The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-20
GOVERNOR ACTS TO
END ACTORS STRIKE
Smith Meets Representatives
of Both Sides at Biltmore
Conference.
PLAYwRIGHTs IN SESSION
la La Lucille Company Quits,
Movie Workers Hold Or
ganizatiOn Meeting.

Two meetings which may result in the
mediation OF the actors strike, which
has dlmmed the lights that made Broad
way famous. were held yesterday. The
first was a peace session of playwrights
seeking q. way out of the labyrinth that
Is hinderng their royalties. The sec
ond was a conference at which Cow
ernor Smith offered his good offices to
both sides to see II he couldn't get the
actors to come in out of the wet
The Governor met representatives Of
both sides at the Hotel Biltmore last
night just about the time that one more
production, La, La. Lucille" at Henry
Miller's Theare. was sen mo exile frotm
Broadway by the Actors Equity Asso-
citation. Those who consulted with the
Governor on behalf of the Producing
Managers Association were George NJ.
Conan, Sam Harris and Arthur Hopkins.
For the actors and allied interests in
another room appeared Frank Gilmore,
executive secretary of the Equiy ::
Charles C. Shay. president OF the stage
hands union; James p. Holland and
smith Meets Both Sides.
The get together was arranged by
Mrs Henry Moskowitz. 1t became known
that each side has had previous con-
ferences with Gov Smith over the the
atrical deadlock, but this was the first
occasie non which they had met him
simultaneously. All refused to say any
thing concerning the confab. but it was
learned that another meeting had been
planned at which the Governor would
redouble his efforts to apply the same
soothing influence he used so success
fully with the car strike.
Whe nthe Actors Equity Association
sent the call of duty to LA La Luz
ellie" at Henry Miller's Theatre the en-
tire cast caught the cue and made their
exit into the street. This makes sew
enteen regular productions, the closing
OF which with the show at the Century.
Grove and the double entertainment atop
the New Amsterdam Theatre, has deci-
mated Broadways thinning ranks.
Burlesque and vaudeville houses -four
ished with impunity last night, but the
finger of fate was pointed at the motion
picture business here by a meeting. prin-
cipally attended by fl mextras. which
was held to start organizing the movie
actors and actresses to the point where
they would realize they had rights.
Mr.. Cohan made official denial OF the
report that he would crank up The
Royal Vagabond" again by shifting
scenery himself. with the curtain up, to
show the audience how versatile he Is.
PIaywrights Meet.
The convention Of dramatists which
assembled at the Hotel Astor yesterday
q at m daax IN
coax the dove of peace back to the
billboards, included almost all the prom
inent American dramatists one could
think Of Though Augustus Thomas,
who has been extremely busy in trying
to get both sides to make it up and
forgive each other, was absent. brains
were easily in evidence among the
thirty odd playwrights. including three
authoresses. who faced Eugene Waite
when he raised the presiding officers
gavel.
Among them were Samuel Shipman.
Roi Cooper Megrue. Cleaves Kincaid
owen Davis, Avery Hopwood, Anthony
Paul Kelly, Eugene Presbrey. George
Middleton. Rupert Hughes. p. q. Wode-
house, Guy Bolton, Paul NJ Potter,
James Forbes. Harold Atteridge, Max
MARGIN, Thomas Gray. Rida johnson
Young, Rennold Wolf Otto Harbach
]. McNally, Leroy Scott, Edward Paul
ton. James Montgomery, DR.. Louis X.
AEspacher May FULLY. Gene Buck
George NJ. Conan. who came in his ca
pacity as playwright and Cohanizer,
and Henry Dixey, about whose admis-
sion there was some question at first be-
cause he had marched in the actors
parade the preceding day in a high hat
Dixie Is Voted In.
Exception wasn't taken to the high
hat, but to the presence among 30
much dramaturgical talent OF a man
who had thus advertised that he was
an actor in sympathy with the Equity,
Mr.. Dixey was asked IL he had eveS
written anything and had 1t produced -;
he admitted amid blushes-his own
that he had once composed a little thing,
and with Mr.. Dixey remaining in the
room, the question was solemnly put TO
a vote as to whether Mr.. Dixey should
remain In the room, and he won the
right to remain.
Then a reception committee consisting
of Avery Hopgood. James Forbes and
DR.. Anspacker escorted in David Be-
lasco, Arthur Hopkins, George Broad"
hurst and Winchell Smith, who had
come TO be eloquent in the cause OF the
Producing Managers Association.