By 1919 the former Theatrical Syndicate had dissolved and its coalition, the United Managers Protective Association (UMPA) had been reduced to just the Klaw and Erlanger theatres.
[2] The remaining independent theater producers were in disarray, competing among each other and poaching stars while facing common problems of censorship, taxation, ticket speculation, and the impending negotiations with Equity.
[3] Attendees included Golden's fellow producers Fred Zimmerman, Archibald Selwyn, Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., Winchell Smith and L. Lawrence Weber.
At one session David Belasco banged so hard on the table that he split his hand and needed medical aid.
The mood of the lunch meeting quickly turned to anger, with the managers adamant that they would not let Equity establish a closed shop.
To bring the agreement into effect, Lee Shubert and his allies within the PMA planned to force a vote to dissolve that coalition and create a new one called the Managers' Protective Association (MPA).