The sun., 1919-08-09

f -
endanser any future contracts made
with the Actors Equity Association. It
was pointed out further that II the pe-
verse Of the proposition had occurred.
that is to say, N the managers had re-
fused to allow the actors to appear with
whom they had already signed contracts,
the managers would be held legally re-
sponsible for the breaking Of such con-
tracts and would be forced to pay.
The association unanimously de-
cided to guarantee future engagements
to all actors who remain loyal to their
employers during the present difficulty.
In this decision they were offered the
support Of the vaudeville managers"
The strike reached more of the status
OF a regular workmen's movement yes
terday with the arrest of eight labor
Ing artists. They were picked UP on
charges of disorderiy conduct at Broad
way and Forty-seventh street at $50
A. M. yesterday by q policeman who
evidently didn't think that hour was a
proper time for thespians to be abroad,
though to the actors Il seemed their
normal exercise period.
Eight Actors Locked Up.
After being locked up they were taken
TO the West III court. where they gave
tfeir names as Frank Famini of the
Stanley Hotel, George Greene OF 13s
West Forty-sixth street, Daniel wormer
OF 647 West 1920 street, Robert O'Brien
OF 800 West Fiftieth street, william De-
we're of 126 West Forty-sixth street,
Raymond Chiterm of 1856 West Fifty
seventh street, Sol Ginsberg of the
Stanley Hotel, Roy A. Walker Of 257
West ~Eighty-fifth street and Nat CHASER
OF 1870 Steffins avenue. The Bronx-the
presence Of the latter making 1t evident
that the theatrical war has been carried
out OF the metropolis proper
They told Magistrate rockingham
that they hadn't the least idea why the
law should have been set upon them.
They said that they had Just stopped
n moment to see what the cause Of the
crowd at Forty-seventh street. The
Magistrate discharged them, holding
that eve in the strictest sense the pro
fession of acting can hardly be construed
as disorderly conduct
An even greater assemblage OF play
ers in one street was that later in the
day OF the sidewalk outside a restau-
rant at 1853 West Forty-ifth street, but
no arrests were made here.
The meeting inside was addressed by
Francis Wilson. president OF the Equity
Frank Gilmore, executive secretary
Grant Stewart, recording n corre-
spending secretary. and other members
OF the executive u who constitute
] the tactical stan at the strikers F.. II. Q.
II was understood that those attend
ing the meeting inside. who never ex-
ceeded fifty at any one time, were
being instructed as TO the hour and
the means when they. too. should Join
the strikers "out there" and hit the
| ma M gera halOU the r1nnav halt
From time to time a resounding cheer
broke from the inside meetings upon the
throng outside. whereupon an exalted
| look would pass over the faces OF those
who weren't busy explaining just how
they had deied the managers. But most
of the sidewalk troupers, who seemed
largely to be the lesser gentry of the
stage. had little time to spare from their
W "reminiscences, except to note wher
when Sophie Tucker and her protege
| Gilda Gray, of the Schubert Gaieties Of
1919" swan into view. or to clap vocif-
| erously when Frank Bacon of Light.
min" Mount the steps for the restau-
4, rant meeting. and So. you might say
passed into history.
Evening Crowd Is 1000.
In the evening those doing the mob
scene outside had swelled to over 1000,
but a much more refined mob they were
than any they ever enacted on the stage.
perhaps because of the extra policemen
thrown about Broadway. They engulfed
traffic in Forty-ffth street. but they did
nothing more except to cheer when Ber-
tom Churchill and Frank Fay told them
a large number of Winter Garden hos,
had walked out and to scream with de-
light when the four Dooleys-William,
Gordon. Johnny and Ray-mounted the
steps of the In order to throw
their full weight OF about 400 pounds on
the side OF the actors.
But though the actors gained the
membership of the Dooleys during the
day they lost that of E.. II. Sothern
who issued a statement asst night ex
planning that after trying to mediate
the differences he felt compelled to re-
sign from the Actors Equity Associ.
alton because he was mot In accord
with their procedure" He said that
he had signed contracts with t~wenty-ont
heatres for his coming Shakespeariar
season and couldn't break them.
1t was reported to the Equity head
quarters that thirty new productions
that were already in the throes of re-
hearsals preparatory to an early open
ing had been forced to put up the shut
| ktFS, Out tuls was Bchciahy iOchc uPSA
as a typically sensational story eman'
ating from one of the greatest news
papers In the theatrical zone
1t became known. for instance. that tn,
forthcoming Winter Garden show. The
Passing Show of 1919" went along with
rehearsals, no strike germ being able tS
penetrate the stronghold Of extrava'
ganEa. Al Jolson also conducted q
warming up for a show at the Casino
without any serious consequences.
The strike. however. did cause a pro
jected production Of First to Last" tn,
new comedy by Samuel Shipman an
Percival Wilde. to commit hari-kari
| William Harris. Jr.. the producer. hat
ordered a dress rehearsal at the Astol
Theatre for yesterday afternoon prepare
tory to the first show of strength at STAN
ford on Monday night. "he stage wal
set, but at the appointed time only ont
/ EVITETyTENA MT HETn