The New York herald., 1922-01-16
Friends Look for Him to
Start Lining Up Managers
by End Of Week.
BATTLE LINES FORMING
New International Association
Shown to Include Producers
Opposed to Unionism.

While 1T lad been reported by sew
eral Of his theatrical friends that
George M. Cohan would resume bust
ness as an American producer to-day
ana would reopen his former head
quarters at 227 West Forty-ffth
street. he did not return yesterday
from Atlantic City. where he went to
escape the notice attendant on his re-
Joining the Producing Managers AS
sociation.
Mr.. Cohan's personal representative,
Edward w. Dunn. secuted the idea
that Mr.. CoEan would start his activi-
ties again SO speedily, and said that
the old offices, which had been leased,
had been given up definitely. Mr.
Dunn said:
Since he went away I have re-
ceived no word from him. For the
present his affairs are marking time,
and have no idea how his London
ventures stand"
Mr.. Cohan Is expected back some
have no doubt he will start matters
humming In his endeavors to line up
the managers against the Equity closed
shop.
Expect Cohan to Succeed.
Knowing his success in obtaining big
concessions from the managerial body
in the form of a standard contract
soon after he helped found the Actors FL
deity League in the strike. Mr.. Cohan's
associates are confident he will be able
10 get their solid backing. especially
nince Sam II. Harris, president of the
p. M. A, said that this body was now
unified in its antagonisms to the doc
frine promulgated by the Actors Equity
Association that all casts must be
either entirely Equity or else nom
Equity.
A. H. Woods recently declared him
self in favor of the Equity when he
sent his resignation to the z. M A.
The Shuberts were considered to have
established cordial relations with the
actors organization after having been
on the outs with them. But II Is be-
lieved on Broadway that in case of a
showdown on the Equity shop the man.
ayers would be undivided in opposition
10 1t.
Tho managers already are making
ready for a strike. which they expect
will come when the strike agreement
of 1919 expires in 1924, and the Equity
will try to enforce the Equity shop
against the p. NJ. A.
All Showmen ganixed.
The recently formed International |
Theatrical Association was established |
10 consolidate opposition to various |
kinds OF closed shop In the theater |
Vaudeville. motion picture and bur-
lesque interests were called to Join the !
legitimate producers to present q solid |
front Howard Kyle, secretary of the
Fidelity and close friend of George NJ.
Cohan, said as much yesterday. adding:
Walter Vincent, president of the In
ternational Theatrical Association, told
me that Immediately after the Inter-
national was formed the Equity called
him up and asked him what its pur-
pose was. Mr.. Vincent told them that
rs no understood 1t they were organ
ized to see that every one gets square
deal. Evidently what that means ia
to fight the closed shop. for under the
union way every one can't get a square
deal"
As an instance Of what union meth !
DDS might achieve Mr.. Kyle told for |
the first timc OF Mr.. Cohan's first Bit
ter experience with unions, which dis
closed that his opposition to them had
been developed years ago, at the incep- |
ton of his career ms a manager.
why Cohan Was hitter.
The incident, Mr.. Kyle said, was re-
lated by Mr.. Cohan himself at lunch
con at the Claridge. where Equity and
producing leaders met before the strike. |
and where Mr.. Cohan first raised his
voice against the closed shop. Mr..
Kyle said:
Mr.. Cohan was at the time q member |
of the old vaudeville artists union, the |
white Rats. and suffered from its |
tyranny. 1t was with his first personal |
venture as manager, when he owned |
so per cent OF the show. They were |
playing at the old Savoy Theater. and |
Mr.. cohan said he was looking forward |
TO a prosperous week In Brooklyn. In |
fact, he had made arrangements to pres |
ent the show over there with Mr. Hyde |
Of Hyde & Behman, an old friend whom
he had never disappointed
''Mr. Cohan thought that everything
was harmonious, when suddenly the
actors came to him on Friday and told |
him they had to strike. He said that |
he was a member Of the union himself,
and that they couldn't be called out |
against him They said they knew that,
but they'd have to walk out under orders |
just the Same. He called up the union
headquarters. and said that his company
couldn't possibly have any complaint
against him. Headquarters said they
knew II, but there'd been some trouble
out West. 30 his company would have
to come out.
'They did cali them out. ana Mr..
Cohan was unable to fill his engage
ment In Brooklyn. His old friend, Mr..
Hyde, went to his grave without ever
speaking to him again. That's why he
urged them at that luncheon not to have
any union shop or any strike.
"Does Not Aim 60 XIII Equity"
"rt's ridiculous to say Mr.. Cohan
wants to destroy the Equity, when he's
belonged to every actors organization
himself. He's SO honest that he gets ex-
cited about people who. he says. talk one
thing and do another.
II lave no desire 60 destroy the