Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1917 - Jun 1918)

X H B O R H R D Chicago Industry Combines to Fight Tyranny of Union Obtain Injunction in Circuit Court of Cook County Restraining Operators' Organization from Further Interference in Conduct of Business Charging a well-established plan practically to obtain c hrough the unionizing of every employe of picture theatres :ommercial slide, film and equipment manufacturers, throu >btained an injunction in the Circuit court of Cook county itage Employes of the United States and Canada from fur While the recent ultimatum of the union under the nam tors that operators would no longer run slides of any nature he matter to a head and lead to the legal action, it is bu » the theatres by the union arrogant in its power. ontrol of the motion picture industry in the city of Chicago and the film exchanges, owners of theatres, film exchanges, gh their attorney. Louis F. Jacobson, last week sought and restraining Local 110 of the International Alliance Theatrical ther interfering with them in the conduct of their business, e of the National Advertising Film Company notifying exhibother than those having the sanction of the union, brought t one in a long series of indignities heaped on the owners Joseph P. Armstrong, president of he union; H. McCullough, vice-presient; H. Mitz, corresponding secretary: ial Johnstone, financial secretaryreasurer; T. E. Malov, business agent nd Fred Havill, Peter Kuniff, C. P. hea and S. E. Kelleher. members of he union are all named as those whom he injunction operates against. In addiion John C. Shafrank, alleged manager f the National Advertising Film Co., is lso named. Would Control Advertising Notice of the part the union intended 3 play in the control of advertising lides in the theatres came to the attenon of exhibitors some weeks ago when ircular letters were mailed from the eadquarters of the union to all operators, notifying them that from that ate they were to run none but slides earing the label of the National Adertising Film Co. I Upon inquiry of Mr. Shafrank. who /as named as manager of the hitherto nheard of Company, exhibitors were ild that the communication meant ist what it said; that in the future the nion would have charge of the advertisig slides and would receive whatever I bmpensation was forthcoming from le running of the same. In their fancied security the officials J the union made no exception of any ind of slides. They even went so far ; to notify the Four Minute Men's isociation that in the future the slides l^ey used for illustrating their patriotic Iks would have to bear the label of \z union and the National Advertising >mpany. Cashier's Union Sought This followed closely upon known acvities of the union to form an assoation among the cashiers of the moan picture theatres. While the cashrs were not to be associated with Local 0 it was evident that the union thus rmed would be under the domination the operator's union. :There was also well' under way a moveent to organize all the employes of the irious film exchanges including the film spectors and those working in the ft lipping room. Quick to see the danger unless some lmediate action was taken to offset 'e machinations of the union exhibitors eetings were held and plans discussed ading to a solution of the problem. • hen investigation divulged that the lion also had designs upon the film ex■ anges. this branch of the industrv was invited to sit in at the conferences. Slide manufacturers and equipment manufacturers soon joined. Bill Huge Document The bill upon which the injunction was granted by Judge Oscar M. Torrison of the Circuit court contains in all about 290 typewritten pages outlining fully the apprehension felt by the industry unless the practices of the union are curbed. In addition there are alsc appended many affidavits of exhibitors and exchange men concerning their experiences with both Shafrank and Armstrong. While the injunction was only issued Friday of last week it is said that already there have been overtures from the officials of the union seeking some compromise before final hearing on the proceedings are set. Just what the nature of the settlement warned by the operators is. could not be learned. Some of the activities of the union as reviewed in the bill are as follows: That the union has entire say in the matter of hiring and discharging operators and helpers, the only function remaining to the exhibitors is that of paying the salaries. Compel Organized Help That the union had sought to compel cashiers, ushers, doormen, janitors, film inspectors and shipping room employes to become members of the union or of CLARA KIMBALL YOUNG In a Scene From "The Reason Why" (Select Pictures 1 unions organized by the union and under the domination of the same. That exhibitors had been notified that representatives of the union would make weekly inspection of their projection machines at a charge of $3 per visit, these inspections being necessary before union operators would be allowed to run machines. In a signed affidavit from Simeon Griever of Griever & Herz, film distributors, it is charged that the Ford Weeklys were made the prey of the Xational Advertising company. These weeklys. according to Mr. Griever are manufactured by Henry Ford at a cost of $200,000 annually with the sanction of George Creel, head of the bureau of public information. They are distributed to exhibitors free as patriotic propaganda. Government Not Immune According to Mr. Griever the fact that they were shown out of deference to the United States government made no difference to the officials of the union who insisted that that body be paid S5 per day for the showing of them. Henry' Ford could well afford it. they informed the exchange man when he protested. Morris Kline of the Strand Film Service also had an unpleasant experience when the union seized upon a film which he had purchased concerning the activities of '"Billy Sunday." They notified him that in order to have this film shown in Chicago he would have to "pay S5.000 in cold cash or a certified check." They finally magnanimously arbitrated the matter and agreed to take forty percent of the gross proceeds from the sale of the film When John B. Bordonski of the Chopin Theatre went to the union headquarters to have two operators assigned to the new theatre of which he was the lessee, his request was overheard by Maloy. the business agent. Maloy informed Bordonski that he had been notified by the Building Trades Council not to assign any operator to the theatre until settlement of trouble with the trades council had been made. Bardonski was then told that the council considered SI. 200 would settle the account. This. Maloy said, he believed he could get reduced to SS00. Bardonski said that he believed the matter should be thrashed out between the owners of the building and the trades council but Maloy remained obdurate. At a later date the amount had gone down to $600 and this was said to be the last concession. 15