New-York tribune., 1919-07-30
Richie Ling Is Lone Member
of ssChu Chin Chow" Cast
to Obey Equity Associa-
ton and Leave Show Flat
Star, Angry, Quits Order
Cest. in Fatherly Attitude,
Appeals to Company for
Fairness and Wins Day

One lone actor obeyed the dictum Of
the Actors Equity Association yester
day and walked out from rehearsal oil
the "Chu Chin Chow" company at the
Century Theatre. He was Richie Ling
to have the distinction of being the
first actor on the Legitimate" stage
ever to go on strike.
The Equity's action in ordering 6
strike of the "Chu Chin Chow" per
formers was its first definite move il,
the controversy with the Producing
Managers Association over the form,
Of contracts between players and man
ayers since the manager organiza-
ton last week refused to name COM
mittee to confer with delegates of the
Equity.
Every manager in the city. as we'll
as Comstock & Gest, producers of
"Chu Chin Chow" hailed the outcome
OF the strike effort with JOY. Officials
Of the Equity were visibiy disappointed
and admitted to one another the failure
Of their members to strike was q dis
tinct setback. They declared, however,
they had other cards they would play
at the proper tine.
Rest Ignore Order
Twelve or fourteen Of the principals
in the company are members of our
association Frank Gilmore, executive
secretary of the Equity, said. "They
all agreed to resign unless the manager
gave them Equity contracts. With the
exception of Mr.. Ling, they simply
didn't do it."
Marjorie Wood, leading woman of
"Chu Chin Chow" after Morris Gest
had made speech to the members of
the company, sat right down and wrote
out her resignation from the Equity.
II am an artist, not a member of a
labor union," the mssive read.
Mr.: Gilmore vouchsafed that Miss
Wood was not one of those who had
agreed to strike.
Contradicting the statement of Mr..
Gilmore that the Equity had ordered
only twelve or fourteen" bers Of
the cast to walk out, William A. Page,
publicity man for Comstock e. Gest. as
serted the Equity had notified the man
ager the entire cast, including the
chorus girls, and numbering 226 per
sons, would strike at 2 p. m. yesterday.
In any event that was the notion Mr..
Gest had when he walked upon the
Century stage and confronted his play
ers.
Gest Wins Day
Mr. Gest assumed his most fatherly
attitude, fairly beaming kindness A
chorus girl Of the pony type gierled.
Two stage mechanics loungcd in the
wings. watching the developments with
interest
I'll lay you five to two, BILL that
the strike fivs," said one.
Bill didn't take the bet
Mr.. Gest cleared his throat.
"Ccmstock & Gest," he began, have
always taken care of you when you
were sick, and paid your fall salaries.
haven't they?
You have been paid extra for add-
tiona matinees and, in fact. nave had
the formal signing of the contract"
MIR. Gest took a fling at Francis Will
son and Frank Gilmore, respectively
president and executive secretary OF
the Equity, and Harry Mountford, said
to be one of its organizers He said
the firm would never sign contracts
offered by these men. and suggested
that such actors as John Drew, Henry
Miller or George NJ. Cohan should
head the organization if it really ex-
pected consideration.
Not One Complains
IF there la any one here who failed
on any occasion to get a square deal
from Comstock & Gest, hold up your
hand" the manager directed.
Not hand was held up
Very well then" concluded Mr.. Cost.
Tets start rehearsine r anv Of Won
think the Actors Equity is going TO
pay your hotel bills this winter why.
OF course, you can walk right out the
door. Those who stay will get a sea
sons work with 'Chu Chin Cnow.' Does
any one wish TO go?'
Apparently, no one did Mr.. Ling
was the only absentee, he having sent
note to the effect that he had
struck
The rehearsal proceeded.
les bum union remarked Bill.
the stagchand, to his pal.
Mean&whlle the council Of tho
actors Equity was i'm deep and cx-
go ~ '"i''ASsHf AA us nc110uartcrS,
~ ~ broadway, awaiting reports from
the Century front.
nary Mountford was present AZ tho
council meeting. Equity officials claim
ne has no connection with their or
1a"i~aNoh' while the managers charge
ne ~ one OF Its moving spirits. The
managers declare that the surrender Of
cnu T",ee raI isat Charter 10 the Amerj-
Snance BY the X +. Of 7, ~ vs..
chartsr to the Associated Actor, '-m arJ
Ar'isls o. America. VII ch, IN ,.f,.r 90
nas chartered the Equity, the Whitc
''a's and other theatlical nerforrncrs, 'e,.'
organizations, IA mere camouNagc.
Only Ten" Says Wilson
Francis Wilson came out Of n.
meeting long enough TO saw that III,
statement Of Comstock &. Gest WA,
the Lquity had tried 70 call out +he
entire "Chu Chin Chow" cast, was ar
absolute falschood."
There were rot over ten" Mr. Wi,
son asserted. Mr.. Gilmore. as ba,
beer noted, placed the number y,
twelve or fourteen
sem Z. Harris, president Of the Pro
dnc.ns Managers association, let /
out yesterday tnat Mr. Wilson's dau0h.
ter, Adelaide Wilson, is 10 act the com.
ing season under the auspices of Coher
& Harris.
Miss Wilson hasn't an Equity con.
tract, either" Mr. Harris grinned.
MIR. Harris said he and other mana.
gers were suffering no Inconvenience
through the Equity's Instruction TIA,