New-York tribune., 1922-12-18
New Years Eve,
Benefits Under
Fire Of Clergy
lsrd's Day Alliance Official
sees Move as Entering
! Wedge for Opening of All
NY. Theaiers on Sundays
TrOhnian Denies Charge
Event Simply Holiday Gift TO
Deserving Charity. Says
President Of Actors Fund

-. Rev Harry L. Bowlby. general
...ry Of the Lords Day Alliance
NJ i,nit.d states, denounced yes
-, -. plan Of New Ycrh theatrical
...,,r. 70 give New Years Eve tSun-
.v night benefit performances iof
!. ~ Actors Fund Of American as the
..,.,,os I, w.dge Of q movement 20 open
=. ,.ss.,us,e thcatcrs regularly on
Sunday nights.
n.n,.l Frohman, president o. INC
,.,or., Fund of Amcries. N rep. ~ =.
.,.t.mert denied pointoiSnA tnAs
X .s,svers had even toe remotest
1870, 20. n seeking 10 open their
Nouses on SUNDAY nigaS '''4'' s'
a. ne projected oeEsnr ..;a ,,,o
@Ths Lords Day AlliAnse' Saie @ tne
ao-,hv abatement sent TO TIE Ilrioonei
~ I'm 'e,nnnposed 70 the opening Of the the
~ ~ ~ sandal. and especially 20 M
~, appears clearly enough 20 be
.,oa6sre OF the real pgrpose Of the
c,',Isv opsniug. II woald be a viola
-. - The Sunday Laws. 70 is not IN
ste real sense Of the word chsr't.'
h.r.ft. but 3 move 10 enrich the poek-
80 on the theater managers. With
10 SUNDAY prices, probably twice ss
MSh as on other days OF the week, ioi
~ New Years Eve performance, anu
ven With 20 per cent Of the proht'
S.ise 20 the Actors Fund, one can easily
-, how much money would fall INC
Iks eoRers Of tho theatrical managers
Asks Citizens TO Back Fight
Mr. BowIby suggests that from "hu
~,r;tariau standpoint the thinking
rIdtens of New York should rlse
ss,itst such a use Of Sunday night
D.csmber 81, New Years Eve, ard IN
.l1t that any benefit performance
,hould be held on other times during
.ks week" II permitted. the New Year
Rve performance, whatever the pro
s,ssions 70 the contrary, could easily
h,eone the entering wedge TO Sunday
n,rformances In the Legitimate the
stsr.s Mr.. Bowlby holds.
A totally different picture Of the
nuToose and intent Of The New Years
beps6t was drawn by Mr.. Frohmau
When the Bowlby statement had been
explained 70 him.
aThere Is absolutely no idea on the
sert Of any one connected with the
bensht that II should be an entering
wedge 70 regular Sunday perform
spess.n he said. NO one apparently
wants that. The actors sssuredly do
not. and the Equity is on guard to pre-
gsnt Il. am certain | do not want
sunday shows and most of the mana
gers know feel the same.
This project Is very simple aud is
net open 70 inisapprehension. Thirty
Of the New Pork managers sgTeed 10
give al the profits of New Years Eve
performances 10 the Actors Fund Of
Aneriea All that will be retained
from the boz Office receipts are sum
ygneiens 70 pay the actors, chorus peo-
ph and other employees.
Holiday Gift, Says Frohman
II resolves itself into this: the man.
aEtfs wish to make a New Years gifi
70 this splendid professional charity
which annually disburses 100000 ant
more 70 needy members. Our demands
are unusually heavy this year, and th,
IN OF the managers would be Of enor.
nous help to us. As for tho public, /
VII be given an opportunity for en-
artainment on New Years Eve and 70
IN expression Of benevolenee towar'
ne acting profession at the same
tine"
Mr. Frohman and Augustus Thomas
had Of the Producing Managers A.
Deiation, are in charge OF the details
tor the benefit, and they are 20 ask tn,
city authorities to-day for assurancei