The sun., 1919-09-02
SHUBERT THEATRE
Is AGAIN CLOSED
Stage Hands and Musicians
Fail Despite Assurances Of
Non-Interference.
HIpPoDROME is REoPENED
Trouble Spreads to Films When
Bronx Opera House Is
Darkened by Union.

TnouBn HAPPY Lays III INC NV
,odrome reopened yesterday afternoon
without a hitch and once more Mark
Luescher's mimeograph started baling
out copy eight weeks in advance. the
Gallo English Opera Company, which
was to present 1.-THE Mftado" last night
in the Shubert Theatre, which was
closed once before during the actors
strike, failed to get past the barrier,
interposed by the stage hands and mu-
sicians who are now apparently the
real stage managers Of the strike. Like
Thurston, the magician, Fortune Gallo
manager of the company, had received
assurances from both sides that his
singers would be allowed to pursue the
even tenor of their way. But the stage
mechanics and instrumentalists were not
on hand.
At the same time John d. williams,
who had up From Nowhere" snatehed
from his grasp in Washington last
week by a walkout OF stage hands and
musicians, decided that discretion was
the better part of refunding money and
this new comedy by Harry Leon Wilson
and Booth Harrington. scheduled for a
premiere in the Comedy Theatre, failed
to come out of nowhere.
Similarly. Boston had It's fair name
the Actors Equity Association an
nounced that six productions went into
the silence there. A further spread of the
histrionic boycott over the country was
noticeable in the news from st. Louis
that the management of the Shubert-
Jefferson Theatre decided. in view of the
unsettled theatrical conditions, not to
make that house a target by opening it.
In Milwaukee II was reported that the
nj q
vehicle, "Tillie," faded into the great
beyond. This is being presented by
George c. Tyler, who has just put ION
the Hiring Line" on the firing line at
the Blackstone In Chicago with nom
union scenery shakers.
Movies Are Affected.
The movies were plunged into the
seething turmoil yesterday when the
Bronx Opera House at 14sth street and
Third avenue failed to have its first
coruscstions yesterday with "A Prince
There Was" a picture version of the
play of yesteTyear. The union control
ling both stage hands and motion pic
ture machine operations called out the
operators, and as this was the first
strike by those who control Mary Pick
ford's smile il sent cold shivers down
the back of the producers of current
fins at Broadway houses. 8. B. New
man, union official, explained that the
action was taken because the house,
which is owned by Cohan and Harris. is
unfair to union labor" but it was I'M
officially stated that the cinemas-at the
Lyric, the Forty-fourth, the Central and
the George NJ. Conan would be allowed
to trim the lamp of art in peace for the
present at least
Mr.. Gallo, head of the opera company
which was to start two weeks of light
opera at the Shubert last night, stated
that in view Of the fact that his lease
had been signed before the strike and
he is not a member of the Producing
Managers Association ne had received
permission from the Equity to turn on
the music; the musicians had appeared
on Friday, and the stage hands held a
dress rehearsal with the scenery on
Saturday. In view of this he had the
following posters exhibited:
This company is 100 per cent. Equity.
The A. E. A. and unions of stage hands
and musicians have given their consent
and approval and =, performances will
positively be given"
When the stage crews and the sr-
chestra failed to materialize at o'clock
last night the box office had to get
ready to refund $4,000, while the Equity
cast had to come out from behind their
costumes and war paint. jefferson De
Angelis who headed the cast, being
prominent on the Equity executive coun-
Gil was one of the first to strike three>
weeks ago, but he appeared unruffled
at having a strike called against himself
last night He gave vent to hose me-
morable words: well, l suppose it's
all for the best" Officials of the stage
hands and musicians union declined to
explain.
May Try to Reopen.
II is possible that the production may
make a second attempt to reopen the
Shubert soon. since the scenery requires
few stage hands, being of the old aniIine
aye type that can be folded up and laid
away In trunk. Where they will OBJ
tain non-union fddlers and sliphorn ar
lists is another problem that isn't so
easy. Managers who figure on reopen
ing shows soon are said already to be
lnquiTing after non-union Instrumental
lists, only to discover that almost all
musical genius is monopolized by the
American Federation of Labor.
It was reported yesterday that several
casts are being prepared from the ranks
OF the Actors Fidelity League, with a
view to giving Broadway an eyeopener
soon. In response to a call by Florenz
Hegfeld, Jr., II was stated that more
than 300 young women applied to rent
their beauty out to a new Ziegfeld mu-
seal revue.
These managerial preparations are not
daunting the Equity, for they announced
mat they have leased the Lenox Theatre
at lllth street and Lenox avenue for
another of their thanking movements on
the drama with a production starting
next Monday. The success of the Equity
pall at the Hotel Aston led to plans for
another dancing revel next Monday eve
ming at the st. Nicholas Rink, followed
oy third on Thursday, September II. !
al Audubon Hall. and regular dancing
soirees thereafter on Mondays and |
thursdays, leaving a little time to con- |