Variety (November 1954)

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24 PICTURES PSsaEfr Wednesday, November 17, 1954 San Francisco, Nov. 16, Charges that Local 162, AFL In- ternational Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees forced pro- jectionists to pay. a. percentage of their gross earnings to the local, yet denied them the privileges and rights of membership were aired Friday before i California State Senate Labor Committee. Three projectionists, all mem- bers Of the IATSE, testified that by being; denied membership in Local 162 they .were relegated to relief and temporary jobs, were subject to being “bumped” anytime by a journeyman member of the local and were deprived of seniority ights. In addition to paying an assess- ment of 3% of their gross earnings to Local 162, the men said they have been required to pay all as- sessments; leveled by the local in- cluding, according to . One witness, a $2,50 tab for a wedding gift to a union business agent. .State Senator J. Howard Wil- liams of Porterville* termed their testimony a plain case of “taxation without representation.” Mathew O. Tobriner, attorney for .the union, told Senator F. Presley Abshire, who heads the committee, that the union’s answer to the charges will be made at a committee meeting in Los Angeles next week. The union is holding a business meeting Monday to dis- cuss them. The State Senate Committee is Investigating grievances.' by union members against their officials throughout the state. First^jpf the protesting projec- tionists was .Richard Reed, of Daly City; who said he had worked as a projectionist since 1937. He made several attempts to join Local 162, he claimed, but was always ignored or rejected. He said he became a member of the International's Local B-18, a union of doormen, Ushers arid cashiers, and paid dues to that local while working as a projectionist within the ; jurisdi - tion of 162. At present, he says, he pays Local 162' assessments* in- cluding 3% of his gross earnings, and also pays dues to B-18. He says he has no seniority, or voting rights in Local. 162 and can be bumped off any job. More or less the same story Was told the committee by Fred Elsholz of Sari Francisco, who has been working as a projectionist for the past 11 years and by Russell Voss with 11 years as a; projectionist and by Richard Sloan. Voss testified that several mem- bers of B-18 had filed suit against Local 162 earlier this year asking: $600,000 in damages. Voss also tes- tified that he had received only two vacations in five years although regular members of Local 162 re- ceive annual paid vacations. Attorney Tobriner announced at the close of the session that the Situation in respect to exclusion from membership has been correct- ed by i a recent change in the by- laws and that the membership is now open to all qualified appli- cants. Voss says he works urider a mem- bership at large card issued by the international but that all San Fran- cisco job assignments are made by Local 162 in accordance with their contract with theatre operators. He added that there are projectionists who have worked for as long as 20 years without being admitted to membership. Since last April’s suit for a writ of mandate to compel the union to admit :them, approxi- mately 30 members have been, ad- mitted. Elsholz says he too joined the auxiliary unit but charges that a now deceased business agent shut off all work assignments and that as a result he worked for the next eight years i Washington, Idaho and elsewhere but continued pay- ing dues here. He returned about seven months ago and goes to the union hall every day but has been denied work. Background Of the dispute, which, among other things, centers around a struggle for control be- tween old and young elements in the local, includes a case earlier this year before the National Labor Relations Board Which charged conspiracy, between theatre owners arid’ the union because of the for* itter’s policy of hiring through the union. The NLRB ruled that the owners were hot in interstate com- merce and kicked out the ebse. 3-Man Panel Paces Metro's Indianapolis Workshop Indianapolis, Nov. 16, A three?man panel, consisting of a big town theatre , operator, a smalltown exhibitor, and a news- paper ..advertising executive ad- dressed’ the second bf Metro's series of Ticket Selling Work- shops here at the Marott HoteL Session was held today (Tues.) in conjunction with, the convention of the Allied Theatre Owners of Indiana. Ervjn J. Clumb, managing di- rector of the Riverside Theatre, Milwaukee, represented by the big city viewpoint; L; J. “Bill” Wil- liams, operator of theatres in Union, Hermann, and, Owensville, Missouri, discussed smalltown pro- motion activities, and Wayne Bot- kin, retail .. ad manager of the Muncie (Irid.) Evening Press, talked about newspaper advertising in re- lation to theatres. Mack Sennett Continued from page 4 ‘While Christmas’ Continued from page 3 of World War II and he penned the entire score for “Christmas.” “Army” is credited with $8,500;- 000 in domestic distribution money. “Christmas,” assuming its present boxoffice pace will be maintained* will do about $9,200,r 000, or more, At .N. Y.’s Radio City Music Hall, “Christmas” figures to wind up an eight week run with a b.o. tally of $1,330,000. This would mean $500,- 000 in rentals to Par. Same com- pany’s “Greatest Show on Earth” went 11 weeks at the same house but the final few,, stanzas were “not too profitable. Hall’s ’’Show.” en- gagement gave Par $550,000 in rentals. The way Par figures it, “Christ- mas” is picking up $1,000,000 in its first 100 dates, $2,800,000 from the first 300 bookings arid $4,400,000 from the first 600. In light of ex- perience With “Show,” these initial datings with “Christmas” indicate the full playoff gross revenue of $9,200,000. Mabel Normand saga. It’s almost a natural a la “A Star Is Born;” Oddly enough oply the other day. a news item in this journal reported a change of title on the Coast. Somebody wondered if this gener- ation would understand. “Abbott Sc Costello Meet The Keystone Kops.” Sic semper Gloria Swan- son:! “King of Comedy” is a fascinat- ing . addendum to trie history pi moving pictures. It is a blessing to have it in print; ’twould have been a pity to have Tost the story as only the wholesaler of custardpie com- edy-could tell it. Of himseif Sen- nett says, “Many people allow that I was the originator of motion pic- ture comedy. That may be stretch- ing things a; bit, but I like the idea, and my denials are weak.’’ Born Michael Sinriot of Irish- Cariadian descent, a boilermaker in Connecticut, before he hit show biz arid rode the incorriing wave of cinema, Sennett describes himself: as from good , practicing Roman Catholics. “When we made a gift to St, Anthony we stated explicitly what we had in mind and counted on the saint to keep his end of the bargain,” he recalls. Up to the Wall Street crash, which wiped out Sen* nett’s fortune, he had something like $15,000,000. to show for the good saint’s goodwill. There are interesting revelations about many of the slapstickers and, bathing beauties who became fa- mous. One learns that Charles Chaplin’s two first films were re- leased four days apart in February 1914 arid by April of that year Chaplin drew his first screen credit as writer-director as well as actor. Sennett recalls that Marie Dressier and Raymond Hitchcock, who scorned him a candidate for fame as an actor, later Worked for him in pictures. He also recalls his passing - up Harold T.Toyd, a story which Lloyd has sirice never passed up. Of W, C. Fields, who g£ts one of the final chapters, Sen- nett testifies that nothing ever printed “about Bill Fields’ prowess with the martini pitcher contained a syllable of exaggeration.” Siennett speaks of his writer, Cameron Shipp, as described by John Barrymore in these words: “Shipp has the heart of a Borgia and the curiosity of a postmis- tress." It was Shipp who tricked Mack Sennett last March into an appearance on Ralph Edwards' tv show, “This Is Your Life.” On that note the book ends;. This is a book that rings true (if you discount some exaggeration in the legendary anecdote). The picture is warm, the romance with Mabel Normand on' the classic might-have-been torch-me-a-sdrig side. Much wit, considerable wisdom and a wonderful treasure- house of early film history is here* Throw in the perennial specula- tion about William Desmond Tay- lor and there’s lots to enjdy and think about. But don’t expect “scandal,” Sennett learned the hard way, from cranks and holier- than-thous, not to esteem. pryings into other people’s private lives. Richard F. Walsh, president of the International Alliance of The- atrical Stage Employees, has desig- nated Joseph D. Basson as a Special investigator to probe the defection from the IA of two Sari: Francisco exchange locals. The locals, representing hack- room and white collar exchange employees in the Frisco area, filed an application with the National Labor Relations Board to withdraw from the IA and affiliate with an- other AF.L union. A hearing is set for Nov. 30. Basson will leqve for S. F. shortly for a preliminary in- vestigation before attending the NLRB hearing. Meanwhile, Walsh has appointed a committee to negotiate with the film companies on a new contract for the exchange unions. The de- cision, by ia national poll, for the IA international, office to handle the talks on an industry-wide basis prompted the Frisco, unions to make their move. They favored dealing with'the film companies on their own rather_than accepting a pact. negotiated Dy Walsh. Talks begin today (Wed.) in N.. Y.. Ex-Con Shakedown Agent Seeks New IA Power; Dick Walsh Digging In Newark, Nov. 16. Richard F. Walsh, president Of the International Alliance of The- atrical Stage Employees, is in -1 vestigating the candidacy of. Louis Kaufman for business agent of Local 244, Motion Picture Machihe Operators Uriion of Essex County, ' New Jersey. This is Kaufman’s first attempt to regain trie post he held for 20 years .before he was convicted in 1945 in Federal Court on the charge of extorting money from film companies. “When the facts of Kaufman’s candidacy are ascertained,” Walsh said, “1 will have something to say.” Kaufman, served, three of his. seven-year sentence , in a Federal prison before he was paroled. After his conviction, the IA de- clared a state of emergency and assumed control of the local’s af- fairs. The IA restored the local autonomy in 1951 after Local 244 agreed to certain stipulations, one of . which being. that Kaufman would be barred from holding any' office for five years. Harry Schocket, the Incumbent business agent whom Kaufman is opposing, said he wa's not contesting Kauf- man’s candidacy because of the violation the five-year ruling. “This time Is as good, as any to settle the rule and ruin ; policy of Kaufman;” he said. “I am cer- tain the members appreciate the democratic process now concern- ing the union. The union's finan- cial status has .been stabilized, un- employment has been materially reduced, and welfare and insurance benefits have been established since Kaufman’s conviction.” 1964 High Low 21% 14% 80% 41% 80% 41% 33% 19% 15% 9% 66% 46%' 19% 13% 10% ‘6% 36% 26% 37% 28 38% 22% .7 2 % 9% 4% (N.Y. Stock Exchange) For Week Ending Tuesday (16) Weekly Vol* Weekly Weekly In 1008 High Am Br-Par Th 723 21% CBS, ' 4 A’> CBS, “B” Col, Pix. Decca ... , . 221 15% Eastman Kdk. 265 66%' Loew*a .. ,.. 297 16 87 8Q% 70 80% 6Q 29% Mw 20 % 77% 78 28 14% 60 17% Tuet, Close , 21 % 80 80 15% «§% tm Net Change for week +1% -f m — % % 4 - % i + 6 % 5% 12 Y 20 . 3 10 % 11 % 29% 183/4’ 29% 18% 81 63% 21% 13% 88 63% 6 3% 103/4 10 15% 9% 14% i 1 % 33/4 2% Parami Philoo Republic Rep., pfd. Stanley W 20th-Fox Unlv. Fix. Zenith American Stock Exchange Allied Artists 83 5 . 4% Ail’d Art., pfd. 34 10% 10% DuMont 381 15% 15% Technicolor 138 143/4 14% Trans-Lux 7 3% 3% Over-the*Counter Securities Bid Capitol Records . ..................... Chesapeake Industries .......;... ;...... Cinerama Inc, Cinerama Prod, Polaroid . U. A. Theatres Walt Disney . . . . * Actual volume. 43/4 10% 15% 14% 3%: Ash 4- % 4- % Wall Street Has a Bullish Week in Amusement Shares Generally By MIKE WEAR With the stock market climbing higher for five successive days (Wall Street was open as lisuaH Nov. 11), the amusement stocks cashed In on the bullish trend with riot much help in the way of better financial news. This is best indi- cated by the fact that nine new highs for the year were marked up by radio and film issues. While many motion picture shares re- cently indicated that the present leyel reflects current earnings and immediate future prospects, in- dividual situations saw. some stocks soaring even higher than the most optimistic hoped for a few weeks back. An example of a special situation was the action of* ABC-Paramount Theatres and DuMont shares, the latter being on the American Stock Exchange. The former, on the' 'Big Board, climbed, to a new peak of 21% or a gain of 75c on the week. - The latter, which went, into new fresh ground at 15% and an ad- vance of two points in the previous week, hovered around 15% .and 15%. Demand for both shares stemmed from reports that ABCr Par was buying into DuMont. Reports that Paramount Pix also was interested , in purchasing the whole DuMont layout whetted-the appetites of traders for Par shares, the film company issues climbing to a 1954 high of 36%. Stocks closed near that point for an ad- vance of nearly a point on the week. However, both Par Pictures and ABG-Par levelled off Mnoday and yesterday (Tues.). when word spread that neither Paramount deals for DuMont were going through at present time. But trie greatest gain for a film- type company was General Pre- cision which soared almost three points to 48%. At one time in Fri- day’s trading, it hit 47% or frac- tionally from the top ’54 price. Biggest advance, by a radio stock was Zenith; which roared ahead to 82, the closing price, which was a new peak arid a gain of 3% points on the week, CBS shares went into new high ground, Class A stock reached 80% while the “B” shares hit 79%. While the company’s melon-cut- ting last week was generous, both issues backed away from those high marks on the theory either that the good hews was out or that more had been expected. Certain- ly, these high quotations had indi- cated: a higher divvy, in the opin- ion of some inarket observers. Universal was another fast-mov- er last week, pushing up to 30, new high ground for the year at the close. This was a gain of 1% on the week. Decca presumably went up in sympathy, hitting' a fresh peak of 15% for a fractional gain on the week. Another new high was made by Stanley Warner at 19%, qp 75c for the session. Con- tinued high grosses for “Ciner- ama,” despite some tough, new competition from such pictures as “Star Is Born” (WB) and “Whits Christmas” (Par), appeared to be back of the move. RCA continued to go steadily forward; reaching a new high for *54 at 37, but closing a bit lower and a gain of 1% on the stanza. Columbia Pix pushed ahead to 29 for a two-point advance. Techni- color upped 25c to 14%, only an eighth away from the year’s best quotation. Cinerama Shart-Runs Continued from page 5 pany also has its eye on theatres in Seattle, New Orleans, Milwau- kee, and Cleveland. The advent of the Todd-AO proc- ess with “Oklahoma” as its first entry is riot causing undue con- cern among SW executives. Al- though the process is said to be similar to Cinerama, Fabian . main- tains that “the cities we’re in can afford to take more than one hit at a time.” “Cinerama Holiday,” the Louis de Rochemont production, will re- place the current “This Is Cinera- ma” in New York shortly after the new year, Fabian stated. The SW chief said trie company’s fourth film, following Lowell Thomas’ currently-shooting “Seven Wonder? of the World,” would be a story- line project. He said SW was talk*' ing with Warner Bros, as well as other production companies. He said the Louis tend Clark project in conjunction with WB had not been completely abandoned. Nat Lapkin, SW v.p. in charge of pro- duction, returned from the Coast over the-weekend following explor- atory talks ori possible Cinerama production ventures.