Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

Exhibitors Leave Film-Radio Problem for Film Company Heads to Untangle More Shrinkage Hits Studio Strike Ranks Hollywood — With the rapid diminishing of pickets from the studios after more than a month’s vigilance, and the retreat from the battlefront of Edward Fitzgerald, U. S. labor conciliator, Hollywood’s film labor walkout was considered at an end early this week — to virtually everyone but members of the striking Federated Motion Picture Crafts. Move On Independents Although Joseph Clarke, painters’ international president, and George Browne, leader of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes, had come to a peace agreement last week, FMPC leaders overwhelmingly rejected the terms and extended the walkout to all independent production units, heretofore unmolested, which refused to recognize FMPC demands. Fitzgerald last week withdrew from the scene after Clarke and other international officers of the striking painters had reached an agreement with Browne and the producers under which painters and associated crafts were to return to their jobs on a union shop basis. Soon thereafter a second vote was taken by the FMPC which resulted in a whole-hearted decision to maintain the strike because, it was asserted, no written agreement had been drawn up and because the FMPC’s major point — inclusion of makeup men, hair stylists and draftsmen in the painters’ local — had been discarded. Clarke had agreed to relinquish jurisdiction over these crafts to the lATSE. BUSINESS STIMULATION IN SHORT WORK WEEK New York — The proposed 35-hour or five-day working week now under serious consideration by leading economists and congressmen cannot but stimulate motion picture attendance. This is the view of some industry observers here who point out that the hours given over to work would be used in amusements and recreation, and film theatres would benefit. In spite of the fact that the proposed “short” week to be enacted by Congress would not include all classes of labor or office work, it would in time definitely reduce by example all working weeks, in the opinion of some industry spokesmen. And while minimum wages and maximum hours will increase the payroll overhead of industry generally, the motion picture industry should support such legislation from motives of “enlightened selfishness.” NEWS BRIEFS Union Wins Reinstatement for Detroit Univ. Shipper Pressure by lATSE which brought the reinstatement of Exchange Shipper Russell Matthew's is first repercussion since unionization. Stockholder Protection Is Urged in Congress SEC member asks help for stockholders in distressed corporations against “reorganization adventurers.” Plans "Ecstasy" Fight After Omaha Setback Samuel Cummins will appeal to state supreme court or force police court test following invalidation of injunction against authority ban on picture. Star's Homebuilding Draws Canadian Fire Montreal Trades and Labor Council notifies Buck Jones members will boycott films because he erected his California home without union labor. Federal Film Activity Under Senate Scrutiny Seeks to discover exact cost of Resettlement Administration pictures; headed by Senator Byrd of Virginia, the committee may hold hearings next week. New York Independent Unit Charts Convention Score “A simple problem in arithmetic; MPTOA convention plus Allied convention equals zero,” says ITOA bulletin, of national gatherings. Music Tax Society Files Nebraska Restrictive Test Ascap seeks to enjoin state from enforcing new law seeking society’s ouster from state; is the third suit of its kind, similar action having been taken in Montana and Washington. Five Paramount Regionals Follow Coast Convention In San Francisco, June 14-15; Dallas, June 15-16; Chicago, June 18-19; Cincinnati, June 18-19; Boston, June 21-22. MPTOA Committee Quits Arena After Aid Pledge; No Radio Parleys Bt/ a. l. finestone New York — Numerous exhibitor complaints against alleged radio competition and the use, or misuse, of film stars on the air have stirred the Hollywood studios to plan regulatory supervision of broadcasts making use of their talent rosters and script material. With such “control” already making itself felt and with more tangible results expected in the fall, the film-radio problem about which exhibitors have been vociferous for many months will be left in the lap of film company heads and studio executives to work out, Walter Vincent, chairman of the MPTOA radio committee, said this week. “Little Committee Can Do” That committee, given a mandate at the MPTOA convention in Miami last March to seek a solution, considers its work completed for the time being, not because the problem has been solved to the complainants’ satisfaction but because “there is very little the committee can do,” Vincent admitted to Boxoffice. Having obtained the assurance of producer-distributor spokesmen that they recognize the “evils” complained of and are seeking to overcome them, the committee most likely will not hold another session until September or October, Vincent added. No Parley With Broadcasters “All the companies are taking cognizance of the situation and realize that certain factors must be corrected,” he declared. “And since the solution rests with them, I admit there is very little the committee can do. After all, radio is here to stay. The film stars cannot be expected to cancel their radio commitments and no one has any intention of injuring the networks. We do not intend to hold any conferences with the radio interests. We will continue to contact the producers-distributors for an exchange of suggestions and viewpoints with us.” The committe may adopt certain recommendations, Vincent indicated, but only after further discussions and crystallization of various proposals will such recommendations be offered for the industry’s adoption. Moving Quietly The most likely prospect is that the committee itself will take no action since the studios are taking the necessary steps to remove the odium that has been attached to the use of screen players and script material on the air. This is being done quietly and circumspectly in order not to antagonize the stars. M-G-M, 20th Century-Fox, Warner and Paramount are leading the move for supervision which, it is said, will be evident in programs to be inaugurated in the fall. BOXOFFICE :: June 12, 1937. 9