The New York herald., 1922-07-26
AUGUSTUS THOMAS
HEADS STAGE WORLD
Managers Elect Him to Posi-
ton Analogous to That of
Hays in Movies.
GIVE HIM WIDE POWERS
Playwright to Be Arbiter of
Policies and to Compose
Differences.
GIVE HIM WIDE POWERS

Augustus Thomas, dean of American
playwrights. was chosen yesterday to
a position in the theater analogous to
that of Will H. Hays in the moving
picture world and to Judge Lands in
organized baseball. His appointment.
which had been expected for some
time. came at a meeting OF the PRO
ducing Managers Association. He will
occupy the post Of executive chair
man." and as arbiter of the destinies
Of the managers he will occupy an Of
flee in their headquarters at 221 West
Forty-fifth street and have regular
hours for transacting business daily.
1t is hoped by the managers that Mr..
Thomas will be instrumental In avert
ing any repetition of the actors strike
Of l919 since he enjoys the confidence
of both sides and was the deciding fac
tor that induced both sides to sign the
peace agreement for five years which
settled the strike. He Is also, because
of his prestige and practical experience
in matters of the theater, expected to
be able to settle problems of railroad
of passenger and baggage rates, and of
labor union disputes.
The Importance of the managers ac-
ton in thus delegating large powers
over the legitimate theater to one man
may be gathered from the fact that the
Producing Managers Association has a
membership of fifty-three, comprising
practically all the leading producers for
the American stage.
Hopes of the Association.
What the association hopes to achieve
by its action was summed up by Sam
II. Harris, its president, in introducing
Mr. Thomas and by Mr.. Thomas him
self in a statement issued to the press
after his appointment. Mr.. Harris
said:
1.-THE members of the Producing Man
ayers Association, recognizing the bene-
fit that similar organizations hope for
in the concentration of executive activ-
ity and its delegation to a single rep
informed and impartially
have asked Mr.. Augustus
Thomas to serve In such capacity for
them under the title of executive chair
man.
"Mr. Thomas's place. in the opinion
Of both the public and the profession,
his familiarity with all the departments
Of the theater, literary. artistic. inter-
pretative, promotive and managerial, and
with all their respective problems; his
acquaintance with It's foremost
men and women, his sympathy with
their hopes and ambitions. all indicate
him as one most likely 10 advance to the
toward which all are dis
posed and to do so in way most
agreeable to the public and most help
full to the important arts and interests
involved"
Mr.. Thomas touched upon the broader
aspects of his new position In the fol-
owing statement:
"A long acquaintance with the MEM
bers of the Producing Managers Asso-
citation and business relations with many
,f them In the past and present enable
me to know that wish to do fine things
IN the playhouse Is as strong with them
as any desire to make money.
"They have many problems, as has
every organization, and for the questions
,f their proper solution are as humanity
divided as other groups. They are sane
,nough to think, however, that some of
this division may be due to the bias of
personal interests as well as to personal
To "Mnke for Team Work."
They have paid me the compliment
Of putting me In a place to compose not
only those differences. but to present
fairly the interests of other elements
In the theater with which they come In
contact, such as the dramatists. the ac-
tors, the musicians and others cooperat-
Ing, as we'll as that other element with
out which there could be no theater. the |
public itself.
NO art In the world Is so sensitive
10 the atmosphere that surrounds II as
hat OF the theater. There seems to me |
A chance to serve a profession with |
which have had life long association |
md to advance the noblest and most |
potent art that touches the emotions Of
, people" "A