The New York herald., 1922-12-18
LORDS day ALLIANCE
FIGHTS ACTORS FUND
DR.. Bowlby Says New
Years Eve Performances
Menace Public.
ASSAILS CHARITY IDEA
Thinks Managers Seek
Profit and Precedent for
Sabbath Breaking.
MEETS A FLAT DENIAL
FrOhman and Thomas Insist
Players Alone Will Get
Any Benefit.
MEETS A FLAT DENIAL

The Lords Day Alliance through its
general secretary. the Rev. II. L.
Bowlby, issued yesterday a statement
severely condenlning the plan to have
Sunday performances Of all theaters,
for the first time In the city's history,
with a quarter OF the proceeds going
to the Actors Fund OF America. whose
president Daniel Frohman. sponsored
the idea of giving the performances
on New Years Eve.
In addition to denouncing such
shows as a violation OF the Sunday
laws, DR.. Bowlby declared that they
were only camouflage. the real pur-
pose Of the performances being not
for charity but for the profit Of the
managers. He said that holiday prices
would probably be charged which
would be twice those obtained on
other days OF the week. Even IL 25
per cent. Of the receipts were turned
over to the Actors Fund as the profits
which the managers would ordinarily
get. DIR. Bowlby declared that the re-
naming sum would still be. large
enough to enrich the managers for
the performances.
The head OF the Sabbath observance
society, called upon Mr.. Frohman to an
nounce the prices for the proposed
shows. with a comparison with the
week day prices. He also pointed out
that the benefit performances could be
held as mat!nees during the week. lie
asserted that the plan was the entering
wedge for Sunday performances. which
actors themselves. he said. did not want.
Daniel Frohman, president or the
Actors Fund, and Augustus Thomas.
head OF the Producing Managers Asso-
ciation, said last night that Mr.. Bowlby
was acting under a mistaken sur7Tise.
The understanding Is. they said. that
about twenty-five per cent Of the pro-
ceeds will represent the profits Of the
performances. and that all OF this amount
viii go to the Actors Fund, SO that
there will be no profit whatever for tho
managers. Mr.. FrohTnan and Mr..
Thomas declared also that there Ia no
idea Of making these performances an
opening wedge In a campaign for Sun
day night shows. The Actors Fund Is
opposed to that, Mr.. Frohman said, and
40 are tho actors and actresses, and the
managers are with them in their stand.
Or. Bowlby in his statement says:
The Lords Day Alliance Of the United
States is opposed 10 the opening of the
theaters on Sunday and especially go
under what appears clear enough to be
camouflage OF the real purpose Of the
Sunday opening. II would be viola
ton OF the Sunday laws. 1t Is not In the
real sense OF the word charity bene-
NJ, but a move to enrich the pockets
OF the thcater managers.
with big Sunday prices. probably
twice as high as or other days OF the
week, for the New Years Eve per-
OF the gross proceeds going to the
Actors' Fund, one can easily see how
much money would fall into the cof-
fers OF the theatrical managers.
Prom a huraa nitarian standpoint the
thinking citizens OF Greater New York
should rise against such 4 Use OF Sun
day night. December 81, New Years
Eve and insist that any benefit per-
formance in part or as a whole should
be held on other times during the week.
when plenty OF opportunity Is given and
when the public would doubtless be
pleased to patronize Il instead of having
IL rail- on our AMERICAN Dunuays Inc
Christian Sabbath.
with reports this week In several
OF the New York newspapers that ".
a. Brady will begin one act plays or
performances IN connection with his
amusement business, a note OF warning
should be sounded to all actors and act
resses as TO what the future may re-
veal IL Immediate action against Sum
day performances is not promptly and
effectively demanded.
while vaudeville acts are going on on
Sunday. It Is not generally known that
actors and actresses do not receive pay
FOR Sunday performances. but. having no
effective organization 70 protest against
II, as has the regular theater. they are
subject TO the demand OF managers for
the Sunday performances. The Alliance
will stand with the actors and actresses.
whether Of the regular theater or the
vaudeville house, against Sunday per-
formances. and In so asserting It's oppo-
sition Is but stating the position OF the
higher Christian citizenship which .t
represents officially through upward OF