Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

WAGNER ACT DECISION OF COURT IS IMPETUS TO DNIOHIZATION Theatres Bear Brunt of Labor Drives on All Fronts New York — The U. S. supreme court’s action on Monday in upholding constitutionality of the Wagner labor act will greatly stimulate labor unionization activity among unorganized classes of employes in the motion picture industry, according to informed industry circles here. Minor union groups not affiliated with the American Federation of Labor hailed the decision as greatly in their favor, while the AFL unions regarded them as their guarantee to collective bargaining with employers on wages, hours of work and other conditions. The film industry was considered to be a vulnerable target under the supreme court’s majority interpretation since the distribution branch particularly has been declared by the courts in numerous cases to be in interstate commerce, and that is now generally conceded. Drive on Theatres Theatres are expected to bear the brunt of the unionization drives now forming in various sections of the country. The lATSE is known to have deferred its campaign for a vertical union of all classes of theatre employes until the supreme court’s decision on the Wagner act. This drive is now expected to proceed without much delay. The lATSE’s new move to include film exchange workers in its fold, under AFL sanction, also is considered to have received encouragement from Monday’s rulings. New' Group Lays Plans Meanwhile, the United Theatrical and Motion Picture Workers of America, not affiliated with the AFL but claiming ‘•friendly relations” with the Committee for Industrial Organiatzion, this week expressed its determination to push its drive for an all-inclusive union and announced a decision to include publicity and advertising men in its ranks. So far this union has made no visible headway in the east other than calling a strike at the Consolidated Film Industries plant, Ft. Lee, N. J. Developments in several exchange centers where film workers’ unions have been formed indicate that negotiations will be carried on by American Federation of Labor officials with major distributor headquarters in New York. Detroit reported this week that although no confirmation was obtainable union members said that distributor home offices had indicated to branch managers they should recognize the union. Wage scales presumably were to be worked out in New York. Demands for higher wages for Cleve Regulatory Power Strengthened New York — The majority opinion in the Wagner labor relations act cases decided by the U. S. supreme court aifirms the broad powers of Congress to regulate industry and under this mterpretation any legislation passed by Congress to regulate the motion picture industry would be held constitutional, according to informed observers hi the trade here. The court gave a new interpretation of the commerce clause of the Constitution when it held industries organized on a national scale, even though their products are manufactured locally, come within the regulatory powers of Congress. The decision was the major topic of coiiversation in film circles here this loeek, both from the labor standpoint as well as the modernized hiterpretation of the commerce clause. Legal opinion held that motion picture exhibition and production clearly fall within the new interpretation. While it has been established for a long time that film distribution as set up was in interstate commerce, it had not been definitely established by the courts to what extent the commerce clause applies to the other two divisions. land shippers, poster clerks and inspectors, presented last week to local branch managers, will be settled in New York by AFL representatives and home office executives, it was reported by usually reliable sources. It is understood that while members of the Cleveland exchanges originally joined the local Packers and Wrappers union, they will eventually become affiliated with the lATSE or form a separate AFL unit. BLANK, PARAMOUNT APPROACH ACCORD New York — Main features of the new agreement between A, H, Blank and Paramount Pictures, Inc,, for the operation of the theatres owned jointly by the two parties, have been arrived at and will be ironed out next week in conferences to be held in New York. The agreement contemplates the consolidation of the Paramount-Blank theatres with the Blank circuit for purposes of operation and is expected to be signed by both parties before May 1 when the present temporary agreement expires. The agreement under which Blank has operated the theatres since 1932 expired last December and has been extended twice to permit the negotiation of the new contract. Eliminate Repurchase Clause There were no counter conditions between the two parties but certain circumstances arising from the situation of the theatres in three different states created difficulties in arriving at a contract which would be equitable to both parties. The repurchase clause which was a feature of the old contract has been eliminated in the broad outlines of the new one to be consummated. CRASH IN ENGLAND KILLS RALPH INCE London — Ralph Ince, American motion picture director, was instantly killed on April 11 when his automobile, which Mrs. Ince was driving, crashed into a safety zone in the middle of the road near Kensington. Member of a noted theatrical family, Ince was 50 years old and had just completed a film for "Warners at the Teddington studios here. HEADQUARTERS FOR EXHIBITORS WHEN IN BOSTON mUP C* If ¥7 A V 455 Columbus Ave. A M%Em V U Ih Boston, Mass. BETWEEN DARTMOUTH STREET & MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE Six minutes’ walk from film <li^t^ict Three minutes from all Back Bay Mations. Klevatecl hus line hy door. Transfers to all parts of Boston aiul suhiirhs. 150 ROOMS, ALL WITH BATH Suites for families of four; parlor, two hedrcMnus, hath — S4.00, $5.h(). SO. 00 a day. Bouhle rooms— S2..50. $3,00, $3.50, .$4.00 a day Sin-le rooms — $2.00, $‘>,r>0 a day SPECIAL WEEKLY RATES Oarage nearhy — ('ars called for and delivered. Rale 50<* for 24 hours. Excellent New England Food Served in the Savoy Cafe t'liih Breakfast loo to e.lc .Also a la earte menu l.uneh.Mtns ‘I.'ie to -sOe No l.ieense Dining: Boom Dinners 50e, 75c, $1.00 No room service charge GEORGE E. CLARK, Manager 10 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1937.