The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-17
THEATRE HEADS
DISAGREE OVER
SEASONS SLUMP
Lee Shubert Declares Bust
ness Is Biggest i'll 20
Years.
FEW FAILURES HERE
Other Managers Say COndi-
tons Now Bad Will
Grow Worse.
HINT CUT IN ACTORS PAY
Opera. Concerts and Big Spec
taclcs Escape Country
wide Depression.
HINT CUT IN ACTORS PAY

discussion in theatrlcal circles COLI
corning the article in yesterdays issue
of THE New YORK HERALD describing
the slump in the theatrical business.
Most of the managers and producers
declared that conditions are bad now.
and that they promise to become worse
than for many years although few
insisted that the slump was temporary
Lee Shubert, who as head of the Shu-
bert Theatrical Enterprises controls
he booking of the majority of the
legitimate theatres in the United
States, declared that business in New
York and other large cities of the
country was never better, not even
excepting last year, which was pan
uer season.
THE theatrical business In the United
States" said Mr.. Shubert, us far greater
than It has been In It's history for the
~tv years every theatre IN
New York is practically doing capacity
~ 1t is true that some of the
shows have been sent on the road that
would have remained in New York for
six or eight months. but there are so
\ many productions that want TO come into
New York that a certain limit must be
adhered TO in making bookings for the
Broadway theatres, and there are more
attractions this season than ever before.
AT all times there will be some shows
that will be forced to close because the
public does not care for them. but there
have been fewer failures this year than
any season I recall. Since prohibition
the business has been steadily increas-
ing. for there are people who go 10
plays to-day who never Went before.
Theatres in New York are more diff
cult TO obtain than last year. This can
be due to ono thing only. and that Is
GOOD business, for 1t stands to reason
that IL an attraction does not play TO
sufficiently large receipts each week
II is removed.
An Unprecedented Situation.
There have been changes In thea
tres this season. where plays have been
sent on the road when they we're doing
an average weekly business which In
ordinary times would be regarded as
wonderful This Is an unprecedented
Situation These attractions have been
allowed TO remain only a limited time.
for they have 10 make room for other
shows that in the Judgment of the the
atre owner will play to larger receipts.
The difficulty with the average theatre
to-day is its limited seating capacity.
That sizes up the whole situation"
The attractions TO be offered this sea-
son by the New York opera companies
10 not seem TO have shared in the slump
which has struck the theatres. Execu-
tives OF the Metropolitan Opera COM
pany and the Fortune Gallo Opera Com
pany said yesterday that their advance
sales have been so heavy as TO indicate
Z that opera and spectacular productions
are not wanting in public interest Popu-
lar support also seems 10 be diverted to
the concert field. The reason advanced
for the continuing popularity Of the mu-
steal enterprises is that the managers
send out OF town the original stars and
rot the feeble carbon copies which
have so often aroused resentment on the
road against spoken plays
So far American motion pictures have
not been affected by foreign competition
Following the war Many theatres on
Tie road have gone over TO the films as
the more lucrative form of entertain
nent. However. England is rapidly de-
celoping n motion picture Industry with
governmental support. and Adolph
luxor, president OF the Famous Players
I.askv Corporation, has just warned the
American industry to be cautious about
The future.
The Famous Players Company is not
backing any spoken plays financially. as
IL did last season. A reduction in the
salaries Of motion picture players is now
taking place in most OF the companies
except among the stars. Film actors
are now receiving about the same pay
an performers In the spoken drama.
Reducing Actors Salaries.
There is talk among stage managers
OF likewise reducing the exceptionally
large salaries paid actors during the
period following the war. Lee Shubert
said reeen;iy that r. few years ago a
leading man was lucky TO get $500 a
week, but the same player can now com
mand a salary OF $1,000. Mise Maude
ADAMS Is said TO have had guarantee
OF $4,000 a week, and other stars have
been paid in proportion.
The recent high salary demand OF
stage hands Is given as another factor
20 the Impairment OF theatrical business.
Men who formerly received $40 week
row are getting $50 or more. Musicians
lave also had their salaries raised. 80
hat now an instrumentalist often re-
ceives as high as SIS OF sS5 n week.
In view OF these burdens Gus Hill
lead OF the Touring Managers Associa-
ton. which conducts the one night
stands, Ia authority for the statement
hat nv small managers WOuAb ~ ~
he wall unless they we're relieved, He
requested the Actors Equity Association
to modify the clause in their contract
calling for a minimum OF eight perform
ances week. and asked that managers
on the road be allowed 70 average theii
performances 80 that II they gave sis
performances one week they could give
ten the next and thus reimburse them
selves This request was refused by th'
Equity.
Some managers are hopeful that after
election the theatre industry will return
% normal, as. Il "a reported they have
done IN London. The period preceding
national election always Is disturbing e
the theatre II IL pointed out that In thu
saIi OF 1916 there we're similar unsettled
conditions Several managers have an
nounced that they would shut UP shoI
and 20 into the movies.
Moro-co Quits Local Field.
Oliver Morosco. who has general,
been conspicuous with his production
here. has abandoned the East for thu
roason and has gone TO Los Angeles q
make stock productions there. II wal
his play MARRY the Poor Girl" nov
closed. which had tho rare experience