Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-30
THEATRICAL DEAL
THAT MAY BENEFIT
ALL EASTERN CITIES
Big Amusement Interests Said
to be Considering Gigantic
Pool.
TO CUT DOWN EXPENSES

A gigantic theatrical deal. tho big
gost combination Of managerial in
tcrests in the history of the country.
is now being consummated, according
TO information obtained i'm philadel-
phia. The project, which some OF tho
leading theatrical men declare will
revolutionize the ontiro show bust
ness within the next few seasons. viii
vitality affect the theatres OF practi-
cally all eastern cities and the future
bookings of important attractions
Every branch OF tho theatrical in.
dustry is said to be involved in the
now and sweeping alignment. II is
planned TO include motion pictures
and vaudeville with the so-called
legitimate productions in one great
merger. and stage productions
brought out by either of the two
biggest existing groups of interests.
the Shuberts and their associates. and
the Erlsnger Dillingham;, ziegfeid
Frohman, Nixon -Nitdlinger. and nf-
iiliated mahaRers--inay be played
over the circuit in the houses owned
or controlled by the others.
This means that shows controlled
by one branch of theatrical inter-
ests will be given in houses controlled
by what arc now opposing inter
csts, not only in the netropolitan
cities, where they run two or three
weeks, but also in cities I'm Whining
tons class, where show runs from
three days TO q week All available
theatres will, If the project goes
through, open their doors to all at.
fractions regardless OF how they arc
controlled
Tentative but important confer
encos about this matter" said n
prominent Philadelphia magnatc.
have been going on quietly i'm vari-
Gus sections of tho country. for al
most year. It's a wonder 70 mo that
somebody Hasn't unearthed' the story
before this. For whom the deal ryoos
through. it viii be on SO colossal\ n
scale TO take your breath away, for
II viii involve not only regular play
presentation. and vaudeville and mo-
ton picture bookings, but tho whole
labor situation as il affects tho
theatre.
The latter IS one OF the greatest
problems we now have TO face. Tho
unions OF actors. stage hands and
musicians have brought the rro-
ducers IN every branch OF the theat-
ricai business face to face with a
grim struggle for their very exist
ence. No ordinary means would sur
flee. 10 meet so great q task as this
nd
way possible. by sinking all individ-
ual differences in tho one great prob
lcm Of all concerned.
''The projected booking arrange
ment, whereby Shubcrt attractions
may play in Erlangcr theatres. or
vice Versa. Will also so a long way
toward solving tho staggering trans
portatiou costs which arc at present
throttling all OF us. Suppose. for in
stance. that an attraction under the
present system is playing just one
group of theatres. 1t might have to
jump from Philadelphia TO pittshurg.
But IL other theatres were open 10
IL along the line. say in Harrisburg
and other intermediate towns and
cities, just think OF the waste in fares
it would eliminate.
Then there is another phase in the
huge overhead involved in keeping
two theatres going in a town where
only one can be filled. Instead of hav-
ing each half filed, with the same
overhead that would meet a capacity
think OF the saving effected
by closing one of the houses ana
maintaining house expenses, such as
ushers. janitors. doormen, light and
heat only for the other"
But which group would meet the
loss of the closed house?" he was
asked.
Why not both?" was the reply.