The New York herald., 1921-06-10
Hippodrome May
Be Closed by the
Demands ofLabOr
While Wage Matters Are Dis
cussed No Plans for Re-
opening Are Made.

No preparations are being made at
the Hppodrome for the spectacle next
season, though Charles Dillinghams
forces generally have the preliminary
features for the next production starred
as soon as the run of one is over No
actors or house employees have had their
contracts or engagements renewed,
breaking the custom of years by which
at least the more prominent were 80
retained.
It was learned yesterday that the
prospect is becoming more definite every
day that this Lig playhouse will either
not have one OF its usual productions
next season or else will have the first
performance so far delayed that it
cannot fulfil the distinction it has has
hitherto held of being the first regular
amusement centre to signalize the open
Ing of the theatrical season. The abR-
ance of plans by the management is due
to labor troubles
1t is known that stage hands are now
considering an offer OF an increase in
wages made by the Dillingham; repre-
sentatives. The commencement of prep
arations for the next production depends
on when the stage crews accept the
Hippodrome terms If they eventually
do, for Mr.. Dillingham; is determined
not to go ahead with production at
the risk of having it held up midway in
its course by labor demands. as hap
pened once before. If the backstatg tge
mechanics reject his offer the outlook is
not rosy for a typical Hippodrome year
The wage agreement with the stage
hands. who number about 100. has UNI
kil September l to run. In anticipation
of demand for an increase representa-
tives of the management and delegates
from the stage hands recently went into
conference. The stage hands demanded
that their minimum pay of 1926 a per.
formance be raised to SIS, giving to each
worker at least $50 week Finally as
compromise proposal the management
offered 81 performance, and the stage
hands are still considering this.
A similar demand will have to be met
before the season opens by all the other
managers in the Producing Managers
Association and the United Managers
Protective Association. Requests for
an increase have been made by both
stage hands and musicians and commit
tees Of both managerial bodies are con-
sidering them. 1t is expected that at
the next meeting Of the Producing Man
ayers Association next Tuesday the SUBJ
ject will be thoroughly thrashed out.
The Hippodrome, which has come to
De the great amusement institution Of
fhe city, has never had a closed season
during the fifteen years 1t has been on
the theatrical map. The nearest ap-
proach to 1t occurred during it's last
year under Shubert management. when
motion pictures were run. Some form
OF entertainment enterprise will have to
be introduced into it during the season,
as it is too costly property to leave
idle for forty weeks. Motion pictures
were considered for occupancy during
the last few weeks, but that idea has
been abandoned for the time being at
least
1t was learned from an outside source
formerly associated with the big house
that none of the heads OF departments,
who were usually reengaged at the end
OF the season have been notified to re-
port next fall. None of the principals
OF the show has received a contract for
next year. All the former employees
fnd there were 1,074 of them--it is said
nate been told to look elsewhere.
K III. Burnside. general stage director
and Mark A. Luescher manager, OF
cc-rrse would be retained in any event
Mr.. Burnside leaves on Monday for a
vacation, as far as could be learned,
without having set In motion his ideas
for the next diversion. as is customary.
Always after a production a temporary
flooring has been laid over the orches-
tra seats. on which the scene painters
Immediately got to work on the next
seasons canvases. but the auditorium
hes been left unchanged. In fact, the
settings for the last spectacle. Good
Times have not been dismantled yet.
Unless preparations begin IN n couple
OF weeks the chances are that the Hip
podrome. if it does stage its usual spec
tacle, will not present it in the middle
of August, as usual but later.