The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-20
ACTORS BROKE
 FAR FROM HOME FACE ORDEALS
Real Tragedy Confronts
 30 Honey Bunch Play , CTS Stranded Here

... ..s .s
 Stranded, thousand miles or more from home.
 Some of them heavily in debt, with no money looming in"
 Or, to use their own characteristic idiom, We're on the. rocks, and no hope in sight"
 That, in short, is the condition of some 30 members of the Honey Bunch Musical Comedy company, the summer engagement of which was brought to a sudden halt Wednesday night at the Lyric theatre.
 { And of all places in the United States and all times of the year to Ego broke", in. Birmingham in the middle of June is the worst, they say.
 Birmingham is hundreds of miles from the beaten path of touring amuse- meft companies Jumps from here will have to be made to Atlanta or New York; to Chicago or Texas before work. can be had, they declare. And This is the season of the year when complete casts have been signed for virtually all summer enlargement shows, and little too early in the season to hope for a position filling in for some who had been found unsG tisfactory on sne of these companies.
 Wires Busy
 Telegraph wires were kept busy Thursday sending messages to various producers with which members of the company hope to secure work. They also carried many return messages, telling the heart-rendint story that Eve are filled up right now. Keep in touch with us."
 But the entire company from the Head" players and speciality workers, down to chorus girls, are accepting the blow with that same philosophical view that marks the theatre workers the country over.
 We'll, remarked one dainty chorus beauty, it might be worse. I don't know how, but there's always some thing worse than bad situations, no matter how terrible they may seem at the time."
 T don't know what I'm going to do, another said I've wired every one know that might offer me posi- ton. I've received some turndowns and have had no replies from some. But one thing I'm not going to do is worry. It won't do a bit of good, and It'll only make things much worse"
 Many k1OmeloSS i; Many or the company have no homes to which they can turn in time of heed. It IS to these that the predica- ment seems most discouraging. But even these can see nothing to be. gained by, worry and sobs. ,~..
 Its strange game-this show busi- ness, they say. Even when things seem brightest some little accident is kn AL. IL
 Manager Ed Raymond of the Lyric, Is doing his "bit' in aiding the com pany. He is seeking to place various members in other enterprises, and is Tn many ways being a true friend in need" .
 Some members of, the company al- ready have obtained work elsewhere. but they are in the minority, and it IS the less fortunate majority that is facing what probably is one of the greatest ordeals in life-that of being broke" In strange town and no place to which to appeal for aid.
 There are several. individual cases that might be mentioned. All are tragic to a high degree. One is par ticularly so. :. 1t is that of one.-of the Head" men of the company. "Crippled financial backing for the show has re- suited in drop off in his savings, In fact, he has practically no money on hand, His wife is travelling with him.
 Third Experience
 And this is the third time he has been with show that was forced to close. during his comparatively short stage career. But even he does not complain. s.
 ] The only complaint from any is {: s'Oh, why is it that the theatre has to be this way. It's always been so, and probably always will be. But why should we of the profession sui. fer more than others{in life We work person beiisvesNtrying @ to "selI" T"Ssc%se o,1Ts selves and our productions, and yet we constantly have to live in fear of the show going 'broke'"