Evening star., 1925-12-06
SEEK
SAFETY J! f IN F. OF |.
Consider Union to Resist
Threat of Play "Corner"
by William Fox.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, December 5.-Forty
leading New York dramatists, com
posing the Dramatists' Guild of the
Authors League of America, Inc, are
considering applying for membership
in the American Federation of Labor
or taking some drastic action to fore
stall what they construe as an at
tempt on the part Of William Fox, mo-
ton picture producer. to corner the
New York play market.
A meeting Of the playwrights last
night was attended by Arthur Rich
man, Charming Pollock, Hartley Man
ners. owen Davis. George Middleton,
Roi Cooper Megrue and other authors
of like standing. The writers are
much alarmed over the situation and
believe some action on their part is
imperative.
Maurice Eevnes. production man
ager Of the William Fox Corporation.
admitted today that Fox representa-
tives have approached number OF
New York's leading producers ano
that contracts are about to be
signed" with them whereby Fox will
finance the producers in the produc-
ton of plays for the legitimate stage.
The names of the producers are not
divulged and could not be learned
from them. II IS reported, however,
that the proposed arrangement would
form a most powerful combination In
the New York theatrical world.
Negotiations Explained.
AS explained by Mr.. Revnes and
other Fox officials, the negotiations
under consideration have the follow
ing features:
Mr.. Fox agrees to finance pro
ducer in the production Of play Tor
the legitimate stage. He gets his
share OF the profit from the produc-
ton and reserves the right 70 pass
upon the play before ii is purchased
He also. of course, has the opportuni-
y to bid against other producers Tor
the motion picture rights. similar
arrangement Is under consideration
in each instance. officials state.
FOX spokesmen insisted that the
action is considered because the Fox
company finds il impossible 10 get
sufficient number OF stage hits tor
filming each year, and that, by hnanc-
ing producers OF stage plays, MI. FOX
hopes to stimulate production and
thus have a greater number OF plays
from which to choose each year. They
declare that no further advantage
save the profits which result while
the play is ''on the boards VIII he
enjoined by the Fox interests.
See Competition Lost
The dramatists charge that the ar
rsngement would eliminate CompeJl-
ton when the motion picture rights
TO plays were up for sale, in that
Fox would be the only bidder. They
feel that with five of the leading New
York producers working In a combi-
nation the field for marketing their
plays would be greatly restricted.
A comparat,vely small number OF
PLAYS now are adapted for the screen,
they assert. and such an agreement
would force them to write plays for
the legitimate stage with a view to-
ward their ultimate adoption for the
screen, and would not only interfere
with the art OF playwrighting but
would reduce considerably their
chances for marketing q legitimate
play not ada pied for screening later.
In addition. there is the fear that
Fox. having bought a play through a
producer whom he is financing, would
run IL on the stage just long enough
to fulfill the terms Of the standard
contract approximately 90 perform
ances. and then take il off the stage
for adaptation for the screen. Thus,
while the author would receive Ii lump
sum for the motion picture rights, his
royalties for the legitimate production
would be cut of when they might con-
tinue and the value of the play be en-
hanced by longer run.
BY allying themselves with the
American FederatiA of Labor many
of the playwrights believe this situa-
ton could be effectively met. This
action would ally them with the
Actors Equity Association. a part OF
the federation.
Thus. the authors feel, if one of
their number were unfairly dealt with
by a producer working in the Fox
agreement, they would be in strate-
gic position to call strike against
that particular producer and then en-
list the support Of Equity"
Failing action by the Dramatists'
Guild on the suggestion of entering
the American Federation OF Labor. a
plan IS TO be advanced by which the
guild wuold make an effective alli-
ance with the Actors Equity Associa-
ton.
Although various authors discussed
the situation today, the Dramatlsts'
Guild, as an organization. refused TO
make an Official statement, ''on advice
of counsel" pointing out that as they
had not been consulted in the mat
! ter" the authors feel that they do not
yet Officially" know enough of the
proposed arrangements to declare Of
| fcially their stand.