The sun., 1919-08-09
STRIKE KEEPS 9
THEATRES DARK
Managers Succeed in Reopen
ing Three and Adding
One Premiere.
SUE QUITTING ACTORS
Action Also Ordered Against
Equity Association-Pick-
cts Get Busy.
SUE QUITTING ACTORS

Both actors and managers are mar
shalling their forces for the third act
Of the palpitating Broadway strike
drama AS the second act surprise to
bring nearer the climax the Producing
Managers Association yesterday in
structed its counsel, Bainbridge Colby,
to make a counter attack on the ac-
tors for striking Thursday night by
bringing suit against the Actors
Equity Association and all players
who walked out and left their con-
tracts to shift for themselves.
The busy actors for their part tried
to call out the performers in Monte
Cristo. Jr.." at the Winter Garden.
They succeeded in making all but three
Of the principals desert. but enough
other players remained 80 that a hast
lily revised cast could stiil carry on
the torch for civilization The man.
ayers were able to REOPEN three pro-
ductions suspended among the twelve
on Thursday. so that the score at the
end of the evening, with a new show.
"Chu Chin Chow" added to the twen-
ty-three already current, stood:
Managers, fifteen; actors, nine.
Six shows Limp Some.
The actors In their campaign to make
the managers pay them for Sunday per-
formances and holiday matinees caused
six attractions that ran last night to
limp somewhat through having casts
that were improvised hastily, Other
features of day in which actors and
managers put on more real drama on
the stage than many OF them can ever
boast of having presented behind the
footlights we're:
The picketing OF Forty-second street
and several Of the theatres by the actors,
featuring Ed Wynn in short steps and
short white pants.
The determination of the managers
to carry on" and preparations by them
to reopen all their shows as soon as
possible with casts recruited from the
four corners OF Longacre Square.
The inauguration by the actors Of a
finance committee. with the possibility
OF an assessment Of all members taking
some of the charm out of the strike.
The terrific slump at the theatre ticket
agencies. 30 that their business wasted
away rs per cent.
Various gatherings Of actors on the
streets one OF which resulted in the ar
rest of eight performers. thus making
the strike a regulation labor AFFAIR.
The houses and shows which closed
he mia hAfn mi VAr
life by the managers yesterday were:
Forty-fourth Street. schubert Gaie-
ties Of 1919; Selwyn. The Challenge"
and Cohan & Harris. The Royal
Vagabond" In addition to these the fol-
lowing were operating with changed
casts Booth, The Better OLE; Winter
Garden. Monte Cristo. Jr.." and New
Amsterdam, "Ziegfeld Foilies" All the
other houses maintained the status quo
Of tho night before.
Statement by Producers.
Following a meeting at the Hotel As
tor at 1 o'clock yesterday. attended by
all the producers-numbering about
forty in all-and an overflow meeting at
the office Of their president. Sam Harris,
the following statement was issued:
AT the meeting OF the Producing
Managers Association held yesterday
afternoon in the Astor Hotel 1t was
agreed to continue performances In all
the theatres wherever possible and to
fll all vacancies In the companies with
actors engaged TO replace those who
walked out on Thursday evening.
"a resolution was uTsanimously adopt
ed in which 1t was clearly stated that
the Producing Managers Association
goes on record as not being in any sense
opposed to organized labor.
Colby to Bring Suits.
cambridge Colby. counsel for the
Producing Managers Association. was
instructed to bring suit against the
Actors Equity Association and all actors
who are under contract to the managers
and who went out on strike. thereby dis
regarding their written agreement As
contained in those contracts.
"A point was made that almost in
every instance where an actor refused
to play the engagement had been made
with him under an Actors Equity con-
tract signed by him and the manager
prior to the time that the present dim
! culties arose. The managers aver that
such action on the part OF the actors
| who had already signed contracts clearly
indicates that a state OF irresponsibility
exists at the present time which would
(Confinacd on Last PdoeD