Exhibitors Herald World (Jan-Mar 1929)

38 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD March 30,1929 Open Breach of Circuit with Unions Follows Sound Wiring Walkout Laves T & D's Vitaphone Theatre at Oakland Dark and Silent — Two Other Houses Discharge Musicians — Projectionists Quit in Sympathy [By Special Correspondent of the Herald-World] SAN FRANCISCO, March 26.— An open breach between T & D Junior Enterprises, Inc., operating a chain of motion picture houses in Northern California, and organized musicians and projectionists, has been brought about as a result of the installation of Vitaphone equipment in the Strand theatre, Alameda, and the refusal to accede to the demand of the projectionists. Projectionists in this theatre went on strike and two days later workers in the Vitaphone theatre, Oakland, another East Bay suburb, quit in sympathy, leaving during the showing of the feature picture in the middle of the afternoon. Five operators, seven musicians, an organist and two stagehands were affected here. The walkout left the house dark and silent, and Manager Jack Hunter was obliged to announce that no performance could be given for at least two hours. When a non-union force arrived it was found that the projection machines were out of order. The Vitaphone theatre has been carrying a full orchestra and an organist at full salary ever since Vitaphone equipment was installed last June, and sincethis time they have averaged but six minutes work a day, according to Manager Hunter, receiving $18,000 for this. Two Discharge Musicians Later in the week the Castro theatre in San Francisco closed its doors to its orchestra of eight musicians, and the Alhambra, also a T. & D. house, discharged its orchestra of seven. Vitaphone was installed in the Castro theatre early in Fberuary and since then the musicians have had nothing to do, but their retention has meant an expenditure of $500 a week. "There are rumors that by discharging the musicians we have violated an agreement with the Musicians Union," said James Nasser of the T. & D. Jr. Enterprises. "These rumors are baseless. Have Gentlemen's Agreement "As members of the Allied Amusement Industries we have a gentlemen's agreement with the union to pay a certain wage scale. That agreement has one year to run, but it pertains to wages only, and there is nothing in it to compel a theatre to hire men whose services are not required. We met the executive committee of the union and asked for relief in some form, but the only suggestion was to keep the men for another year." Union Difficulties at Birmingham Settled (Special to the Herald-World) BIRMINGHAM, ALA, March 26.— Difficulties between the Operators Union and the Rialto and Princess theatres were settled with the signing of a contract by those two theatres here. The basis on which the union returns to the theatres is not definitely known, but it is said that the demands of the musicians, which brought on the strike, have been withdrawn. It is also said that the union takes into its membership one of the projectionists employed at the Rialto during the strike. Some eight or ten cases against persons with throwing "stink bombs" are as are two for assault. What disposition will be made of these cases is not known. charged pending, Tyler to Make Audiens; Buck Jones Will Tour With Wild West Circus (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, March 26.— Two Western stars came into the limelight again this week after a few months' retirement. Tom Tyler signed a contract with Trem Carr for a series of eight talking films with the probability that they will be Westerns. Buck Jones is organizing a large company to stage a wild west circus that will tour the country and will make its debut in Los Angeles in about six weeks. Jones will be the star attraction. $100,000 Damages Done By Exploding Gas Fire (Special to the Herald-World) OKLAHOMA CITY, March 26.— Exploding gas started a fire in the Mid-West Film Exchange here which resulted in a loss of about $100,000. Over a thousand reels of film were burned. The Mid-West is an independent film exchange owned by P. R. Isley who also owns several theatres in Oklahoma. Bill to Censor All Advertising Posters Offered in Kansas; Passage Is Doubted (Special to the Herald-World) KANSAS CITY, March 26. — Having apparently foreseen the probable defeat of a 10 per cent amusement tax bill in the Missouri legislature, political bosses and alleged reformers last week introduced a bill in the house of the Missouri legislature at Jefferson City which would require all advertising posters to be used in conjunction with the showing of pictures to be passed upon by an official in each county of the state. The "joker" in the bill is this: For each poster or advertising medium inspected that official would receive 25 cents each. Although the bill would have a damaging effect should it become a law, it is not generally believed that it has a chance to be passed. In the Kansas legislature at Topeka a bill to create local censorship boards in towns, in addition to the regular state censor board, was left to die in the hopper when the Kansas legislature adjourned. Thus ended the worries of Kansas exhibitors. New Story Material Expected to Change Style of U's Pictures (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, March 26.— A new style in Universal pictures is predicted as the outcome of a new line up of story material, now being taken to the coast by Mrs. Strauss, eastern scenario editor for the Laemmle organization. Upon arriving at Universal City with nearly a million dollars of stories she will submit to the studios executives and selections will be made depending upon stars available. Options on the stories, now held by Universal will be taken up and production started as soon as possible. It is understood that the home office is highly pleased with the selections made by Mrs. Strauss. She is regarded as a valuable addition to the executive staff; she was responsible for bringing such successes as the "Black Oxen" and "Flaming Youth" to the screen. Frank Bates Buys Foreign Rights on Dick Talmadge Film (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, March 26.— General Pictures Corporation announces that Frank Bates, Paris, France, has purchased the rights for Germany, Scandinavia and Belgium to "The Bachelor's Club." This is the first of four comedies starring Richard Talmadge, produced at the Universal studios by Oscar A. Price. The first of the series was synchronized on the Fox Movietone with a special score by Erno Rapee and his Roxy orchestra. Fraser Signs Craven; He'll Write Dialogue For Lloyd's Picture (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, March 26.— William Fraser, general manager for Harold Lloyd, signed Frank Craven to write titles and dialogue for the comedian's new picture, which will be Lloyd's initial venture into audiens. Craven has been touring the country with his own show "The Nineteenth Hole." Among other plays he has written are "The First Year," "Spite Corner." "Money From Home," and "This Way Out." Artclass Closes Big Deal for Distribution In Foreign Territory (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, March 26.— HoffbergCornfeld Co, Inc., has taken over the distribution of the entire product of Artclass Pictures Corporation, for Central Europe. Artclass officials announce that the deal comprises about 140 subjects, features, comedies and shorts and is said to be one of the largest deals to be negotiated in the foreign market by an indpenedent producer. Road Show for Amkino's Ice Thriller, "Krassin" (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, March 26— Ankino Corporation announces that "Krassin," portraying the rescue by the ice-breaker Krassin of the stranded members of the Nobile expedition in the Arctic, will be roadshown throughout the United States. The first road-show will be at Symphony Hall, Boston, on March 22 to be followed by showings in Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, Detroit, Chicago and other cities.