The evening world., 1921-06-09
COHAN TO QUIT
THEATRE; BELASC0
ALSO FIGHTS UNION
Former RetireS Both as Actor
and Manager Over "CloSed
Shop" Plan.
"WlLL JUST LOOK on"
Cohan Had Planned Produc-
tionS That Would Have
Employed 1000.

George NJ. Cohan has decided to
quit the theatrical business.
Although David Belasco will not
run up against the Equity closed shop
problem until September 1928, under
contract he has with the Actors
Equity Association, he implied to an
Evening World reporter to-day that
lie might not wait until the conclu-
sion of the contract before taking
action.
There may be Others" he said
when told of Mr.. Cohan's action. ",
will not submit to the closed shop. ]
am very glad Mr.. Cohan has the
courage of his convictions"
Mr. Belasco has already announced
that he is going to keep his elaborate
production OF Deburau in the store
house because under the prevailing
high transportation and salary con-
ditions. he would be unable to make
any money with it on the road.
With the exception OF Henry Miller
George NJ. Cohan is the only Broad
way producing theatrical manager
who is not affiliated with the Pro-
ducing Managers Association. He
withdrew from that organization dur
ing the actors strike two years ago
and did much to help form the Actors
Fidelity League, which is a body OF
players without union affiliations
Since then the Equity and he have
not been on friendly terms.
In the strike settlement the Pro-
ducing Managers Association OBJ
tanned an agreement from the Equit,
that there would be no closed shop
or Equity shop, used in connection
with their casts before 1924. At tha,
time there was no Equity shop Of
ficially, but several months ago the
idea was adopted by the Equity and
it is scheduled to go into effect Sept
1. the beginning of the new season.
Mr.. Cohan's determination to auit
was reached after 1t became appar-
ent to him that the Equity was &c
enforce its Equity shop rule in con
nection with his casts. The Equit,
met last week and, according to Mr.
Cohan. after that meeting people he
had selected for many roles came tc
him and asked that they Be giver
Equity contracts containing tn.
Equity shop clause. He had arranged
to engage about 1000 people fol-
twelve or fourteen productions, soor
to have gone into rehearsal. but al
those were notified there would b.
no Cohan productions next season.
II am an actor. myself" said Mr.
Cohan, land l was willing to risk m,
money--my OWN money, mind you
on a lot of productions, signing VI
the players without regard to affilia.
tions with any organization whatso
ever. / had many Equity peopl,
lined up, as well as numerous play.
ers not members OF the Equity. Bu
when the Equity members came anc
demanded that clause in their con.
tracts, ] considered it unfair to tn,
profession and to me. and l decided
to quit the whole business.
81 have always treated the actor:
| right--in fact, have handled then
from the human standpoint Now
am through, and at least 1000 play,
ers--and possibly twice that many
will have to look elsewhere for work
in face OF the fact that the cominl
season does not look any too rosy, /
seems to me that might have helpec
lot OF actors had / been permitted
to- might even have relieved dis
tress through giving p,.yers engage
ments who haven't had work 70
months. But the Equity has said
must not employ Equity actors IL
have any Equity people in m,
casts. and that means I'm through.
was not in the game to make none y
have plenty OF money for my ow,
pse, and. oh. we'll. I'm needing a res,
anyway will now rust look on.