Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

NEWS AND VIEWS OF THE PRODUCTION CENTER (Hollywood Office — Suite 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd; Ivan Spear, Western Manager) Producers and Directors Reach Tentative Work Agreement Extras to Vote on SAG Question The Screen Actors Guild board has moved to curb "the self-appointed Saviours of the extras" by ordering a mail vote of 6.000 Class B players on the question “Shall the Extras Remain in the Guild?" The Guild board expresses confidence the group will remain in the fold. The ballots are returnable May 19. Extras also are to select 17 ’B" council members. Employment Upswing In Studios Ahead Studio employment, from Thespic to technical, is slated for an upswing in at least three studios during the next few months, with Metro, RKO Radio and Paramount all announcing concentrated production drives. Metro’s schedule will give regular employment to more than 5,000 workers in every department, and 90 per cent of the roster of stars and featured players will be before the cameras. RKO Radio has added a score of artists to its art staff in preparation for a heavy summer schedule, and similar increases in various departments at Paramount are being made. Just prior to his departure for New York, President George Schaefer of RKO Radio signed Gene Towne to head an independent production unit which will deliver four features to the company yearly. The unit will be known as “The Play’s the Thing” Company. Towne, now in Manhattan perfecting the deal, returns May 15 to begin preparations for his first production, as yet unannounced. All will be in the high-budget category. Graham Baker, Towne’s collaborator in scores of screen stories, will continue the association, having been named vice-president, while Henry Herzbrun is secretary. Paramount did not exercise its option on Barbara Stanwyck, signed on a onepicture deal, and has lopped Grade Allen, Moppet Billy Lee and William Haade from its contract list. Frank DeMond, head of the Republic sound effects department for the past five years, has resigned. No successor has been appointed as yet. Also leaving the lot is Max Terhune. A harmonious footing on at least one of Hollywood’s many labor battlegrounds has been reached with the announcement that committees representing the producers and the Screen Directors Guild have approved a tentative basic working agreement, which has been sent to SDG and producer representatives for signatures. Pact is for nine years, providing for the formation of a separate group, the Unit Managers Guild, and calling for an immediate 80 per cent Guild shop for both units. The agreement specifies the amount of time a director may have to prepare for a picture and provides he shall be consulted concerning the cutting of each feature. An arbitration and conciliation committee will be established, and minimum wages for first and second assistant directors and unit managers has been set. Commenting on the “fairness, good judgment and spirit of all parties represented,” Joseph Schenck, president of the producers association, declared the contract was “a demonstration of enlightened handling of labor problems by all "concerned.” A new trial in the fight between the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes and its Local 37 for control of that studio union is scheduled for May 22 in Superior Court. I A international representatives have posted a $30,000 bond covering collection of dues from Local 37 members. Jeff Kibre, one of the local’s ousted officers, who was arrested on a charge of criminal syndicalism, was released when District Attorney Buron Fitts refused to issue a complaint. A short time earlier Kibre had planted a bombshell in the IALocal 37 setup by offering to resign his office providing the IA immediately return autonomy to the local. His offer went begging, however. Joseph Carpenter, ousted president of the local, went on record with the declaration that Kibre ’s arrest was a “frameup” and reiterated the intention of himself and his associates to carry their fight for control of the local through to the last ditch. Although the three plaintiff extras are allowed until May 15 to file an amended complaint to test the validity of the junior council election last April 16, which the SAG tossed out, the SAG has already placed ballots in the mail for a new election to fill 17 vacancies on the Class B council. They are to be marked and returned by May 19. The extras’ original complaint was dismissed in Superior Court, and a temporary injunction restraining the SAG from ordering a new election was dissolved. First balloting was declared illegal on the grounds less than 20 per cent of the Class B membership participated. Committees representing the SAG and the Artists Managers Guild met to discuss changes in various clauses in the proposed agentlicensing agreement, the revised program then to be considered by the SAG board at its regular meeting May 15. The Screen Writers Guild is marking time awaiting word from the National Labor Relations Board as to when a new hearing on its charges against the producers may be set. A word battle between the producers and the SWG was launched over the recent blowup of negotiations for a working pact as attorneys for the producers addressed a letter to the SWG denying that the producers had rejected the Guild’s minimum demands and charging the Guild committee did not act in good faith in vetoing the drafted pact. Charles Brackett, SWG president, replied with a hint that the producers were dodging the true facts. Meantime the Screen Playwrights, Inc., present holder of a producer contract, is being flooded with protests over allocation of screen credits, settlement of which are being handled by the SP’s arbitration committee. Formation of a film trades council to coordinate the various industry crafts which are affiliates of the American Federation of Labor is being planned by representatives of the teamsters, carpenters, machinists, laborers, technicians, plasterers and painters. Studio managers and producer-labor contacts are discussing demands of the Screen Publicists Guild for a working agreement. A new contract between Screen Set Designers and producers is in the hands of attorneys for their final approval. Having ratified their basic pact with the producers, the Society of Motion Picture Film Editors met to set May 18 as the date for its annual election of officers. BOXOFFICE :: May 13, 1939 H 23