Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-10-22
WITH THE ACTORS ON THE
JOB.
By FREDERIC j. HASKIN.
eciaI Correspondence of The Argus.

New York, Oct 20.-"I'd like to see that
show, but 4 won't pay any such price!"
This is the remark that you hear every
where along Broadway these days. 1t rises
in an almost continuous refratn from the pass
ing multitude, as it hesitates before the thea
tres gazing Iengingly at the posters. But it
is a complaint and not an u1timatum. Few
really mean it, as the line before the box office
shows.
The theatre-going public has never been
more THEATRE going than at present. Never
has there been a more prosperous theatrical
season. Never have there been more appre-
ciative audiences. Never have there been so
many ticket brokers. Deprived OF theatrical
entertainment during an entire month because
of the actors strike, people seem TO be doing
all they can to make up for lost time IL Is
not unusual now for house to have most OF
its seats bought out week in advance by no.
tells and theatre ticket agencies. The other
night four theatres within radius of few
blocks had nothing left but standing room
when the box Offices opened in the evening
trip to the nearby ticket agencies showed
them to be equally barren Of tickets for that
evening. few were to be obtained for the
less popular hits. which are soon TO leave New
York, and these were gratefully accepted at
q so cent premium by the people who 1ostled
and crowded each other in the doorway.
This sudden tremendous popularity of the
theatre prevails in nearly all of our large cities
One woman ticket agent in Chicago Is making
a
80 cent premium basis.
1t is a we'll known fact. moreover, dis
cussed with some anxiety by the theatre man
ayers, that some Of the New York ticket bro
kers are getting away with huge commissions
every time the opportunity presents itself.
There is a law which provides that ticket
scalpers prohibited from charging more
than so cents in excess of the box of1ce price
of a ticket and notice to this effect is printed
on the back of every ticket but this law ap-
pears to be broken regularly.
During General Pershing's visit and while
the world series was being played, the city
was unusually crowded and the demand for
theatre tickets was so much larger than the
supply that So was not at all high price to
pay for seat in the balcony.
In view of these things, it scarcely seems
possible that last summer much fear was be-
ing expressed concerning the fate Of the the
atre. Then all the managers were complain
ing how the movies were running their bust
ness. and if it wasn't the movies 1t was pro-
hibition. More things were found which were
hurting the theatre than were ever known to
hurt any other one institution. Then the strilr"
came along and actually did hurt it, and
has been getting along famously ever since
Upon only one phase of the strike the
still sensitive, and that is the money
they lost through it. The profits they are
making do not begin to cover those lost
during the month of August they assert.
The actors are also cheerful about the re-
suits of the strike. They, too, are firmly con
WINGED that they won it-that they got what
they wanted. According to them, the chief is
sue involved was the recognition of the Actors
i've of the actors by the Producing Managers
association. This issue the actors won. Every
day or the two associations meet amicahlv
and settle various complicated contract cases
handed down from the strike days.
At first, this was the only issue. The Ac-
tors Equity association wanted the producing
to recognize the Equity contract
calling for extra pay for extra performances,
given on Sundays and holidays. The managers
refused on the grounds that the Equity repre-
sented only few of the actors and actresses.
The Equity promptly showed its importance
oy calling out its members from theatres which
lid not have Equity contracts. strike was
)n. Much to its own surprise, the Equity, in.
stead of losing its popularity by this action. |
vas Immediately flooded with applications for
membership. In the first week of the strike, !
hundreds Of new members deserted the thea |
res for its cause, and then the chorus STAN
Deded.
The A. f. A. had not been concerned with |
he problems of the chorus. It had few chorus /.
members. But It courageously determined to
make the chorus troubles its own, now that /
general rebellion had been precipitated. A /
salary of S35 a week and a clause f,
requiring managers to provide costumes and
especially shoes and stockings for the chorus. /
vas then attached to the Equity's terms of
settlement.
These were all the actors demands. For
hese things they affiliated with the American |
OF Labor. Recognition for the
lnion and clothes for the chorus caused Marie !
)ressler to join the Women's Trade Union
2ague, and made George Cohan retire from
he theatrical business with the remark that |
le would run an elevator before he employed |
lnion actors In his productions. To which, |
'ou will remember. one of the Equity members
10 promptly replied that if he ran an |
elevator he would have to have a card from
lnion. Admirers of Mr.. Cohan, however, will |
De delighted to know that he has not been re-
uced to the indignity of such a position
the strike ended before he lost
IL OF his money.