New-York tribune., 1919-08-15
Stage Hands
To Join Strike
lie Actors Wish
Continued from page 1
first play to open in New York since
the calling of the strike.
Many Notables Arc There

+
Hotel Astor meeting, and seated back of
him were De Wolf Hopper, Ethel Barry
more, Lionel Barrymore, Ed Wynn, Ma
rio Dressler, the president of the new
chorus girls union; Frank Bacon, and
others equally we'll known. From the
boxes overhead leaned the blond Dun
can sisters and hundreds of other stage
people. On. the floor of the ballroom
were fifteen hundred others.
De Wolf Hopper addressing the
gathering, said:
"When Francis Wilson and | were
boys together, fourteen or fifteen
years ago, an actors position was very
different from what it is too day. | can
recall when his social status was at a
pretty low ebb. But since then they
have advanced in the opinions of every
one-that is, of every one but the man
ayers.
Calls Managers "kaisers"
"The managers have enjoyed a
dominance for years that was like that
of the Kaisers. Like the Kaiser, they
have lived in an atmosphere of syco-
phancy.
II have here statement from them
that is typical of the managers feel
ing toward the actors. (Mr. Hopper
then read the statement issued
half of the Producing Managers AS
sociation.) When I see the author of
that | am going to box his ears. The
only thing he can beat me in is golf
Golly! He is corking golf player
"The managers are complaining that
the actors will forfeit their personality
in an organization like the Actors
Equity Association. But don't let any
thing they tell you, any of their threats,
disturb you. An author whose name
shant mention here, but an author
who is privileged to be in the coun-
ellis of the managers, told Riley Hatch
and Jim Corbett how the managers
feel.
Says Shubert Is Worried
"He told them: why. they're on
ing up and down in his Office on red
hot irons. He kept telling the others:
'"We must do something. Pm told by
my hackers to go ahead and forfeit
my $40 900 and open up my theatres" "
This statement by Mr.. Hopper
brought the gathering to its f~et,
cheering and yelling.
Lieutenant Colonel Earl Booth, who
obtained the highest rank in the
A. f. f. of any actor, was the next
speaker. He told of the signing Of a
contract by the Actors Equity Asso-
citation with George D. Grundy, owner
series of benefit performances, and
announced that beginning Monday night
the striking actors would provide "the
amusement that the managers are
unable to furnish the public
eve will have bin that will run for
a week-eight performances-and at
the end of that week we will change the
bill. We will change it every week.
Our contract for the theatre runs an
til October. If we need it after tnat
| guess we can get it. Mr.. GrunGy
signed the contract with us in the face
of the objections and obstacles of the
Producing Managers Association.
Sure Enough "AlI Star"
"Now then, our bill will be an all
star affair. These artists will appear:
Ethel Barrymore
Lieutenant Colonel Booth couldn't
read any more names for several min
utes. Miss Barrymore blushed and rose
to acknowledge applause such as is
seldom given in theatre even to one
of her attainments.
Then. punctuated by similar ova-
tlons, the names were read of Lillian
Russell, Marie Dressler, Pearl White,
Lionel Barrymore, De Wolf Hopper,
Eddie Cantor, Frank Tinney, Ivy Saw
yer, Barney Bernard, James j. Corbett
and many others.
The top price for seats at these per-
formances, it was announced, will be
50. Moreover, spectators will not be
given a single seat, and if they do OBJ
tain any the actors will strive to see
that they are not accepted at the door.
Tell your friends not to buy tickets
from spectators. Get them at the box
office. Every dime of the money will
go to the Equity strike fund.-" said
Colonel Booth.
Farnum Provides Glare
William Farnum, with tangled hair
and rosy checks, expressed some doubt
as to his qualifications as an actor,
since he has been in the movies for a
long, long time. "But Pm with Won.
hook, line and sinker!' he shouted, and
glared like he generally does in the
pictures when he throws the villain
down the shaft of the coal mine.
Francis Wilson then called for
speech from an actor, of whom he said
that success came to him late in life.
put just when that success came he
did not hesitate to jeopardize it TO
come to the aid of his fellows Of the
stage"
Then Frank Bacon, the white haired
star and author of "Lightnin'," was
dragged out of an obscure corner and
boosted to the platform, while everv-
body cheered.
Bacon began to talk, and it was the
voice of "Lightnin' Bill Jones'"
"Stick!" Advised Bacon
m an actor, author and MANAGER
ne SAID, "but when this strike heean
my wife said to me: Well stick to onr
own people. | can still cook on ona-
burner coal oil stove, if necessary and
II we do go down we'll go down ~
good company SO we're stickino, 'i'
m liable to be sold down the r;vor
lor talking like this, but if | am Racon
VIII bring higher price than eyor
bless you!" 1od
captain Everitt Butterfeld tbon
pialhed the plans for big Fifth AVA
nue. NUE. parade of striking actors for nevt
Mohday. The companies on strike viii
parade as units, except that service
men VIII march together. Rohart a.,
me'e heane is the chairman If ~
parade committee. % 'He
Joseph Barondess, of the Hebron,
actors union, told the CATHERINE tbat
mere were three theatres on the 80
olde waiting for them if the Ievin@,
'on avenue Theatre did not suffico
Alter that Frank Gilmore. evnc'+;ro
secretary of the Equity Assoc;a+;orne
read letters and teleerams from var; vevii'
Gus stage people, includine ono frn,,
llehry Hull, IN which he said, II am