The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1929-06-08
HOLLYWOOD IS
ALL |HET UP
ON EQUITY
BY DOROTHY HERZOG
Copyright, 1929, Premier SyndIcats)

(COpyriEht, 1899, Premier syndiCats)
HOLLYWOOD, Calf, June 7.
Well, folks, as You know by now,
we've got new subject to get
hot and bothered over.
Yes, Actors Equity has finally
colonized In We flicker village. 1t
was nigh onto 4S hours ago that
official A. E. sent forth an edict
instructing members-and there
are over 1000 in Hollywood-to
sign no more contracts unless
they be Equity contracts. The
highlight of such a contract stip-
ulates a 48.hour week. Not an
hour more. Indeed, the day OF
health and dignity has come to
the lowly sinema.
The purpose of Actors Equity
is fair play. HitherfUre, the pro-
ducer has had everything his
way. He was the king pin. His
word spelt command. The actor
took it or left it. On the other
few stars were wont to raise
merry, you.know, because Of their
box office popularity, which hurt
the producer no end-financiaIly
ana OJnefWlSe.
With Actors Equity stripping
the bandage from old lady Justices
eyes, there'n be no more hoity
toity carryings.on from either
faction. The actor will work AZ
hours a week. Exit, skulklng. the
is hour or more day. Subsequent
ly, the actors health will not be
burned to shreds from working
too long under the cruel mean
descent lights or in the lily Venti-
lated sound stages.
Everybody's talking A. E.. all
eyes shoulder as the subject IL
discussed. Groups fall greedily
upon the current tidbit in Cafes
drawing-rooms, studios, beaches.
It's rather swell to zoom again.
There's no flighty talk Of "a
strike" The actor contends Equity
does as much for the producer
as it does for him. Why should
there be a strike? But IL the
producer proves adamant to Or
ganized Equity's demands, this Is
what may happen:
The electricians and property
men are members of the Ameri.
can Federation of Labor
The cameramen are strongly
organized.
The writer's have banded to-
gether.
The theater projectionists are
members Of the A. r. Of L.
A strike means they all walk
out. II would debit millions OF
dollars lost to producer and ex'
hibitor. OF course. such talk 10
celebrating across cup Of cof'
fee, but in reality-no. TO sQuelch
any enthusiasm for war. remem.
Der the income tax
It was about 10 years ago that
Actors Equity organized in New
York under the generalship OF
John Emerson and Frank Gil.
more. They brought fair play
into the theater. A girls life
was her own. She didn't have to
vamp her way to a job or live on
imagination. Only recently, ! am
told. a Broadway producer was
called on the Equity carpet for
getting too careless with the
Presidents English when job ap-
plicants came to see him.
There's really the spice Of
uuaintness in visualizing what a
sturdier scale such an institution
may give nomadic Hollywood.
George Arliss. who was among
the first to battle for Actors
Equity, Is now a Warner star.
He has a clause in his contract
that he quit work daily at 4:30
p. m. Doesn't matter what time
he begins. provided tits no earlier
that y a. m.
Corlnne Griffith Is another star
whose contract calls for an eight
hour day.
There may be others. If so,
don't know OF them. Why,
only recently, Marion Davies
worked from 7 p. m. to a. m.
making scenes for her new pic
ture. You know very we'll one
can't survive such deadly hours.
know a director who is an
avfully nice person but he's
megaphone owl whose energy is
appalling. Eighteen or 20 hours
on a stretch. day after day. means
nothing to him. But to his play.
ers-law, they're wrecks.
On the other hand. there are
snooty actors who simply can.
not stand success. They are al
ways late, thereby holding up the
company and costing terrific
overhead losses. The producer
.humors them because they are
screen nuggets. With Actors
Equity to appeal to, however, he
can smack them soundly and be
upheld.
Oh, yes, we've got excitement
in Hollywood.
6creenalities: A group of cos
TUNED Shriners were visiting John
Barrymore's General Crack" set.
Hundreds of extras were dolled up
in Gypsy costumes. The assistant
director called them on the set.
Imagine his chagrin when he
found Shriners mixed with 'em!
Ralph Ince went to sleep
in front Of his Malibou Beach
House. Which was perfectly all
right, except Ralph wore only
trunks. The sun baked him al
most a third degree burn. After
a week OF suffering in bed, Ralph
IL up and about again.
Harry Green, comedian, did the
same thing. lie visited George
Bancroft at Georges Santa Mon
lea Beach house mad went to sleep
in the sand. When he awoke he
wished he hadn't. Harry is also
under q doctors care now. and