Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-08
fifteen THEATRES
/ WILL CLOSE DOORS
Managers Refuse to Meet Wage
Demands of Union
Musicians
WILL FIGHT TO THE FINISH

On account of demands made by union
musicisns for an increase in wages, hf-
teen vaudeville and moving picture
theatres of this city will close within the
next ten days. Several will close TO-
morrow night.
In the better class of houses the mu-
aicians have asked that their present
wage Of S44 weekly be increased to 500
They also want $3.50 an hour for re-
hearsals.
4 Local managers assert that the clos
sne of the theatres is the first step in
4 fisht to n finish. They assert that
they are already overburdened with
expense, which makes continuance In
business improbable. An increase IN
the cost of vaudeville acts, due TO hlgh
railroad fares and also in the cost OF
pictures and house maintenance, has
brought about steady advance IN ad-
mission prices, the managers point out,
and they declare that the public Will
not stand for any further advance.
A meeting of managers and owners
will be held next week, when definite
plans for dealing with orchestras aud
other matters will be discussed. Many
owners have suggested using pipe Or
gans or pianos instead of an orchestra
and this plan may be adopted
The Philharmonic Society has met the
demands of the union, but will give
only five concerts during the coming
season instead of ten, as in the past;
Theatrical managers and owners de-
glare they will be in no way influenced
by action Of the PHILHARMONIC Society,
as conditions are entirely different.
The Philharmonic Society was com
PEELED to grant the demands Of the mu-
sicians' union because larger organl-
Sation in the city had taken that course.
It was said. DR.. Charles s. Hirsch,
300 Pine street, treasurer and man
ager of the society, announced that the
society would continue its activities in
somewhat modified form because OF the
financial difficulties entailed by the in
creased compensation for the musicians.
union has seen fit to raise the minimum
Hirsch said:
DIR. Hirsch's Statement
'In contradiction of a promise made
10 me by the officials Of the musicians
union and in the face of a petition OF
the orchestra members themselves, the
union has seen It to raise the minimum
salary of the players from ST to the
almost prohibitive figure of 500 for one
evenings concert and two rehearsals:
''At first it was believed that this
would mean the end of the Philhar-
nonic Society. but as a result of the
resourcefulness of the members OF the
Board Of Directors and the great gen .
erosity of handful of public spirited
citizens who refused to let union die
tatorship interfere with the public
GOOD such a calamity has been averted
II has been decided to try giving the
concert under the adverse financial con
ditions for one year.
"However. the plans of the society
win have to be changed. 1t was the
intention to give ten concerts next sea
son instead of five, as in former years
60 meet the ever increasing demand Of
the public, but that will be impossible
because of the tremendous expense and
the old number Of Ave will be ad'
hered to.
Not Money Making Body
,.The people Of Philadelphia shoult
not lose sight of the fact that tn
Philharmonic Society is not a money
making proposition by, any manner o
means It's purpose and work Is purel!
educational, namely, within reach o
those who otherwise would have NJ
opportunity to enjoy it.
Last year the membership fee, en-
ntling the music lovers to admissio,
to our FIVE symphony concerts, was 50
The actual cost to the society. pc
capita, was S10-we stand ready T.
prove these figures with our books. I
small group Of men and women mad
up the deficit and will do so agai
next season. es
NIt would seem that the, ZION. pro
Tossing to have the wer'"s of tn
workingman at heart, W. a,d be de
lighted to operate withtus in ou
work Fully S5 per cent oN,our mem
bership is composed Of &fking me
and women, the majority OF whom, n
doubt, are members Of various labo
unions. That the musicians union
unwilling to CO. operate is plainly evi
=. dent from its latest action.
"But, as I have said. the societ