THEATRICAL FIGHT.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17220, 10 August 1921, Page 11

THEATRICAL FIGHT.

MEW YOBK IJBEATBBS OfcQSE. , Mr E. J. Tait,. managing director of J. 0. Williamson, Ltd.). recently received. a letter from Mr George Highland, one of lb* firm's producers, giving an appalling account of '.affairs theatrical in tho United' States. Writing from New York, under dato June 82nd, Mr Highland states that the/ stagehands demands in that city for fivo dollars per ehow, hare resulted in hundreds being turned out of work. Charles Dillingham, • who runs the Hippodrome, has bo far resented the demand that he has decided not to put on the customary biff Bhow at that house, 'but to turn the place into a picture theatre. The closing of this one place of amusement has turned adrift 1100 actors, choristers, and stage hands, who will further glut the already overcrowded labour market. George Cohan, Mr Highland reports, has also retired' owing to the . "Actors' Equity demands," and the closing of his theatres will put 600 to 700 more out of work. Kie position has become so grave that over on©, hundred touring managers have banded together to malto.a fight agoinet what thoy consider to> be: the" unreasonable demands of Association, tfhe burlesque man-, agcra havo also formed, another b»B Association to fight th* extraordinary combination, formed by the actors, chorus, stage hands, and musician*, and it looks .•««•; if a long struggle is pending. The fiflhutwrt aanaroment is putting pictures into 80 of MS theatres, and is; besides, cutting' 4tt of m -three-act plays: into 35winiitee sketches for production' with small ca*ta. • . , Tbero are many AustraHana connected with the profeseion m the' States, and the outJook for them in view of this news cannot be wry «n«Ouniging. >Jfc is likely to cause ■ their friends in Australia no little concent