The New York herald., 1922-03-03
Has Spent $4,000 on Just
Because With $4,000 a
Week Coming.
SUED BY AN EX-MANAGER
Man Who Sees Failure Because
Chorus Is Well Paid Wanted
Name in Big Type.

George Z. Brokaw, a son OF the late
Isaac ". Brokaw and a member of
the law firm of Gulick. Brokaw &
Spring of 522 Fifth avenue. was re-
vealed yesterday as the "angel" of
"Just Because" musical comedy now
being tried out in New England pre-
paratory to a New York production
when Benjamin Berg, a manager, ap-
piled in Supreme Court for an in
junction against him.
Berg asks that Brokaw as president
Of the Just Because Theatrical Com
pany, be restrained from printing and
circulating programs and advertising
matter wherein the name of Berg ap-
pears in smaller type than the names
of Mrs Helen s. Woodruff and Miss
Anne Wynn Organ, the authors.
In his answer to the application Bro
kaw declares that the comedy has al
ready cost him $4,000 and will cost
him $4,000 a week during it's run In
New York.
His answer also sets forth that Mrs.
Woodruff, who is the wife OF Lewis e.
Woodruff of ID East Sixty-eighth street.
wrote the Iibretto of the musical comedy
while Miss O'Ryan, a sister of Major
Gen. John +. O'Ryan, wrote the music.
Berg was to have been business man
ager and was to receive salary OF
$50 a week and a share of the profits.
Can't See Prohts From show.
But in his application for an injInc-
tion Berg stated that the production is
less likely to have profits than other
shows, one reason, he said. being that
Brokaw pays his chorus on n human
itarian scale of from $50 10 s75 a week
instead OF the ss5 which he declares is
the standard wage.
Berg set forth that he is not afflicted
with temperament, but is business
man and from that standpoint purely
wants his name in as big type as any
body elses in all advertising touching
on and appertaining TO Just Because"
He added:
"In point Of fact fully produced the
show for Mr. Brol<aw and everything
would have gone swimmingly IL IL had
not been that Mrs. Woodruff did not
want my name to appear on the print
ing with hers
Berg is no longer on the payroll OF
Just Because" a fact of which Brokaw
made considerable mention in his OPP
position to Berg's application. He de-
MED that Berg was to be the whole
works and to have the last word in the
matter OF producing the piece, stating
that on the contrary one Oscar Eagle,
stage and moving picture director.
ranked and bossed him.
says He Got All He Desired.
Anyway, he declared. Berg got all the
mention coming to him on the pro-
grams when he was with the show but
should get no more now that the piece
is struggling along without him.
Brokaw's final paragraph in the affi-
davit opposing Berg's motion represents
Berg as young man afflicted with the
habit Of speaking out Of his turn.
"On January g." says the affidavit.
during a rehearsal at Caledonian Hail
in this city. Mr.. Berg appeared before
the company and read them letter in
which he made certain charges against
me. and then said that the show would
be no good and that he would bet a
certain sum against smaller sum that
II would be flivver."
Justice Blur, before whom the appll-
cation and argument ceme up, asked
counsel to file briefs and reserved de-
cision.