The sun., 1919-08-21
18HOUSESDARK,
3 ROOFS CLOSED
INACTORS' FIGHT
Winter Garden Crippled by
WalkOut of Stage Men
and Musicians.
PEACE EFFORTS FAIL
Finale Announced by Play
wrights in Move to
End Strike.
EQUITY OFFERS A PLEDGE
Managers, However, Refuse to
PEACE EFFORTS FAIL
EQUITY OFFERS A PLEDGE
Managers, However, Refuse to
Read It-Gompers to
Take O Hand.

After a day in which the actors
strike seemed on the verge Of settle
ment the Informal committee which
assembled with the intent of mediat-
ing announced yesterday through its
temporary chairman, Eugene Walter,
that efforts at staging a grand peace
tableau with the players and the man
ayers had definitely failed.
AS concrete evidence that the strike
was still on the stage hands and
musicians walked out at the Winter
Garden last night. thereby giving Lee
and ]. ]. Shubert, the producers, a
chance to have a novel sensation as
the first managers to shift scenery and
play with the electric lights. This
marked the eighteenth regular produc-
ton, together with three roof shows,
that has heard the tocsin ring during
the strike. The show, however, did
not strike its colors, for with one set
the performers went on with the en-
tire performance and the audience
continued smoking uninterruptedly
This was due to the energy OF the
Shuberts, for as soon as the scene shift
ers and harmony hunters failed to ap-
pear at 7:45 the managers set to work
directing and participating in the heav-
ing of canvas. assisted by Stanley Sharp,
the house manager; Zeke Colvin. stage
manager, and about IFS members of the
chorus. who looked upon the undertake
ing as a lark in the cause OF art.
See n Composite show.
When the single set had been rigged
up for the evening Romaine Simmons
announced for the management in front
Of the curtain that the performance
would positively go on, and a house that
was three-quarters full remained to a
man to watch the vaudevillians and
members of Monte Cristo. Jr," and the
"Shubert Gaieties of 1919" put on a
composite performance which one on
locker dubbed the Passing Show OF
1890" ]. J. Shubert handled the cleo
trio lights himself. and seemed to re-
gard II as an amusing variation of the
grind of being a manager.
George Il. Coaaa was az first an
nounced as planning to Cohanize~ the
scenery for revival of The Royal
Vagabond," but later denied this.
Hope for subsding the theatrical
waters developed yesterday afternoon
when it became known that Winchell
Smith of Smith & Golden, without pre-
Stunning to speak for his fellow MEM
bers of the Producing Managers Asso-
ciation. voiced the opinion before the
playwrights at the Hotel Astor that
they would be willing to come to terms
with the Actors Equity Association If
the latter would commit themselves In
writing to a pledge not to require
CLOSED shop" which has been hauntS
ing the plsywrights own little Hague
tribunal.
Equity Offers a Pledge.
According to a statement issued later
by Paul Turner. counsel for the Equity,
Frank Gilmore. executive secretary, did
write out this pledge, guaranteeing also
to bond the faithful performance of
| contract containing the pledge II the
managers would bond themselves equally.
But Mr.. Turner said that when a COM
mitteer of dramatists consisting of Eu-
gene Buck, Owen Davis and Guy Bolton
bore this pledge to the managers the lat
ter treated them very coldly."
The committee said afterward that
the managers received them cordially as
individuals, but administered the cold
treatment to the letter containing the
pledge by not opening II. After a long
secret session Mr.. Walter appeared out
side the playwrights sanctum and ut
tered the fateful words. I'VE have
failed"
Mr. Walter said 1t seemed TO MIN. as
a layman, a writ of mandamus could
be obtained compelling the managers
either to continue productions or to
stand and deliver the dramatists works.
It is possible tomorrow may be a
pivotal day in the strike, for. in addi-
| ton to the advent OF Samuel Gompers,
who is highly regarded by both sides,
Gov Smith said before his departure
for Albany yesterday that he expected
to have another conference with the
actors and managers on Friday.
He will view the actors benefit at
the Lexington Theatre tonight The
beneft managers announced, In addition
| to a big benefit ball a week from to-
| day, they had started a war on ticket
/ speculators outside the Lexington, hav-
| ing already caught one bird of prey.
1