The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-13
Kicking Ladies Join Actors in
Stage WaIkOut.
''Little Girl on the End" Now
a Labor Worker.
STRIKE SPREADS TO CHICAGO
Two Theaters Already Dark in
Windy City.
Ethel Barrymore Active in the
Strike-COhan VIII Fight.

New York. Aug. 13.-The chorus
girls OF New York. whom popular
fancy had always designated as the
improvident butterflies Of the theatre
cal world. today had become a factor
in organized labor.
They had formed the Chorus Equity
association as a subsidiary of the
Actors Equity association to syn
chronize their efforts in aiding the
latter's strike. At a mass meeting late
yesterday, attended by 700 chorus girls
and men, Marie Dressler was elected
president Most of the 700 already
had struck in sympathy with the
actors.
Ethel Barrymore Joins.
Among the other Developments
were:
Ethel Barrymore became an active
dressed the chorus girls Ineeting
pleading with them to stick"
David Warfield issued a statement
telling why he had aligned himself
with the new actors organization
being formed by f. II. Sothern to
oppose the equity.
George NJ. Cohan, re5iEning from
the Friars and Lambs clubs because
of alleged insults. pledged his last dol
lar to defeat the strike.
Lillian Russell declared her ALE
glance to the equity.
The Producing Managers associa-
tion announced they Intended to OBJ
tain injunctions in Chicago, Boston
and Philadelphia to prevent actors
and members of the chorus in their
shows in those cities from joining the
strike.
Spreads to Chicago.
Chicago, Aug. 13.--With two the
aters already darkened by the actors
strike which reached Chicago last
night. and other closings in prospect
for tonight. producer-manager were
10 meet today to determine what steps
TO take against officials of the Actors
Equity association and individual ac-
tors.
The strike. closing the cort and
Cohau's grand opera houses, was
called here after Francis Wilson,
president OF the Equity association.
arrived from New York and held a
midnight meeting of Equity members
at the Illinois Athletic association. e.
Shows playing at the two darkened
houses were "Cappy KICKS" at the
Cort and "a Prince There Was" at
the Grand Grant Michel, star IN
the Grands show, and William Cour-
tenay and Tom Wise of "Cappy
Kicks" attended the Wilson gathering
and made speeches in favor Of the
strike.
Ia sale Played safe.
The La Sale theater manager as
sured its patrons a show by putting
its orchestra into the pit by $3.50
claiming the Equity agreement pro-
hibits a strike after the orchestra has
been seated. Boyle Woolfolk's Honey
moon Town" is playing at the La
Sale.
J. j. Rosenthal Of the Wood theater
outwitted the strikers by locking the
stage doors and preventing pickets
from informing actors playing Cup In
Mabers Room" about the proposed
strike.
Other shows are allowed to pro-
coed. equity members said. because
their producers are not members OF
the Producing Managers association
against whom the actors are directinH
their walkout. In this class fell
Scandal" playing at the Garrick
Angel Face" at the Colonial and
Fiske O'Hsra at the Olympic.
First intimation that the strike wal
on reached ears OF the management
of the two darkened playhouses about
$3.50 p. m, when committees informed
managers the shows were off