MUSIC HALL ARTISTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3102, 27 August 1913, Page 61

MUSIC HALL ARTISTS.

JOHNSON’S ENGAGEMENTS. LONDON, August 19. Ihe engagement of Jack Johnson, now in London, to appear in suburban music halls has raised the question of musio hall ethics.

Hie Evening News declares that the public do not want to see the* chief figure in unsavoury cases appear on the stage, 'ihe Variety Artists’ Federation has arranged to discuss the question.

August 21. Ihe executive committee of the Variety Artists’ Federation lias strongly protested against the tendency of music halls to engage people of unsavory notoriety earned in the law courts and elsewhere. Jack Johnson’s engagement is a question of decency, and the executive deeply reregrets that time did not allow of drastic action.

Tlie music halls employing Johnson have offered to cancel or postpone the contracts of artists'not wishing to appear on tha same programme as Johnson.

the County Council is still in recces, hut it lias power to make representations which will deter the licensee of a mnsio hall from giving Johnson an engagement owing to the fear of the non-renewal of the license. The head of the syndicate is leaving Johnson to decide the question for himself. Mr Jenkins, Johnson’s manager, says that to prevent him from making a living on such private grounds would establish a standard which will V* very prejudicial to variety performers. " A ugust 24.

Mr Coote secretary of the National Vigilance Association, in a letter to th< press, says that the engagement of John* son to appear in London music halls is t vulgar insult to the American people. Iw cidents of less importance have called fol ambassadorial interference. Johnson is in London. He declares h( will certainly fulfil his music hall engage ments. August 25. Johnson has been booked to appear in London for a month, and will then proceed to the provinces and Ireland. When asked whether he intended to fight he replied in the negative, and said he' intended to draw the colour line like some other actors. PARIS, August 22. Johnson declares that he is totally indifferent to the English attacks. He had shown France that he was a gentleman, and had decided to reside in France because it was the only free and unprejudiced country in the world.