Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

PCOIRTILAMB Exchange Union Demands Referred to Home Offices New Haven, Conn. — Wage scale demands drawn up by the new AFL local union of exchange employes have been presented to exchange managers here, who in turn promised to submit them at once to home offices. William Barry, business manager, and Harry Feldman of lATSE here accompanied the employes’ committee conferring with managers. Although the demands were not revealed, it was conceded that they were considerably in excess of the recent RKO 10 per cent increase tendered inspectresses, the rumor being that $20 was asked for this type of employment as against the present $14. John F. Gatelee, International organizer, and J. Brown. Chicago president of exchange employes, were expected to meet with New York officers of exchanges over the weekend. Janitors. Ushers, Doormen Meet Hartford, Conn. — Unionization of janitors, ushers and doormen under the AFL banner has been precipitated in the city to ward off threatened CIO organization. Several mass meetings have been held at Labor Temple but the organization has not yet taken definite shape. Theatre employes have also been approached by AFL representatives in New Haven, but no action has yet been announced. POLI THEATRES, INC., APPEALS TAX CHARGE Bridgeport, Conn. — The Poli-New England Theatres, Inc., has filed in superior court an appeal which declares as excessive the tax assessments totaling $2,275,400 on its four Bridgeport theatres and the site of the old Plaza Theatre. Of the total amount of the assessed valuations, the land is assessed at $1,272,955 and the buildings are assessed at $1,002,085. The court is asked to fix a fair market value on the property. The theatre company is appealing from the Board of Relief’s decision which refused to reduce the assessments made by the tax assessor. Maglena Renovating Windsor Locks. Conn. — Contracts for new chairs, ventilating and drapes for Dave Maglena’s Rialto Theatre have been let and work will begin in a few weeks. Redecoration also is planned, with Charles Fiori in charge. The entire renovating job contemplated is estimated at $10,000. KEITH'S LOSS IN HUB LESS New York — Keith’s Memorial Theatre Corp. of Boston and subsidiaries reported a net loss of $83,033 for 1936, compared with a loss of $108,101 for 1935. Move to Unionize in Portland Portland, Me. — Preliminary steps to unionize all local theatre employes were taken at a meeting last week in Carpenters’ Hall, Monument Square. Portland. Speakers at the meeting predicted eventual American Federation of Labor affiliation. Chelsea A. Waldron of Portland, president of the Maine branch of the AFL. presided at the meeting. Speakers included Alonzo F. Young, past president of the State Federation; Frank C. McDonald, secretary of the State Federation; Lester N. Bragdon, past president of the Central Labor Union, and John A. Russell. projectionist at the Empire Theatre. 15 Admitted to Operators' Union Boston — The Moving Picture Operators Union, Local 182, has voted to admit 15 new members. The organization is headed by Thad C. Barrows, internationally known projectionist and the only member of his craft to belong to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and has been established for 27 years. Membership has been greatly restricted for a number of years. Part of Expansion Program The admissions are being made because of a newly adopted expansion policy, according to an organization leader, who emphatically denies the allegation made to Boxoffice by another union member that the action was being taken because of a possibility of direct competition with the CIO in the projection field. It was quick action by Local 182 that organized Boston exchange workers after attempts had been made by the CIO to bring the film district employes into line. James Burke, business manager of the operators’ local, is also business manager of the Boston Film Exchange Workers Union, Local 20450. Up Ed Sakolowsky Lowell. Mass. — Anthony DiLorenzo and Michael Daly announce the promotion of Edward Sakolowsky to the managership of the Capitol Theatre here. Sakolowsky has been associated with the Rialto, New Britain, Daly, Hartford, and Victory, Lowell, all DiLorenzo-Daly houses. JN SPITE of the defeat of the miscellaneous or luxury tax bill in the recent session of the legislature and the substitution of a one per cent retail sales tax, theatre men throughout the state are not overly-happy. They predict that the sales tax bill will be defeated when the people vote on the question in August and that chances are a special session of the legislature will be called and the luxury bill again presented. "The Good Earth” opened a week’s roadshow engageinent at the Empire April 29, ivith Phil Davis, road manager, checking the rmi. The State Theatre tied in with National Music week with the screening of a 10minute technicolor short. All local music clubs were contacted. Paramount nr::s photographers shot LewistonAuburn strike scenes last week. The film was ready for screening, Thursday. April 29, making it possible for the State to scoop the town. John Lomac, assistant manager of the Columbia Theatre, Bath, is convalescing at the State Street Hospital from an appendectomy. Walter Dyer, assistant booker at the Paramount exchange, begins a two-week vacation May 3. Walter, one of the "new” fathers, expects to go to Cape Cod and Boston to exhibit his young son, Calvin Richard, to Mrs. Dyer's relatives. The State Theatre in cooperation with the Gannett Publications, is sponsoring a Baby Contest. Emily Morrow of the Boston M. & P. office is on the road for Standard Theatre Supply Co., supplying small houses with film and machines. Lewis Gordon, operator of the State Theatre, Farmington, dropped in at the Paramount exchange recently for bookings. Other Filmrow visitors of the week; Al Bevan of the Boston M. & P. office; Carl Divizia, RKO salesman, and Bob Murray of Columbia, both spotted at Bill Freiday’s popular Lighthouse Cafe. Incidentally Bill has installed some new seats to take care of the Cafe’s overflow. For the first time in our memory a double-stage show is being featured at a local theatre. The Strand is billing a musical revue, Bobby Henshaw & Co., dualed with the “Olympic Ice Follies,” featuring Kit Klein, former Olympic champion. The Strand stage has been converted into a huge ice rink for the occasion. A feature and technicolor short are also on the bill. John Ford, Hollywood producer and exPortland man, forwarded a check for $500 recently as a contribution to the building fund of the Earle MacNeill Randall Post, American Legion, of Peaks Island. Ford, known to Portlanders as John Feeney, when in Maine, spends his summer months at his father’s home on the Island. 60 BOXOFFICE :: May 8, 1937.