Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

1,000 Attend AFM Meet at Kaycee Kansas City — Around 1,000 delegates, representing a membership of 140,000 musicians in the American Federation of Musicians, met here June 12 to 16 at the Municipal Auditorium. Several important matters, including a 20-year-old agreement with the IATSE, came up for settlement. Federation musicians feel that in its liberal expansion of jurisdiction, the IATSE is cutting down employment of musicians. The resolution injecting the issue into the convention pointed out that “upon the advent of talking pictures and the decline of show business, the IATSE broadened the scope of their jurisdiction to apply to all amusements instead of show business alone. By virtue of these enlarged jurisdictional claims which seem to expand to cover any new line of employment created or developed by the musicians, local demands are made or road calls are placed on hotel rooms operating a band policy without semblance of shows, radio stations, symphony orchestra performances, dog tracks, small night clubs, dance halls, and even the public address systems used by our jobbing bands. This is causing great strife and loss of employment to the members of the federation.” The resolution asked that incoming officers of the Federation negotiate with the IATSE so that the AFM -IATSE agreement be worded and interpreted “as applying to theatres and actual show business only.” The resolution came up Wednesday, but was set over for further consideration later on in the convention after Joseph N. Weber, president of the Federation, said he felt if he approached the IATSE with such a proposal, that that organization would give up the agreement. Weber added that the stage hands had aided the AFM on occasions when, under a strict interpretation of the agreement, they need not have done so. Weber suggested that in passing the resolution the AFM simply would be inviting the antagonism of a powerful organization. The action of the “good and welfare” committee on the resolution was favorable. Musicians are deeply concerned over the future of WPA music projects, which now support some 7,000 members of the AFM nationally. Most of these musicians are, due to age and disability, unemployable, even if they could be absorbed by other industries. Backed by convention action, Weber, Wednesday, wired every member of the house of representatives in Washington. The telegram expressed opposition to the present WPA bill in the house, which changes the existing arrangement on the WPA music projects to this extent, that state and municipal authorities will be required to assume a share of the bur Years of Experience Has Taugrht Us How to Serve You Peterson "Freezem" Mfg. <S Sales Co. 316 Southwest Blvd. Kansas City, Mo. TOE COOPER’S arrival from New York * for a three-day stand was the signal for migration of Omaha’s Filmrow here. Only missing face was Ted Mendenhall’s, which had been hied by special train to Hollywood for Paramount’s convention and 1939-40 promises . . . Sid Rose, from Warner, got in early, so then ducked down the street to where his left hand does business and went off to a ball game with Howard Federer . . . Joe Scott, Fay Dressen, D. V. McLucas, and Harry Shumow all took turns . . . Cooper left later for Wichita, where he still owns some theatrical property, while his kingpins, Lou Finske, went back to Denver, and Joe Phillipson, to St. Joseph and Kaycee. Frank Roberts, until lately Cooper’s auditor in the Colorado situations, has been moved here and it looks as though he’ll be taken on into New York . . . Paramount’s position in all the dickering and goings-on here is being kept strictly Q-T by Vincent DiFiore, the company’s representative . . . Ralph Blank, who recently sold his _ Central States interests, was in talking of his trip to California, which he’s probably making by now . . . Ed Vaughan is entertaining — she’s flaxenhaired and from California . . . Alvin Hendricks says use of the word “double” in connection with weddings can mean one of two things — either plurality of ceremony, or the number of barrels on the shotgun . . . Harvey Traylor claims they were named “short” beers, because that’s all the time he has to consume ’em. Now that it’s horse racing season — Charlie Shire has a suitable story . . . Speaking of the nags, with the grosses den of maintaining such projects. Weber and other Federation members are definitely convinced that local governments will not assume a share of the burden, and that, therefore, the present bill, if passed, will mean extinction for the projects. A law was passed to cover the Federation’s position with respect to use of records for cheap vaudeville in smaller houses and for cheap opera. Use of records to eliminate the necessity for musicians, of stereoptican slides for scenery, etc., has been tried in the East. The new law, proposed by Weber, provides that “Members of the Federation are not permitted to make phonograph recordings which contain commercial advertisements, nor are they permitted to make recordings to be used by or for actors as accompaniment for or in connection with their performances anywhere except with the consent of the International Executive Board.” McManus Vacations Kansas City — John McManus, Loew’s Midland manager, is on a two-week vacation in California. Assistant Manager Robert Kail is pinch-hitting. Harry Hayes of the United Artists exchange in Indianapolis was a visitor here last week. Hayes formerly was a booker at the local Paramount exchange. gone to pot, the George Monroes jr. and sr., went to Omaha once last week. Mrs. Monroe sr. netted $17; Don, 11; George jr., 7; George sr., $14, which was almost as much as the theatre took in all day . . . Note to Nevins Lynn, Kearney: This George “Hodge” Wright, the new manager of the Empress there, is a nice guy, even if he is opposition. A right handed slugger and a left-handed crap-shooter. Sol Francis bounced in and out of town with only the price of one steak on him . . . Monroe Rubinger, the Warner blurber, was a desk-haunter all week about “ Juarez ” with Keith Wilson of the Omaha World-Herald and Barney Oldfield of the Lincoln Journal and Star . . . Orville Rennie’s business in Hastings should be up after the Jubileeum celebration in town all week. Finally it comes out: One time a judge on the bench here was so shocked by a guy’s crime who came before him, he sentenced him to the horrible punishment of dipping the ocean dry with a teaspoon . . . Three years afterward, the man appeared in front of him again, saying he had completed the job . . . The judge thought he had not been severe enough, so gave an hour’s thought to another more lasting sentence, and finally came up with it . . . “Go down and stand in front of Bob Livingston’s Capitol Theatre,” he said, “and wait until he gives you a pass” . . . Old legend says the man’s spirit is still standing somewhere about the place. Tip to Carl Rose: Why work yourself to death trying to make a living? Come on down to the skating party and try killing yourself to have a good time. No Strangers Kansas City — No novelty is the forthcoming selling season to a number of the Metro personnel in the midwest area. That a noteworthy percentage of the staff is composed of veterans in the trade is proved by a bit of figuring. The men and the years each has devoted follow: 19 years — Edward W. Green, Kansas City, salesman. 16 years — Frank Hensler, Kansas City manager; William P. Cameron, Minneapolis, salesman. 15 years — William H. Workman, Minneapolis manager. 14 years — Harris P. Wolfberg, Kansas City, district manager. 13 years — Dexter C. Kennedy, Des Moines manager; Harry J. Shumow, Omaha manager; George W. Turner, Minneapolis, salesman. 12 years — Harold Cohen, Kansas City, salesman. 11 years — Allen S. Clatworthy, Minneapolis, salesman; Gerald E. McGlynn, Des Moines, salesman; Fred C. Thortsen, Omaha, salesman. 10 years — Charles Lieb, Omaha, salesman; George A. Baumeister, Des Moines, salesman. 54 BOXOFFICE :: June 17, 1939