus
girls, 1870 ballet people, ninety four
specially artists and clowns. sjxty-nine
divers and swimmers, twelve horseback
riders and forty-four persons who ey-
hlbit, train, feed and groom the Hin
podrome animals.
About the time the curtain normallv
rises at the Hippodrome 1870 Of the
22o4 chorus girls lined up in Fortv-
fourth Street outside the theatre
many Of them still wearing their
'makc-up." Then singing Hail Hail
the Gangs All Here" they marched
TWO abreast to the Lexington Theatre
wherc the Equity benefit performance
is being given. At $3.50 they were led
on The stage by Marie Dressler. presi-
dent Of the Chorus Equity Associa ton.
and introduced to the cheering audi
cnce as her new girls
1t had been announced by both eoujtv
official and by the managers of the
tn at its performances
would not be interfered with because
1t was two day" house, and there