Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

COVERING MICHIGAN, OHIO. KENTUCKY, WEST VIRGINIA AND WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA "SITDOWH" IN DETROIT FIZZLES Detroit Delivery Goes 100% Union Detroit — Signing of a contract with the union by G. E. LeVeque of Cinema Service, city film trucking company, halted a twohour sit-down strike of his drivers in the company’s quarters in the film building last Saturday. With Howard Craven already contracted with the union for his Exhibitors’ Service, all of city delivery is now handled by union drivers. The scale calls for $35.00 weekly for drivers, and $40.00 weekly for the foreman. The contracts with the truck delivery groups were negotiated for the union by D. P. Erskine and Walter Markey, AFL organizers, who have been in charge of forming the Detroit Film Inspectors, Shippers and Poster Handlers’ Union. Await Home Office Response Meanwhile, as forecast in Boxoffice last week, the union has found it necessary to deal with each individual exchange. Overtures have been made to all of the major and independent companies by Erskine and Markey, aided by an employes’ group, whose names have not been divulged by the union. The wage scale, as carried numerous times in these columns, has been sent by branch managers to New York. It was learned this week that many of the company home offices may send representatives here to look over the situation and possibly deal with the union. It was understood that the union has set a deadline of this weekend as the final date for active negotiations to begin. The union was still encountering considerable opposition from M-G-M employes. AUSTRIAN FEE CUT Washington — Word has been received here of a reduction of 10 per cent in the recent Austrian contingent fee increase of 25 per cent against American films. The French industry has announced intention of withdrawing from the Austrian market. Exchange Unionizing Not by lATSE Detroit — Though reports from other sections of the country are that the lATSE is actively in back of the AFL film exchange union organization, Roger Kennedy, business ageyit of the local operators’ union, this week said that he had received no word from his mternational headquarters in regard to the situation. “We naturally will give all our moral support to any AFL activity,’’ said Kennedy, “but we cannot take any active part until we receive word from Washington.” Trendle-Para. Pact for DDT Renewed Detroit — The management contract of George W. Trendle with Paramount for operation of the United Detroit Theatres here has been renewed for another year and official confirmation was expected this week , Boxoffice learned authoritatively here. Trendle returned last week from Florida where he attended the Paramount partners convention. Trendle’s original contract is a five-year management pact, the first year of which was up Thursday, March 31. This is the first renewal and will run until April 1, 1938. Profit Determines Renewal Stipulations of the agreement are that, provided a minimum net profit is shown at the end of each succeeding year of the contract, it will be renewed. It is understood that the first year’s profit exceeded this amount considerably. Trendle is president and general manager of the local Paramount subsidiary, which includes four first-run downtown houses and eleven second-run and subsequent-run de luxe neighborhood theatres. Difference Over Discharge of an Employe Is Settled Detroit — The sit-down protest strike of five Paramount exchange inspectors here Monday over the dismissal of another girl fizzled out Tuesday, with all of the girls, except the discharged girl, going back to work. A conference of the striking girls with Johnny Howard, branch manager, late Monday quickly disclosed the facts that the girl was dismissed for insubordination and not for alleged union activity, as AFL organizers had contended. Began Strike Monday The five girls on Monday, fortified with food, matresses and other conveniences, began sitting, declaring they would not stop until the one girl was re-employed. The mattresses were ordered removed immediately from the inspection room by the fire marshall because of their inflammability. The shipping and poster departments continued to operate at Paramount Monday, while the girls were out. However, following closing hours, the shippers and poster clerks remained in the building. Four uniformed policemen kept everyone away from the front and rear of the building “by orders of the management.” Union Meeting Held Another meeting of the film employes’ union was held Tuesday evening at the labor temple here. D. F. Erskine, AFL organizer, was in charge of the gathering. Cleveland Marking Time Cleveland — No visible progress has been made in bringing to a head the unionization of shipping rooms of local exchanges, and business in these departments is going on as usual without interruption. Although it is a matter of common knowledge that the shippers, inspectors and poster clerks have signed up almost to a man to join the Packers and Wrappers Union of the American Federation of Labor, no demands have been presented to any of the local exchange officials. Demands Are Modified A modification of the original demands (Continued on page 16) MIDEAST EDITION Is One of the Seven Sectional Editions in Which BOXOFFICE Is Published Weekly. The Other Six Editions Are: NEW ENGLAND, CENTRAL, MIDWEST, WESTERN, SOUTHERN, EASTERN. ELSIE LOEB, 12805 Cedar Road, Cleveland Heights, Ohio. R. F. KLINGENSMITH, 1701 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pa, EUGENE D. RICH, 2425 Cass Ave., Detroit, Mich., Phone Randolph 7978. CLARA HYDE, 127 Tremont St., Ft. Thomas, Ky., Phone Highland 1667.