The Washington times., 1919-08-30
MAY
Be DARK THIS
COMING WEEK
Other TheaterS Going Ahead As
Usual for Shows Starting
Sunday.

Future developments in the actors
strike, which had it's first effect here
in closing the Belasco Theater Thurs
day night, may be expected in Wash
ington next week, and theaters, even
though unafriliated with the fghting
elements in New York, may suffer, ac-
cording to Norman Trevor, leading
man Of the up From Nowhere"
company and a member OF the
executive council OF the Actors
EQUITY Association.
"It is quite likely" said Mr.. Trevor
this morning, that other theaters in
Washington may become affected by
the strike in New York through
sympathy walkouts. 1 do not know,
however, what the plans are at pres
ent. We are waiting for instructions
from New York, our headquarters"
Actors Won'1 Strike.
As the majority of actors playing
in washington are not affiliated with
the Actors Equity organization, any
future strikes here which would re-
suit in closing theaters probably
would come from the musicians and
stage hands unions. acting under or
ders from New York.
The local unions OF stage hands and
musicians, however, will not strike
unless directed TO do 50 by orders
from higher authority. They have no
complaints to make themselves and
are thoroughly satisfied with their
present employers.
\speaking for both the stage hands
union and the musicians, A. c. Hay
den. president OF Local Union, No. 161,
American Federation of Musicians,
stated that st must be understood
we have no complaints of our en-
pioyers in Washington, and in strik-
ing we are making no demands. The
situation Is entirely out Of our hands,
and rests with the national heads of
the organizations in New York.
I'VE shall wait only on their orders.
but should they come, we will obey
them immediately"
Actors Lose Control.
It has ben pointed out that the
situation is rapidly slipping from
control of the actors, and into the
hands of the musicians and stage
hands, spreading from the first
trouble in New York and developing
into a fight for the recognition of
organized labor. Depending upon
the ability of the Producing Manufac-
turers' Association in New York to
"hold out" against the strikers is the
question Of whether the actors strike
will spread beyond the members of
the organization striking at present.
BeIaseO Remains Dark.
Indications today pointed toward
the Belasco remaining closed for the
coming week. The company which
was to arrive in Washington today for
its appearance at the Belasco next
week in "Fifty-fifty, Ltd" failed to
put in an appearance, but remained
in New. York. This was due to the
visit yesterday of the advance agent
OF the company, who came to Wash
ington and conferred with Manager
L. Stoddard Taylor Of the Belasco.
He told Mr.. Taylor the company
would not leave New York until def
mite agreement had been reached be-
tween the striking actors, musicians
and stage hands and the Producing
Managers Association of New York.
Mr.. Taylor received a telegram this
morning from New York which stated
the situation remains unchanged"
and IL is believed a deadlock has been
reached which will not be broken for
several days.
A peculiar situation is seen to exist
in the Washington field due to the
closing Of the Belasco theater.
Plenty Of Sympathy.
The actors themselves in reality did
not strike, but refused to play "out
of sympathy" with the musicians and
stage hands who struck "out of SYM
pathY with the Actors Equity As
sociation. The actors have stated
their Willingness to return to work,
provided the musicians and stage
hands return. The latter employees
Will not go bac kto work unless
orders come from their headquarters
In New York, though they have no
against the management
As result, proprietors of Wash
ingtotn theaters are at loss as to
what to expect; leaders of local un-
Ions Of theateT employees do not know
what is in store; and the whole
situation remains a tangle, which will
become unraVeled only by agreement
reached between striking forces in
New York.
With the exception OF the BeIasco.
arrangements for the shows starting
here tomorrow night are being car
ried out as usual