Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

ITOA Turns to Maijor for Relief From Union Clash New York — An appeal to Mayor La Guardia’s board of survey to iron out difficulties among operators’ unions here in the dispute between Local 306, lATSE, and the Empire State union was decided upon at a directors' meeting of the Independent Theatre Owners' Ass'n this week. The board will be asked to conciliate differences chiefly involving the Brandt theatres. Unemployment among the members of Local 306, New York operators’ union affiliated with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes, has virtually been overcome, according to union officials. This has been accomplished through assigning early vacations for regular operators so that a maximum amount of work may be given to those on the waiting list, officials say. The healthy employment situation is regarded as an important factor in the maintenance of peace in the operator ranks and in operator-exhibitor relations. The unemployment among Local 306 men in the past contributed to the long-standing strife which finally was ended by the pact negotiated by the mayor’s board of survey. Empire Picketing of Brandt Holds Meanwhile, a picketing campaign continues against five houses of the Harry Brandt circuit by members of Empire State M. P. Operators Union in retaliation for the lockout of 12 members. The men were replaced with Local 306 operators in compliance with a master operators’ agreement signed between Local 306 and Brandt and which gives the union a virtual monopoly over the employment of operators. Abraham Kindler, president of Empire, said amicable adjustment of the matter has been assured by Ben Golden, labor conciliator appointed by Mayor LaGuardia. Normal membership of Local 306 is about 2,000, and of these approximately 1.800 are now steadily employed. In 1935 the union had more than 350 unemployed members. The vacation arrangement is expected to maintain employment at a high level throughout the summer, but a slump will probably come in the fall. STATE LEGISLATURE SENDS LEHMAN TWO Albany — The New York state legislature before final adjournment Saturday morning sent to the governor two important bills relating to the motion picture industry. The Ehrlich bill conferring upon cities outside of Greater New York the power to adopt local laws or ordinances to regulate the admission of unaccompanied children to motion picture theatres, and the Reoux bill amending the town law generally so as to give towns of the state jurisdiction over the operation of motion picture houses, shows, skating rinks and amusement parks. Both the Ehrlich and Reoux bills are in the hands of the governor as 30-day bills. Cocalis Expanding Circuit Holdings New York — 'What might be construed as retaliatory invasion is the announcement of Sam D. Cocalis, New York circuit operator, that he will build a house in Asbury Park, N. J., and acquire another in Long Branch to compete with Walter Reade, long the dominant amusement operator along the New Jersey coast. The squabble is understood to have been precipitated by Reade’s announcement that he will build a 1,500 -seat house in Hudson, N. Y., where Cocalis until now has had virtually no opposition. To further augment his holdings in Reade strongholds, Cocalis has taken over two theatres in Keansburg, N. J. The Casino will be opened May 28, and the Fowler, a new structure, on June 20. Cocalis refused to be quoted on the alleged controversy, limiting himself to the assertion that “the facts speak for themselves.” Walter Reade jr. said his father’s organization expected no "trouble” if Cocalis should invade New Jersey towns. This week Cocalis revealed he had relinquished to RKO the Parkhill and Broadway, both in Yonkers. SIX OF LOEW GOTHAM PERSONNEL PROMOTED New York — Promotions in Loew’s metropolitan theatre personnel have been announced as follows: Edward W. Corbett, former doorman at the Mayfair, to assistant manager at the Burland, replacing Jack Wilbur, who has been given a leave of absence due to illness. Assistant manager William Frank of the Ave. B is now assistant at the Warwick. Louis Kramer, whom Frank replaces, has been transferred to the Brevoort. Edward Knapp of the Victory has been made assistant manager at the Ave, B. Jerry Fink, assistant at the Boston Road, goes to the Victory. John Alexix, reel boy at the Boston Road, has been made assistant manager there. Fire Mostly Smoke Washington — Although local sheets distorted to an extent a fire in State Theatre. Falls Church, Va., it proved to be only a discarded cigarette smoking in an ash can of the men’s lounge. Fumes and slight smoke reached the balcony and the operator noted it. Orchestra patrons of the 850-seat house paid no attention while few balcony customers were annoyed. This is not a studio set but the intersection of f>2nd St. and Fifth Ave., New York, where a Hollywood camera creiD set up shop this week shooting authentic backgrounds for Walter Wanger’s “52nd Street.” BROADWAY • Continued from preceding page) by a crew which made the 3,000-mile trip from Hollywood for actual location shots for “Walter Wanger’s Vogues of 1938.” Ed Peskay, Grand National sales chief, has closed a deal for the Astor production “Rendezvous in the Alps” . . . Bud Barsky has secured his release as a Warner associate producer to produce four “Wallaby Jim” pictures for Grand National . . . Fifty vaudeville headliners are at work in a one-reel Vitaphone short at the Warner Brooklyn plant . . . John T. Doran, C. Kenny and Marie Kenny, executives of the new Fihn Art Studio, threw a housewarming party Monday night. UA reports that “reflecting the popular interest in the Coronation, more American theatres have simultaneously booked English films for this week than ever before in motion picture history.” Theatres in 340 cities are playing one or more Alexander Korda productions this week in the sudden rush for product from across the pond, says UA. Muriel Hutchmson, who played a leading role opposite Cedric Hardwicke in “The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse,” has been signed to a long termer by Paramount, the run of the play having ended Saturday night . . . Loretta Young was back in town this week with her mother, after a trip to Bermuda . . . Helen Vmson is in Manhattan. George West, representative, and J. C. Markstein, head of Screeno and Adcaster, just about stole the show while at the Monogram convention in Chicago May 7-8, with their demonstration of the machine at Monogram’s Chicago exchange. Festivities: Gus Schaefer, who resigned from Paramomit this week to take over his new post as foreign sales manager for Universal, was tendered a farewell luncheon by his associates at the Hotel Astor 14 BOXOFFICE :: May 15, 1937.