The New York herald., 1921-08-16
Theatre Managers
of america Here in
First Convention
Delegates Representing 1000
PlayhOuses of All Glasses
Hold Initial Session.

The first day OF the first convention.
OF theatrical managers of America
opened yesterday afternoon at the Hotel
Pennsylvania with every indication OF
harmony and a spirit OF cooperation
among the $50 managers of all classes
Of entertainment. representing 2.ooV
theatres throughout the country. The
gathering. which was the first or its
kind ever held and which, the speakers
said, ought to have been called years
ago. was brought together by Alfred Il.
Aarons. who felt that the producers
should be organized. just as other In
dustrial leaders are organized. In his
summons ne said:
This convention will organize for the
common welfare of all theatre pro-
prietors OF the United States TO elimi'
nate waste, to prevent abuse. TO develop
economic advancement and to obtain just
and equitable conditions.
It IS expected that before the con-
vention breaks up on Saturday II will
have devoted particular attention to
the labor situation In the theatre and
the conditions of travel and will make
an appeal to the railroads for a re-
duction of rates. 1t is likely that. with
the motion picture and vaudeville In
1 terests represented. the current strike
i of musicians In those houses In New
\ York will be dealt with. as we'll as the
adjustment of new salaries for musicians
md stage hands in the legitimate
houses. where the labor contracts expire
on September ! next.
Some Interesting Contrasts.
Some interesting contrasts were dis
cernible in the gathering. which held
| hot Wash.
from New Orleans. La. and from Port
| land, Me. At the same speakers dais
were seated-though some distance
apart-A. L. Erlanger and Lee Shubert.
keen rivals in the legitimate field; and
! e. F. Albee, who Is head OF the Keith
theatres and the principal competitor OF
the new vaudeville circuit the Shuberts
are starting. Also prominent were
Winthrop Ames. typifying the more
cultural side OF the theatre. and Sam
Scribner O leading burlesque producer
| The day was devoted mainly to or
ganizlng speeches. After Joseph p. Bfck-
erton had opened the convention. George
Broad adihurst was elected temporary chair
man. being chosen because he Is a play
wright, a producer and the owner or a
theatre. Nathan Appel was made tempo
rary secretary. Then speeches were deiiv-
cred by John Love OF the Merchants AS
ISOLATION. who explained the advantages
which the Merchants Association had
derived from organizing; Mr.. Erlanger
and Mr. Shubert, who spoke very oriefiy !
Mr. Albee, Mr. Scribner, Mr.. Savage,
Sydney Cohen head Of the national mo-
tion picture managers. and William a.
| Brady.
| The meeting was a closed session, but
the fact that opinions In the convention
q iHa Indicated
reports that trickled through Mr. Brady's
speech. He had given a foretaste OF his
talk by saying beforehand In the lobby
"There'u be a row when I get UP and
start something about Equity shop.
Though nothing was mentioned about the
Equity or closed shop during the after
noon addresses, Mr.. Brady called atten-
! tion to the fact that all the speakers who
preceded him had talked about fighting
the unions. For his part, he said, he did
not believe in fighting unions.
sLooked Like n Trade"
| Mr.. Scribner was very forceful in his
| attitude toward the unions. He declared
that every time the unions had presented
a contract to a manager II had looked
like, a trade" in which the unions con-
ceded something in return for privilege
| found eventually. according to the speak
er. that the union always had the better
OF the trade.
Virtually every important manager or
producing concern in the city was repre-
sented except George NJ. Conan, who
seemingly. still adhered to his vow to
withdraw from producing. Those present
included Richard Walton Tully, Giber
Miller, for Charles Frohman, Inc. Gus
Sun, Gus Hill, George w. Lederer
Joseph Weber. Benjamin Roeder, for
David Belasco: Sam II. Harris, Harry
Klein, for Arthur Hopkins J. NJ. WEIGH
for the Selwyns Thomas Love and Fred
Nixon Nirdlnger OF Philadelphia Harry
Powers OF Chicago, Lee Boda OF Colum-
bus and Indianapolis, Harry Brown of
Pittsburgh, !. r. Mischler OF Altoona and
Johnstown, Harry Sloan. for Ned Way
burn: Arthur Hammerstein. Harry SON.
ers of Grand Rapids. Mich. Joseph NJ
Gates, Charles Tennis OF New England
Lyle Andrews, James Whittendale and
Joseph Klaw. for Marc Klaw; James
Shesgreen. for Wagenhals & Kemper, and
representative OF Charles B. Dilling-