The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-07
THEATRE MANAGERS
MOBILIZE FOR WAR
-
Leaders in Every Amusement
Branch Organize in Scrap
With Actors.
--
STRIKE BROUGHT NEARER
-
War to the End Now, Both
Sides Declare as Peace
Dove vanishes.
STRIKE BROUGHT NEARER


War TO the end was declared ysster-
day by both sides In the struggle be-
tween the actors ana theatrical mana
gers. Aftar Q week during which peace
seemed imminent end the managers
went 90 far ~ 10 recognise the Actors
Equity Association TO the extent Of hav-
Ing conferences with Il. the Producing
Managers. Protective Association sud-
denly exploded q bombsheIl yesterday
BY Organizing Itself into q far more pow
srfui body that included besides the
motion pictures and virtually every form
OF theatrical amusement.
This was the managers answer
20 the action OF the players In
sffiliating themselves with the Amer
loan Federation Of Labor three weeks
AGO. AZ the same time the new
managerial body, ~ yet unnamed, broke
OF relations with the Equity organisa-
tion and declared ite intention Of treat
ing with The actors individually. and
not through their union. This step will
be reported 20 the members OF the A.
Il. A. at a special meeting which will
be held this afternoon at $3.50 o'clock
at the Hotel Astor, instead OF yesterday.
dicted.
The new coalition OF managers was
effectsd ct q meeting of nearly all the
important producing managers In the
city. At which sam Harris, president OF
the Producing Managers Association,
headed the representative Of the legiti-
mate branch Others present were Will
lam A. Brady, prominent theatrical and
motion picture producer: sain Scribner.
representative buriesqus manager; 70. r
Aibse OF the Keith circuit, and the chief
figurs IN the National Vaudeville Art
lists; william Fox. film producer, and
Morris 0est.
ststcnasnt II Issued.
Following the meeting this statement
wes issued;
Pursuant 10 plans TO organise ma
tionsi organisation Of the theatrical,
vaudeville, motion picture ana burlesaue
interests, the following resolution was
passsd yesterday by the Producing Man
ayers Association. the Vaudeville Man
ayers Protective Association. The Ma
tional Association Of Motion Picture In
dustfy tProducers and Distributors
Brsnches) and the Columbia Amusement
and Burissqus Interests Of America:
"assoived, That e 10 the sense of this
meeting that this association Is prepared
70 affiiiats with q national organization
Of producing managers OK the legitimate
theatres, vaudeville theatres. burlesQue
thes tres and producers and distributors
Of motion pictures to the end that such
an association will aid IN protecting the
actors Of the stage and screen from in
equitable and unfair contracts and as
sure to the employers thereof eontinu-
ancs Of the privilege TO deal with them
individually a. artists.
Meetings to perfect the new organi-
sation were attended by Representatives
OF the leading amusement interests OF
ths country. presided over by William A.
Brady"
This means war II they want t." said
Mr.. Harris. We're not looking for q
nEht. but we mean to deal with each
actor individually and to use only the
contract by which we have been giving
the aotors square deal for the last two
Th,s stand took place couple Of hours
after Mr.. Harris had an apparently
apniabIs discussion with O COMMITTEES
| from the 4. 4 A. In his ofiioe. This
COMMITTEES was composed OF Bruce Nc
Rae, Frank Gilmore. John Cope and De
Wolf Hopper. The new alignment OF
\ forces against them caused surprise
| later in the offices of the A. q. A. and
Mr.. Gilmore, the executive secretary
Immediately issued this statement:
| The actors Of this country recently
| affiliated with the American Federation
| OF Labor 10 the end that their interna.
tional union should aid In protecting the
| actors Of the stage and screen from In
| equitable and unfair contracts and as
sure TO the actors the erivilese Of being
fairly dealt with and vealing fairly by
the managers. All branches Of the ac'
torn profession are organised into this
| association, which 10 called the Asso
ciatsd Actors and Artistss Of America
The Actors Equity Association 10
branch Of this union. and 10 out 70 set
| that its members arc given just treat
mont by the producing managers
I'VE have tried In every way possible
| 90 como to an aInicabie agreement WITH
/ them, and " this announcement meant
that We cannot DO this. then We hav,
been given full power by our membgri
| TO uss such means aS may seem Mt u
obtain what Ia Justly due us. 1t seems
that by O strange coincidence the actor
Of this country welded themselves int
q huge organisation and afiliated with
the A. y. OF L. but q few weeks before
the managers formed their union"
Actors to Fight Hack.
In reply TO Mr.. Harriss declaration
that his side was ready to give battl
ltr. Gilmore said that any attack OF
the Integrity Of y body would natural!
lead them to fight back. The A. q. A.
he pointed out. had been organised ant
empowered to deal with the manager
IN behalf OF the actors and was full:
representative.
'-rhe managers have themselve
banded together" he said. "in order L
deal with the actors individually"
While Mr.. Gilmore refused to com
NIT himself on the probable action o
the Equity members. since that was
matter for the judgment OF the Who'll,
body, the outlook In Broadway last nigh
was that the actors. In the mood OF de
nance which they evinced on Frida,
last. would feel they have no alternative
except to strike. The walkout woul,
have to be called BY the Associated 40
tors and Artistes Of America, through
which the A. u. A. Is affiliated viii
the A. y. Of L.. but since Francis Wilson
ard Mr.. Gilmore are leading exsou
tivss In both organizations. this 10