Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

The New York Strike — Day by Day New York — Trade practice conferences here submerged into the background as the entire local industry focused its attention on developments in what is regarded to date as one of the most serious strike situations affecting operation of major and independent theatres alike. The strike resulted with the refusal of distributors to recognize a demand by Local 306 not to service theatres which do not employ its operators. For years. Local 306 has been trying to induce Century circuit and Sam Cocalis to break away from Empire State union without success. Injunctions have been taken out from time to time with the result 306 has been unable to make the headway it had anticipated for relieving an unemployment condition within its ranks. As a final move, Local 306 members recently met and issued an ultimatum. It called for a strike at exchanges and theatres where its men are employed unless distributors would make every effort to bring “non-union” houses into line, the contention here being that Empire is a company union formed for the benefit of Cocalis, the late Jack W. Springer and Century circuit and that IATSE affiliates assisted in making the pictures on the coast and distributing to theatres in this area. In othrer words, 306 felt IA men should not handle films for “non-union” houses. Meanwhile, it is learned, other IA locals in the state are making moves to unionize theatres in various counties, but are not willing to take into the organizations nonunion operators wishing to join the union and preserve their jobs. Exhibitors are insisting on this and, from accounts, the plan on part of IA locals is not materializing as well as expected. Day-by-day developments follow: Saturday March 25 Nicholas M. Schenck, president of Loew’s: Leo Spitz, president of RKO Corp.; George E. Browne, head of the IATSE, and Joseph D. Basson, president of Local 306, hold special meeting at Spitz’s suite at the Essex House. Basson notifies Schenck and Spitz local has declared a strike and projectionists at exchanges and home offices are not to report for work Monday and would not return to work until exchanges cease servicing theatres in metropolitan area not employing Local 306 men; that pickets would parade exchanges and other union employes in exchanges would not pass picket lines. Basson further states that, in the event exchanges continue to deliver films to theatres not employing Local 306 men, members of the union are to be withdrawn from theatres where employed. Sunday, March 26 Distribution heads, with George J. Schaefer, RKO president, as spokesman hold all-day session at Hays office mapping out plans to meet union strike order. Issue first official statement on strike order with Big U, Columbia, Loew’s, Paramount, RKO, 20th-Fox, UA and Vitagraph co-signers. Status explained, and follows: “The projection room operators in our New York exchange and home offices have been called out on strike by Local 306. There is no dispute between Local 306 and the company over wages, hours or working conditions. “The strike has been called solely to coerce your company to refuse delivery of its films to any theatre in Greater New York which employs a projection room operator who is not a member of Local 306. “All projectionists in our New York exchange and home office and theatres are within the jurisdiction of Local 306, have been for a long time and are now members of that local. To comply with the demand of Local 306 would require us to breach a large number of contracts with independent theatres which do not employ members of that local. “We have been advised that to join with Local 306 in taking action which would shut off our film from these theatres, would be in violation of law. We have, therefore, been compelled to refuse the demand of Local 306.” Directed at the Century and Cocalis circuits, as well as numerous small opera tors, some exchangemen figure that, if Century were to accede to Local 306’s demands, it would add $250,000 annually to payroll and if smaller houses had to employ 306 men it would drive them out of business. Both large independent circuits undisturbed over situation. Coming within jurisdiction of the federal court, RKO, through Attorney William J. Donovan, petitions Judge William O. Bondy, who has been on reorganization for past six years, for hearing Monday and also for instructions. Monday, March 27 Schenck, slated to leave for coast with A1 Lichtman, his assistant, cancels. Instead, heads for Washington with J. Robert Rubin, M-G-M general counsel, (Continued on page 32-F) Strike Disorganizes New York Routine— -pl““ M Above, to the left, exhibitors are seen carting their own shows from the Film Center Building. Above, to the right, the open-mouthed one is waiting for his boss to come along in his car. Below, projectionists take to the picket line, again in front of the Film Center Building, as the police appear to maintain order. They had nothing to do but cool their heels. BOXOFFICE :: April 1, 1939 29