New-York tribune., 1919-08-17
'Chu Chin Chow, Royal
Vagal'ond' and Listen,
Lester Closed Along
With midnight Whirl'
Producers Refuse
To NIeet Equity
Musicians Also Quit;
Leader Relieves Plan
Will Win Theatre Strike

Three moro Now York tn .res and
one roof show were closed ast nigh
when stage hards ard mus. .c.ars struch
in sympathy WIFI :hc striking men
bers Of .he Acto~s' Equity sociation
The PLAYS stop0e1 werc "T-.s,en Les
ter at the Kniokerbocker; "a Roya.
vagahoni.' a. Coaar ani IiArr IS. ana
"Chu Chm Chow" at The Gentry Thea
TIE. TIE "Nidnish. Whill,' on the
Century roof. also was stepped because
Of &C; ~ s.-g .an Is ~Mc .0Vs Vsicians.
The leaders o. She stage hands and
musician unions indicated that they
had not called out their men in the
other theatres controlled by the Pro
duciae Managers Association because
they did no. believe It would be neces-
sary and that they believed the man
ayers fgcul consent to arbitrate with
the Actors Equity Association rather
than hafe every one Of their theatres
closed because OF the lack of either
actors. stage hands. musicians or mo-
t4Vli PtNlu e opera SI5-
Caarlcs Shay. the general president
Of the International Alliance of The
atrica Stage Employees and Moving
Picture Operators. and Thomas Gand-
ley. Of the American Federation of
Musicians, conferred with the members
of the Producing Managers Associa-
ton yesterday afternoon in the Offices
Of Cohan {. Harris.
Managers Refuse Flat -Footedly"
Afterward Mr.. Shay said the man
ayers had been asked to receive the
representatives of the Actors Equity
Association and they had refused
at-footedly."
Later Mr.. Lemaster said the stage
hands and musicians were striking
first because OF the refusal of the
managers to receive the representatives
Of the Actors Equity Association, which
holds charter from the American
Federation Of Labor, and, second, be-
cause Of The suits against the actors
patterned, according to the managers
statements, on the lines of the Dan
bury hatters' suits
Without stage hands they can't
even put on scab performers. and with
out moving picture operators they
cant open their theatres with the
Silent drama" declared Mr.. Lemaster.
Astor Theatre Rcopened
The Producing Managers Associa-
non, while losing three theatres last
night. managed to reopen the Astor.
which had been dark since the actors
went Oh strike August S. Fay Banter
was playing there in East Is West"
rractically all the company except
MISS Banter struck new cast re-
East Is West with Miss BANTER in
her original role. reopened before
packed house
= AT the Cohan & Harris theatre
Ieorge NJ Cohan himself has been
.taking the part of Marcel d barber, in
A Royal Nagabond," in place of a
striking actor. When the stage hands
shd musicians walked out last night
mr. Conan, partly made up, went up
STAIRS to his offices where the other
member Of the Producing Managers
ASSOCIATION were in conferences
AT the Playhouse William a. Brady.
also member of the Producing Man
ayers Association, Is taking the part
ol butler III at 9:45" The original
company struck on August g. Mr.
.n'ady rehearsed 4 new cas- in which
mere were few OF the original COM
pAny. At $50 reopened Friday night
a.u pIayed again last night Persons
sanding on the sidewalk before the
curtain went up hissed the people who
entered
Managers Reply to Shay
Last night the Producing Managers
HHsSociation mace public q letter ad-
dressed to President Shay of the stage
mSnas union giving their reasons for
seiusinS TO mold conference with
representatives. Of the Actors Equity
As,ss,ociauon. The letter follows:
IL is with much regret that the Pro-
ouclhg Managers Association, is unable
10, 20 sccept the suggestion of the thcatri-
sai mechanics union and the mu-
s'e'ahs union, Of conference
s; WIN the Actors Equity Asso-
tha.ion. tha You assure us in advance
sai. sna' me Actors Equity Association will
TO- ;sA OF us no stipulation to employ only
10 members. The events of the past
zen zen days have demonstrated that,
ddnougn the Actors Equity Association
@ SUes not now expressly demand the
employment of none but its members,
recognition of the association would
automatically create this condition in
The methods employed by this as
Continued ON puoe ten