The New York herald., 1921-02-17
Actors Split Over
Barring of Negro
From, Stage Dinner
Many Will Not Attend Drama
League Event if Gilpin
Is Not There.

Prominent men ana women of the
stage declined invitations to attend the
Drama League dinner for ten leading
contributors to dramatic art announced
for March at the Hotel McAlpin fol-
lows the announcement yesterday that
the league has decided TO eliminate
Charles S. Gilpin. negro actor now
starring in "The Emperor Jones'" as
one of the guests. Mr.. Gilpin was
among the first choices in the balloting
Of Drama League members for a place
among the ten.
Among those who wired or wrote TO
the league protesting against the dis
elimination against Gilpin or who made
announcement of their intention TO re-
main away from the dinner because of
the incident are Miss Gilda Varesi Nor
man Trevor, Ben-Ami, Robert Edmund
Jones. Eugene G. ONeill, Dudley
Digges and Lee Simonson, all of whom
had been invited to be guests of honor
Philip Moeller and George Cram Cooke,
playwrights.
Miss varesi sent the following tele-
gram to the Drama League:
IF you will invite Cilpin I'll be proud
to sit next to him. God forbid that
artists should do the American stage
you with respect to Gilpin."
Later she said:
"If the impression is given by the
Drama League officeyp that the artists
invited would not SIT with Mr.. Gilpin, il
is false and misleading, and l want to
say, at least for myself, that l admire
Mr. Gilpin's art very much, and ] would
be proud to accord him and his work the
respect due to them"
The following statement was Jointly
signed by Ben Ami, star OF Samson and
Delilah" Dudley Digges OF "Heartbreak
House." Lee Simonson, scenic director OF
the Theatre Guild; Mr.. Moeler and Mr.
Cook:
"The undersigned men and women OF
the theatre, appreciating creative And
interpretative ability wherever it APPEARS
and from wherever it springs, feel II
our duty to publicly express our indig-
nation at the alleged discrimination by
the Drama League against the distin-
guished negro actor Charles S. Gilpin,
now appearing In New York in the title
role of The Emperor Jones. 1t has
come to our notice that Mr.. Gilpin. for
no other reason than that he is coll
ored man, has been eliminated as one
of the guests at the Drama League din
ner to ten actors and actresses of dis
tinction on March s, and this In spite
of the fact that Mr.. Gilpjn's work in
The Emperor Jones has won him q
place in the Drama League balloting to
establish the years ten biggest contrib
utors to dramatic art
Combination or denial of this act OF
prejudice has been refused by the re-
sponsible officers of the Drama League
In the circumstances, respecting as we
do the masterful ability of Mr.. Gilpin
we wish to announce our decision to
stay away from the Drama League din
ner unless the Drama League sees fl
to deny intent to discriminate against
Mr. Gilpin."
Robert Edmund Jones, scenic artist
said
IF the report is true, think II out
rageous and I shall refuse to attend the
dinner"
Eugene G. O'Neill. author of '"rhe
Emperor Jones'" said:
"Of course shall not attend the
dinner of the Drama League under these
circumstances. II Is terrible that the
Drama League should make race dis
tinctione. 1t seems unbelievable"
Mr.. Trevor. starring with Miss Wares
in Enter Madame" said
IF Charles Gilpin is accorded such
treatment by the Drama League I shall
never participate In any OF the activi.
ties of the Drama League, nor shall ]
attend the dinner"