“Theater Strike as in Chicago Feared Here”

Headline: “Theater Strike as in Chicago Feared Here”

Subhead: Ousting of Orchestra from St. Paul House May Lead to Walkout.

The possiblity of a theater strike in the Twin Cities and the Northwest, similar to that in Chicago which has left that city without amusements for two days, was feared today as local and national officials of the Musicans, Stagehands and Motion Picture Operators unions prepared to meet this afternoon with officers of the Northwest Theater Owners and Managers association in Minneapolis.

May Involve Others.

Recent announcement that a certain St. Paul theater was to be operated without an orchestra after September 1, resulted in conferences extending over several days. The protest of the Musicians’ union, it is learned, may involve the stagehands and film operators.

National offices of the three unions have been in the Twin Cities for the past week, it is said, and the meeting this afternoon at the Nicollet hotel will determine whether the musicians will walk out. Such a walkout, it is believe in union circles, would cause a sympathetic movement on the part of the stagehands and film operators.

Demand Orchestra Be Kept.

The musicians, it is understood are not asking for any increase in pay. They are demanding only that the orchestra be retained in the St. Paul theater.

Officials of all three unions appeared optimistic concerning the outcome of the meeting today.

Roy W. Moore, business representative of the moving picture machine operators of St. Paul, state today that so far as the operators in this city are concerned, satisfactory wage contracts have been completed with the theater owners.