The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-06-17
Developments In Burlesque
 Interest Fans

of the Columbia Amusement Com pany in New York City. operating the Columbia and American burleSque circuits, will be of interest to local burlesque fans. who are regulars at the Park theatre during the theat- rica1 season, when the Columbia cir cult shows play the last half Of each week.
 Movements to date have been along three distinct lines. The shows next winter must be new, and no two organizations must have books that are too much alike. The second feature is the realization that with the trend of the time, and the grad uaI lowering of prices of high class attractions, that burlesque prices must also come down. Just how great the decline will be Is not yet definitely decided but the scale of prices will be somewhat lower than last season
 To make tf1ts possible the organi- zation known as the Burlesque Pro- ducing Managers association, has thrown down the gauntlet and de- c1ared war on theatrical unions in general, but especially the musicians the stage hands organizations. '~The Yellow Ticket Systen' by which the managers claimed that stage hands should employ, regardless of how heavy a production was involved, and similar situations in regards to musi- clans wiH not be tolerated longer, ac- COrOIng to an ulttnafura issued rom headquarters of the franchise owners.
 The right to hire whom they please, as many as they please, and to adjust terms as to salary, in a manner mutually agreeable with out outside dictatfon is claimed by the managers, who show they do not eexpect to be unreasonable by mak- ing rule that no show can hire a chorus girl for a salary smaller than $50 a week. The minimum limit on the number of girls a show can carry has also been placed at IS, and a surplus of trained girls will be road show can apply for Q chor1ster to fill immediately a vacancy caused by auy%reason.
 The shows intend to protect them selves on the road, and people jumping shows without notice will be b1ackIisted. The organization as framed resembles In many respects the efficient ideas incorporated into organized baseball, and no ball play CT who can play ball on the square has ever been seriously n1istreated-
 The Park theatre. one of the chain of houses controlled by the P. F. Shea interests. is understood to have a contract with the Columbia. Anuse- ment company. calling for the shows playing Bridgeport for four more seasons Even though business fell off to a serious degree in Bridgeport late last winter and during the early spring, it was stated by Manager Gene Shea some time ago that Bridgeport held it's own. and did as we'll as any of the houses in tho east with the exception of New York and Boston In fact conditions became so discouraging fin Waterbury that the town was dropping from the cir cult in the middle of the season.
 Locally the season will start just prior to Labor Day, unless present plans fall, but opening dates and at fractions have not as yet been as- signed All indications seem to in- sure the best grade of productions in the history of business. by which theatregoers will profit, for the pro ducers realize that under present conditions the public will have to be shown" in New England, as well as Missouri.