Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

BATTLES CONFRONT THE INDUSTRY Labor and Legislative Aims Affect Film Folk in All Branches The attention of the motion picture industry in all its branches is being riveted this week on imminent developments along three separate battle-grounds — Hollywood, Sacramento and New York — the sum total of whose activities are destined, it is believed, to have a far-reaching effect on the future of film folk in every classification from exhibitors and distributors to producers, actors, agents and studio labor personnel. Labor Confabs April 5 Soon to dominate the scene will be the conferences in New York between representatives of labor unions and studio production officials. The confabs, an annual affair, start April 5, and will be highlighted by a determined effort on the part of unrecognized labor groups to be included in the present five-way basic agreement between the studios and a quintet of labor organizations covering wage and hour scales for skilled employes in varioivt divisions. Agents Fear Limitations Already the subject of much perturbed discussion is the activity of the California legislature at Sacramento, which of late has been delving with thoroughness into the film industry and its various ramifications. The solons have been striking indiscriminately at not only the agency businesses in Hollywood, but also at studio practices in dealing with their contract talent in the matter of loan-outs and contract obligations. The Hollywood scene is one of alarm in the ten-percenters’ camp, where agents have formed a committee to keep an eye on the progress of assembly bills limiting the customary fees to 10 per cent of the first month’s salary, and the projected restriction whereby agents would be restricted to the signing of a one-year contract with their clients. SAG Wants 3-Year Optional Pacts The film capital is bracing itself for a bitter battle this week with the disclosure that the Screen Actors Guild will test its strength at Sacramento during legislative hearings on Assembly Bill 1116, which is designed to reduce the standard optional contract used in motion pictures from seven-year periods to three. The SAG has sent Aubrey Blair to the state capitol to take up the cudgels in behalf of the bill. Blair will present a lengthy brief showing the alleged misuses of the present seven-year pact by the studios. Hearing on the bill is scheduled to take place this week, with the SAG and the Producers Association, opposing the legislation, expected to fight it out to the finish. The bill, with an amendment requiring all talent contracts to be for straight, specific periods with no options, strikes at the heart of present studio tactics for the hiring of acting and personnel talent. Metro Foreign Huddles Continue on Coast Closed doors are the order of the day in the conference rooms at Metro, where Michael Balcon and Ben Goetz, of the company’s English offices, are engaged in huddles with Louis B. Mayer, Ben Thau, Boh Ritchie and Sam Katz. Nicholas Schenck, president of Metro, who sat in on the confabs last week, trained out for New York Saturday, but the meetings did not terminate with his departure. Although studio spokesmen declared they had not yet been informed as to progress of the coiiferences, it is understood that the chief topic involved is Metro’s projected entrance into a heavier production schedule in London, indicated by the presence of Balcon and Goetz, the former of whom recently left Gaumont British to join the Metro forces. Writ Gives Horne Chance With Lot Temporary relief from pressure being brought by creditors against Hollywood Studios has been obtained by Oscar Horne, the rental lot’s new president, who has been granted a restraining order in federal court to allow him a breathing spell in which he hopes to put the troubled lot into smooth running order, according to Harry Schenck, studio general manager. Back Rent Sought Scene of many a stormy session since it was disclosed some weeks ago that L. A. Young, owner of the property, was about to take legal steps in order to collect money assertedly due for two months’ back rent, the studio quieted down last week when Maurice Gebber resigned his presidency and returned to the fur business in which he was previously engaged. Horne, an attorney, claims to have new financial backing, and asserts the court order is but a temporary measure while he straightens out monetary and legal complications. Rental Schedule Filling Schenck declared that the lot’s rental schedule was fast becoming filled for the coming year, with Monogram, Crescent, Jam Handy and the George A. HirlimanGeorge O’Brien unit now active, and other independent producers said to be dickering for the remainder of the space. The O’Brien unit is now filming interiors on the lot for “Looking for Trouble;’’ Monogram has a program of 34 pictures of which the majority, Schenck declared, would be shot on the Hollywood lot; Crescent will produce four, and Jam Handy, a commercial outfit, will shoot 16 advertising features. National Talent Carnival Planned The lure of possible film contracts, more valuable than gold to denizens of the hinterlands, will be the basis of a gigantic ten-day carnival in Hollywood if present plans of the local Junior Chamber of Commerce, under the guidance of Norris J. Nelson, are carried out. Built along the lines of the Atlantic City beauty contest, the program will have Junior Chambers in each of a number of cities throughout the country staging separate competitions, with finals to be held in the film capital, and first and second place prize winners being awarded short term acting contracts. Seek Hays Approval Nelson, president of the Hollywood Junior Chamber, declared that the suggestion has been placed before the Hays office for consideration, and that in the event the censorship body turns thumbs down — thus curbing entrance into the carnival by producer-members — independent producers would be contacted for cooperation. Nelson plans to leave April 9 to discuss the proposed talent hunt-carnival with Junior Chamber leaders in Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, Washington, Buffalo and New York City. Final action on the project. Nelson averred, would be based on the Hays office decision. Contests Late in Summer Winners of various local contests will be guaranteed expenses to and from Hollywood through a forfeit bond posted by each chamber. Nelson indicated that he had already received tentative approval from United States Chamber leaders, and that Junior Chambers in Tulsa, Pasadena and other cities have already showed an interest in the project. Contests would not be launched till late this summer, with finals tentatively set for early fall. Silas Prime to Agency Silas Prime has joined the Ben Renaldo agency as head of writers and story properties, after three years as a member of Paramount’s editorial board and story editor for Frank Lloyd. He will leave in April for New York, New Orleans, Kansas City and Chicago for conferences with writers on possible story materials. POWELL-ROGERS STARRER SOUGHT Warner is trying to close a deal whereby Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers will be costarred in a forthcoming musical, “Hollywood Hotel.” Definite casting announcements will be made in a few weeks. 14 BOXOFFICE April 3, 1937.