Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

NEW GUILD PACT READY FOR SIGS Force of Craft Strike Dwindles as Stars Win Demands Midweek developments on Hollywood’s labor front indicated that details of the Screen Actors’ Guild during the negotiations with major motion picture producers, including specific contracts, standard forms and other features would be ironed out and signed early next week, with actors then going to work under the new agreements. While the Guild and producers were shaping terms of the pact, however, the FMPC strike, which was dealt a crippling blow when the Guild negotiated for separate bargaining with the pi’oducers instead of throwing its weight to the walkout called by non-recognized labor groups, continued with lessening import. Picketing has continued throughout the major studios quietly, with the ring of protesting strikers around the film lots steadily dwindling. Guild Wins Concessions Among the highlights of plans being discussed by the Guild under terms of its new Guild shop agreement are the elimination of from 12,000 to 15,000 extras from film work and the severance of all contractural relations from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which, in the past, has carried the standard form of contract usually signed by producers and players. Demands granted the Guild by producers early this week include; The establishment of a Guild shop; abolishment of the $3.20 per day in favor of a $5.50 minimum for extras, and a 10 per cent increase in wage scales up to and including $15 per day; a wage boost for standins from the present $20 weekly minimum to $33, or $6.50 daily; straight time payment to and from location, and compensation for traveling time; increase in day players' wage from the present $15 daily minimum to $25; definite time allotment for meal periods; freelance players to be granted a 54-hour cumulative week, to apply to those receiving less than $200 weekly; a minimum salary of $50 per week for stock players and the setting up of arbitration machinery consisting of producer and player representatives. Other minor demands include adjustment of layoff notices, cancellation periods on term contracts and other alterations of working conditions and contract dealings. Proposals for strike peace offered by the FMPC earlier this week were rejected by Pat Casey, representing the producers, who reiterated his employers’ offers to negotiate with the striking unions individually under terms of the Wagner collective bargaining act. Charles Lessing, FMPC commander, hurled charges of lATSE conspiracy with the producers to break the strike, which were denied by Casey in a formal statement. Federal Conciliators On Scene Two federal labor conciliators have been called into the picture by Lessing for conferences, which so far have netted nothing to the FMPC, and Lessing declared the strike would continue. The FMPC threat to carry the fight to the nation’s theatres has apparently not taken hold with sweeping effect, as picketing of local theatres has been almost nil during the early days of the week. The FMPC has moved its wage demands into the independent studios, with the Studio Utility Employes, one of the FMPC members, submitting demands to all producers who are not members of the association, asking for wage increases. New Deal On Percenters Among the developments expected when details of the Guild-producer agreement are disclosed will be a new deal for agents in their negotiations with members of the Guild. It is understood that a standard form of contract will be outlined, with the Guild seeking supervision over the percentage boys’ activities. Studio production is continuing as usual, with indications at present pointing to the expectance of little more labor trouble even though differences between the FMPC and the producers fail to be ironed out within the next few days. No Condor Change in Production Plan In the face of news from Washington that the Securities and Exchange Commission had climaxed a six-week investigation by issuing an order suspending the sale of a $1,000,000 stock issue by Condor Pictures, George Hirliman, president of the company, told Boxoffice this week that the action will in no way affect his company’s production for the 1937-38 season. Hirliman declared that the SEC decision was based only on a technicality, and that he has been informed by his attorneys in Washington that the order will be rescinded within th next few days. The SEC action was based on charges that Condor had withheld pertinent information relevant to its stock sale in the preparation of a pre-sale prospectus. This, according to Hirliman, amounted only to the omission from the prospectus of the fact that in signing a lease for production space with Grand National Studios in Hollywood the company would go to work under a 100-day shooting schedule. This was omitted, Hirliman declared, solely because Condor was exercising the natural caution to be expected of producers who try to take full advantage of every economy measure. The company’s production schedule of 20 features to be produced during the season— 14 for Grand National release, the remainder through RKO Radio — wil be in no way affected, Hirliman said, pointing out that for the first time in Condor’s history four pictures have gone into work simultaneously. Capacity Crowd Sees "Courageous" Amid the flare of klieg lights and the music of an orchestra and entertainers in the forecourt, Hollywood’s film notables and Southern California’s social elite bustled their way through crowds of autograph seekers and premiere fans to form a capacity audience at the Carthay Circle Theatre last Friday night, when MetroGoldwyn-Mayer offered the local premiere of “Captains Courageous,” starring Freddie Bartholomew and Spencer Tracy. SRO Sign Out It was “standing room only” for those unfortunates who were late in making reservations, and ticket holders — among them the film city’s biggest production names — ran the gauntlet of more than 5,000 spectators who crowded the grandstands constructed along the pathways to the theatre entrance. The affair was broadcast over Station KMTR, with an announcer introducing celebrities over the air as they arrived for the performance. In the forecourt was installed a pretentious marine exhibit, the center of which was a 28-foot model of the schooner used in the picture. Other paraphernalia of the sea and the Gloucester fishermen added to the display. Notables Attend The cast of the film, including young Bartholomew, Tracy, Melvyn Douglas and Lionel Barrymore, plus Metro’s big production and acting names, were on hand at the premiere. These included Louis B. Mayer, Sam Katz, Harry Rapf, Hunt Stromberg, William Powell, Jean Harlow, Robert Young and scores of others. From other studios Darryl Zanuck, Kenneth Macgowan, Harry Cohn, Charles Rogers, Harry Warner, Adolph Zukor, S. J. Briskin and hundreds of others swelled the list of notables. GERSHWINS ON TUNE GRIND FOR GOLDWYN George and Ira Gershwin have begun work on the first of the tunes and lyrics for Samuel Goldwyn’s “The Goldwyn Follies,” which will be produced as a $1,500,000 musical extravaganza. George Balanchine, ballet master who has been assigned to the choreography on the film, is already searching for forty “Goldwyn Girls.” Script Team Re-Signed Betty Laidlaw and Robert Lively have been given a four-year writing contract by Grand National. They will do four pictures yearly for the company and are allowed outside commitments. The team has already written scripts for “Grand Canyon,” “The Girl Said No,” and “Face the Facts” for GN. 40 BOXOrnCE :: May 15, 1937.