Phillips County herald., 1922-08-10
JOBLESS ACTORS
TURN TO STORES
Dullness IL Theater World Trans
forms Players Into Floor
walkers and Statesmen.
HARD SUMMER IS EXPECTED
More Than Halt Of country's Actors
Ar o. VIII ss Out Of Employment
This eummer-Movis Work a
Offers No Hope. "

Otfers No Hope.
New York.-New York's department
store fioorwalkers always have been
noteworthy for their politeness and
urbanity. Improving on their manners
would seem like painting the lily. Yet
many a woman shopper has comment
ed Of late on the fact that some Of
these human Baedekers display q
debonair air that is unusual. even for
floorwalkers. And many Of them have
seemed In some way familiar.
Similarly, at the counters. patrons
have found new faces and personalities
Of different stamp. Some Of the
statesmen, like the floorwalkers. have a
carriage different from their fellows.
Men shoppers as well us women have
been intrigued by some of the sales
people plainly not true to type.
where have l seen him beforef' the
women ask. and "Her face is famil-
lar" the men say.
They have seen those same faces
heard those same voices, from their
seats In Broadway theater. Times
are hard along the Rialto these days
with the road practically closed md
the summer season coming on. Many
an actor and actress Is only too glad
to become department store clerk
or floorwalker.
There are $1,000 men and women
playing in the United States. Half
OF these are or will be without eni-
ployinent in their chosen calling this
summer. Already that part Of Broad.
why which enjoys the term Rialto Is
taking ON midsummer appearance.
Gathered on street corners, strOllin:
along or chatting by twos and threes
In front of buildings devoted to book
ing agencies and managers Offices are
men and women who bear the unmis-
taxable stamp Of stage folk out OF II
job.
Wolf Around the Corner.
Spring may be here. but It's pres
ence Is not heralded in the garb OF
these players. Fur coats are still In
evidence, and to the initiated the
gowns and hats of the women and the
suits of the men are manifestly of
winter vintage. The winter itself has
been hard one with more than 5000
players who usually have road en-
gagements forced to remain idle or
find other employment. Summer viii
see the wolf hungrier and more pow
erful and the door fastenings In some
cases unable to withstand his attacks.
But the day has gone by when the
player need go hungry or without
shelter. The Actors FUND and the
Equity association see to 1t that no
member OF the profession In good
standing has to walk the streets. And
1t is significant OF the strength Of the
reserve funds Of the profession, rs u
whole. that up TO date only eleven play
ers have applied to the Equity for food
money. But the association expects
and is ready to meet large Increase
In the number of those applying for
such assistance In the coming months.
The nctor or. actress Is n person
with temperament. Once he or she
plays on Broadway Mt salary OF
$3.50 or $500 II week. that figure In
his own mind fixes his future rating.
A Living on the Road.
But there is good living for the
actor and large profits for the MANA
gers In the summer shows. and. thanks
to them, the smaller towns AID cities
which have gone without the Broad
way successes because of the increas-
Ing cost OF transportation and the
high prices charged for plays given
by Inferior companies. viii see during
the coming months mnny OF the hits OF
the year.
The tent shows are not Of the type
associated here In tile East with street
carnIvnls and country fairs. They put
on Broadway successes with conipe-
tent companies and good settings.
last summer the proprietor OF n tent
show, who toured only Nebraska.
clenncd up sis.OOO with plays OF the
character Of Turn 10 the Right" The
proprietor Of repertoire company
who Inst year played In Teens aud the
Southwest was credited with tnkins
IN profit npproximaiing $4,000. The
repertoire was not Uncle Toms
e,nbIn," "Tcn Nights In n Bnrroom.'
"East Lynne" nnd "Thc Two Or
phnns." either. II consisted OF com
cdIcs and drnmns which Ind been
broadway Successes Of the preceding
year but never had been presented In
that territory.
II IL to these companies that The
players out Of n Job nrc turning who
prefcr three menis day even though
their pride bc Jolied. To the I'M
initiated. II would mol ncepi that the
depression In the moving picture the
ntcr business would affect players OF
tho legitimate stage. Nevertheless
this TX the cnse. When ilie moving
picture studies were nt the height Of
production. us they were NJ to q yenf
nro, with studios operating In the
metropolitan district. the legitimate
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