The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1929-03-14
WAGES
NEW FEAR in
HOLLYWOOD
RY nOROTHY HERZOG

Actors Equity endeaVored 10 es'
tablIsh a Hollywood branch for
motion picture players. The pro.
ducers frowned upon the project
inasmuch as in unionization there
is power. At the crucial moment,
the project crumpled and the
actors continued their lone-won
course.
Today, judging from the trend
Of conversations, the players rear
ize unionization would be their
salvation.
The foreign invasion has been
defeated. excepting the English
contingent, and they are to be
reckoned with.
1t was some three years ago
that English actors flocked to
Broadway, following In the sue
cessful wake of such sterling coun-
trymen as Beatrice Lille, Ger
trude Lawrence, Jack Buchanan
ct al. The influx was character
lied by mediocrity and willing
ness to accept less salary than
American players. Actors Equity
stepped in to protect the American
actor. England protects her own
just as efficiently.
There is observed in Hollywood
q marked increase of English
players a number OF whom are
willing to accept less salary than
ordinarily paid. l say this in no
spirit other than reportorial. But
the situation--What with talking
pictures and the influx of stage
emoters--is very serious for the
Hollywoodlans. Most of the re-
cruited stageites are members OF
Actors Equity, accustomed to It's
protection in circumstances por'
tending to salary and working
hours. AS contract screen play
ers. however, they take orders and
learn TO give more than AZ hours
weekly to the studio.
The more far-seelng screen
trouper. is worried. There are
approximately three steady pro-
ducing studios here: Warmers
(which has taken charge Of First
Nationally; Fox recently merged
with NJ, G. Nj; and Famous
Players. United Artists, Universal
and r. X. o. have longer pro-
duction lulls than the above men.
toned three.
With so many screen mergers
on tap, work sources for players
are diminishing. Which induced
a keen minded picture-ite to prog
nosticate: First, that the time
will come-and not in the distant
future--when casting for pictures
will be done through the central
casting offices in so far as tree
lancers are concerned. Central
casting Is the VIII Hays or pro-
ducers association. That this will
result in the personal player =
representative fading into the dis
card.
That the first producer to ask
for player will get him, regard
less whether a second producer
phones later and offers him more
money. This would mean salaries
being lowered by pressure or by
circumstances. It would make
the actor even more dependent
upon the producer. Not. mind
you, that the producer isn't
charming. merely indicate the
actors defenseless position.
Certainly, revolutionary change
Is formulating in Hollywood. Even
before q year has elapsed, the
change paSy acutely affect the
motion picture actor whose career
has been harnessed to the silver
sheet industry.
Gcp06p.a lifioG
Nocturnal kitchen suppers are
beginning to be the fad here.
abouts. 'Tother eve, after party;
Gloria Swanson hustled a group
to her house for a scrambled egg
repast. Eddie Goul6ing, James
Ford, and Harry D'Arrast were in
the party. They decided to get
another fem or. two and gave
Ruth Chatterton a 2:30 a. m.
Jingle. But Ruth had to work the
next day. 80 she returned 20
pleasant dreams. La Swanson hap.
pened to traipse upstairs and there
found Lois Wilson sound asleep.
Lois having dropped in earlier in
the eve.
So she was routed to the
hlICIIcH WucES q 11SIlI 4CPdSL was
munched by all May
Allison Quick has penned de-
lightful stock market yarn that
appears in this months Cosmo-
politan. The colony read it with
gusto-in the event one can read
thusly Bessie Love and
Eddie Foy lunching at Ye Mont
martre. Bessie will be honor
guest at a party given for her
at the Breakfast Club tomorrow
eve Gene Hum rises to
sigh: God Save the King. The
Queen can take care of herself. ="
He may or may not be referring
to poker. May McAvoy
is sorta getting ready for her
marriage in June. May hasn't
worked for some time now. That's
the village for you. Rushes and
lulls and vice versa
Jimmy Hall visiting Merna Ken.
nedy on the broadway" set.
Jimmy wore a pair OF brown
spats. Now Jimmy
Betty Bronson and Blanche Sweet
playing tennis on Franklin
Avenue court = Patsy Ruth
Miller and Tay Garnett, the di.
rector. speeding down the boule.
ward.