The New York herald., 1921-07-17
BERLIN ACTOR SAYS
STAGE HANDS now
DICTATE TO STARS
Author of 'GOlem' Asserts
Players Must Step Aside
for Scene Lifters.
TRADE UNION DOMINANT
Minor Artists Join Mechanics,
Declaring They Must AS
sure Living Wages.
TRADE UNION DOMINANT

Special Gable to THE New YORK HERALD
Copyright, 1921, by THE New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Berlin. July 16.
I'VE must now step aside for the
doorkeeper, the cloakroom woman and
the scene LITTER" protested Paul Veg
ener, German stage star, Indignantly,
"and let them tell us what we can do
on the stage and cannot" Paul Veg
ener is the author of the film "Golem."
now running successfully in New York.
Wegener himself plays the title role
of the giant. But pushing down stucco
cities was easier for him than pushing
through the regulations of the Ger
man actors union.
He tried to fight the actors union
from outside, but found himself with
an engagement in Cologne unable to
go on the stage. The other actors,
stage hands, electricians and check
room girls all struck. A well known
actress, Kaethe Dorsch, Jailed TO pay
her union dues recently and tried the
same thing in Vienna But the al
mighty hand of the German union
reached even into Austria, and no man
ayers threats or her tears could break
through the ironclad regulations Of
the actors union.
To Form Rival Union.
wegener admitted defeat in that he
was obliged to join the union. He did
this, however, merely as change OF
tactics. and recently announced that
some $50 stars were forming rival
organization, called the League Of Ber-
lin Actors. and were prepared to fight
the world" and incidentally the German
| theatrical trade union.
| The insurgents held protest meetings
and gathered recruits. These were all
from the star class. Indeed the real
reason for theiT grudge was not hard to
find. Dues in the actors union are not
Uniform; each pays some two per cent.
of his income. In this way Massary,
the darling Of the Berlin musical
comedy stage, Is obliged to pay some
1900 marks a month. while Ully or
Lene, who trips out each night to shout.
"Oh. goils, here comes the Juke," or the
|
ten or twenty marks. AS 1t would seem
unbefitting that merely material con-
siderations dominate the actions of the
stars. the rebels concentrate most OF
| their ammunition In an effort at estab-
fishing union discipline within the
actors ranks.
| They complain, and with them are
many of the managers, including even
Max Reinhardt. that they are hampered
In their art by the constant demands OF
the actors union that this or that actor
receive more pay. and that they block
the discharge of this or that actor.
Charges of DISCRIMINATION.
The stars assert that the people wno
are most active In the union and attempt
| to put discipline into It are those who
are least active on the stage. Failing al
art. they all now try to keep themselves
above board in the union by hanging
on TO the coat tails of those who have
| succeeded.
The fight, therefore. Is still on within
| the union. The German actors union Is
however. q substantial organization COM
prising some 1000 out OF total OF
$4,000 actors. The head. President Rick
elt. declared to the correspondent OF
THE NEW YORK HERALD that the union
does not try to influence the artistic
decisions of the producers but merely
seeks to give the actors. little as well AZ
big. some security In their profession
and assure them living wage.
Some years ago German actors would
work months at rehearsals." he declared
"and then find the play put aside and
they unpaid. To-day they must be paid
for their time whether they really appear
| On the stage or not. We do not pretend
to dictate TO managers who shall play
what part"
| / asked him about the insurgent move
ment. We've won hands down. he re-
piled with a laugh; ''it Is only fair thai
the actors who make much money should
do more to help the marginal ones. Al
but a few stars share this opinion and
are backing u.s."