Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1947)

'Bert' Moeller Dies; Served MPTOA IATSE-NATKE Members Will Be Interchanged NEW YORK — A basic agreement on the interchange of American and British industry technicians has been reached between Richard F. Walsh, international president of IATSE, and Tom O’Brien, general secretary of the National Association of Theatrical and Kine Employes, after two weeks of consultation here. The agreement will regulate the entrance of British technical labor into Hollywood on a reciprocal basis with American technicians going to work in London studios and will be set up in detail with IATSE officials on Walsh’s return from England late this summer. The IATSE president and O’Brien left on the Queen Elizabeth June 11 and will continue their discussions in London. During 1946 and the first three months of 1947, about 20 American technical personnel went over to England to work in British studios, according to O’Brien, while, during this same period, only four British technicians came to visit in Hollywood, none of them to work in the studios there. The feeling in the English studios that American technical personnel is coming over “in too great a number” was the chief reason for a protest strike by British technicians in one studio near London shortly before O’Brien came to this country. Although he succeeded in ending the walkout in a few hours, O’Brien determined to find a solution which would avert future difficulties and prevent production in London from being held up. While the British have no intention of displacing an American technician with one of their own men, O’Brien said, they believe that, at present, it is “far more difficult for a British technician to get to Hollywood than it is for American technical personnel to get into London.” The final details of the cooperative plan will be worked out after Walsh surveys labor conditions in the British studios and theatres employing NATKE members. The British organization has about 60,000 members, according to O’Brien. O’Brien, who made a firsthand study of conditions in New York City and in New England, where he visited theatres, also discussed with Walsh the possibility of starting a trade union committee to discuss labor problems. Regarding the deadlock now existing between Local 702, IATSE, and the representatives of 16 film laboratories in New York, Walsh said that “an agreement has been worked out” and there will be no strike. The agreement calls for “a substantial wage increase,” Walsh said, but announcement can not be made until final details were worked out. Midwest Exhibitor Group To Attend Allied Meet NEW YORK — Exhibitors from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois will attend the Allied Theatre Owners of New Jersey convention at Atlantic City June 24-26, and the testimonial banquet to Jack Kirsch, national president of Allied. The exhibitors will leave Chicago June 23 in four special cars. The convention will be held at the Ambassador hotel. Those scheduled to attend include Andy Smith, 20th-Fox general sales manager; David Palfreyman, MPA; Harry Brandt, president of ITO of New York; Jack Levin, Confidential Reports; Sam Rinzler, Randforce circuit; Fred Schwartz, Century circuit; Hugh Owen, Paramount; Sam Shain, 20th-Fox; Malcolm Kingsberg, RKO Theatres; Sol Schwartz, RKO Theatres; Sam Frank, New Jersey; Jack Ellis; UA; Fred Myers, Universal; Harry Waxman, New Jersey; Jay Emanuel; Charles “Chick” Lewis; C. E. Peppiatt, 20th-Fox; Maurice Kann, James Jerauld, Sam Gross, Sherwin Kans, Earle Sweigert, Paramount; W. A. Prewitt, Morris Finkle, A1 Picoult, Mo Wax, Morton Sunshine and Henry Randel, Paramount. DETROIT— Albert J. “Bert” Moeller, 57, died from a cerebral hemorrhage at 3 a. m. Wednesday (11) at his home. Moeller had been in ill health several years. He was early head of the old exhibitor organization in Michigan and later became general manager of MPTOA. He returned to Detroit about three years ago and has maintained contacts with the motion picture industry locally since that time. Last rites and burial took place Friday. He is survived by his wife Vera and a stepson. Funeral Services Held For Aronson of MPA NEW YORK — Funeral services were held Thursday (June 12) at Park West funeral chapel for Alexander S. Aronson, 62, assistant to Gerald M. Mayer, managing director of the MPA international division. He is survived by his wife and a daughter, Mrs. Harry Galland. Aronson was transferred from the MPEA to the MPA last February. He was hospitalized shortly after his appointment. Aronson first started in foreign distribution in 1914. For several years he served as MGM general distribution representative in Europe. He operated his own distribution setup in Europe for U.S. pictures from 1931 to World War II. Francis S. Harmon, MPA vice-president, and Irving Maas, vice-president and general manager of the MPEA, lauded Aronson as a friend and business associate. Maas said: “I have lost a personal friend and the industry one of its most capable international sales executives. He devoted many long years of his career as a pioneer in the distribution of American motion pictures abroad and to the early development of the international market.” William J. Lyris, 54, Dies; With Skouras Since 1911 NEW YORK— William J. Lyris, 54, wellknown Pacific coast showman, died unexpectedly of a heart attack June 9, while on a business trip here. Lyris, a native of Greece, came to the U. S. in 1911 and entered the theatre business in St. Louis in association with Charles P. Skouras, now head of Fox West Coast Theatres and National Theatres Corp., and Spyros P. Skouras, president of 20th-Fox. In 1932, Lyris went to Los Angeles to join Fox West Coast and for the past several years has been director of the merchandise department of both Fox West Coast and National Theatres. Lyris is survived by his wife, Toni, and two daughters, Billie and Marie. Funeral services were conducted in Los Angeles at the Greek Orthodox Church of Assumption, with interment at Inglewood cemetery. George Foster, 65, Is Dead; Wehrenberg Brother-in-Law ST. LOUIS — George Foster, 65, brother-inlaw of Fred Wehrenberg, president of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America and manager of Wehrenberg’s Virginia Theatre,' died here Monday (9) . As a young man, Foster was a drummer in theatre orchestras here. He had managed Wehrenberg theatres for the past 30 years. Surviving are his wife Helen and several children. DISCUSS WARNER SALES — District managers and home office executives at two-day meet in New York presided over by Ben Kalmenson (seated at head of table), vice-president and general sales manager. Details of sales methods on the new newsreel were taken up. Left to right: Robert Smeltzer, Henry Herbel, Roy Haines, Norman Ayres, James Allen, Norman H. Moray, and (standing) Charles Daily. At right, reading down from head of table: Mort Blumenstock, Jules Lapidus, I. F. Dolid, Sam Lefkowitz, Charles Rich, Haskell Masters and Hall Walsh. 30 BOXOFFICE :: June 14, 1947