Great Falls tribune., 1922-03-12
New York City, March "a novel

New York City, March "a novel
tea room. with actresses as wait
resses and tips forbidden, has just
opened its mid Victorian doors in an
old-fashioned house on West Forty
seventh street here. It is called 'The
Stage Door Inn and is the enterprise
of the National Stage Woman's ex-
| change, q newly incorporated organi-
zation of actresses and society women
whose chief purpose is to provide en-
ployment for hard-up members Of the
theatrical profession.
This has been one Of the worst
theatrical seasons that New York has
ever lived through. Play after play
has closed abruptly almost as soon as
it has opened, and as consequence
hundreds (some say thousands) of
actors and actresses are out OF jobs.
Some of these are managing to live
with rigid economy on their small
savings, but the majority have turned
to other lines of work. Many Of the
leading ladies Of yesteryear are now
holding secretarial jobs in Wall
chandise in New York shops. A
character actor Of once widespread
fame is now a clerk in a fashionable
mems wear shop, while two attractive
little actresses whose names were
fairly well known three years ago, are
now forcing best sellers upon the pub
lie in Fifth avenue bookstore. Still
others who have a knack for making
things-dolls, lamp shades, hats and
the like-are working industrously in
their own homes and praying for an
appreciative market.
origin Of tho idea
This last explains how the National
Stage Woman's exchange and Its tea
room came into existence. There was
a certain actress named Anita Claren-
don who had not been able to get q
part for two years. She tried secre-
tarial work and then interior decorat-
ing, but could not secure a really
worth while job because she had not
had sufficient experience. Finally, she
discovered that she could make lamp
shades with great skill and rapidity,
but she had no place in which to ex-
hibit them to the public. At this point
a friend who was going away for the
holidays offered the use Of her apart
ment-which fronted on busy street
for exhibition purposes. Miss Clar-
for several other actresses also en-
gagged in various lines of home manu-
facture.
The results of this brief holiday
exhibit were so encouraging that the
decided to open an exchange to
sell the many attractive novelties made
by jobless theatrical people. Then one
Of the exhibitors recalled the motto so
popular in New York-"When in doubt |
start q tea room!" So a tea room
was added to the plans; after which
some one suggested that they ought to
have a manicuring parlor.. Eventually |
the whole four stories Of the Exchange |
house will be crowded with its activ- |
ties.
The tea room, or Stage Door Inn.
opened with a formal reception recent
y, at which many prominent men and
Of the stage appeared as the
first patrons. Mr.. e. NJ. Cattle pre-
sented the inn with a diamond wrist
watch, to be ratified off for its bene-
lit, while William A. Brady was SO
much pleased with the decorations that
le Immediately gave the exchange a
contract for work on the sets for his
,ext two plays. The oak-paneled res
with its great fireplace, cozy
vail seats, flowered cretonne curtains
md slender table vases, is exceptionally
attractive, and the menu is equally so.
Walt Better Than Mattresses.
The young ladies, in white caps and
prons, who move swiftly and expertly
bout the tables serving food are all
ctresses of several years experience
N the stage. Miss Madge Surtrees,
he first to wait upon patron. is just
ack from Canada. where she appeared
n French Leave; and the Davenport
listers, nieces of the famous Fanny
Davenport, are others. They are sur
rsingly adept at waiting table, in view
f the fact that they have never done
/ before.