Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1948)

Labor Board Rejects Hartford Union Plea HARTFORD — The National Labor Relations board has reiterated its claim' to jurisdiction on a local level in motion picture theatres by reinstating charges against the musicians union that it had violated the Taft-Hartley act by featherbedding. The initial complaint was registered by Harris Bros., operators of the State Theatre here. Following an examiner’s hearing, the union charged that NLRB had no jurisdiction in the case. Robert Greene, NLRB’s regional board secretary, declared that NLRB also reinstated a charge against the union that it had coerced the theatre into extending a contract. The contract called for hiring musicians even when the actual performance was by a name band on the stage. A third unfavorable action for the union was the board’s support of the examiner’s refusal to dismiss the whole complaint. The union, in appealing, argued on grounds of lack of jurisdiction. The board, on a fourth appeal point, refused to allow the stagehands and motion picture operators union to intervene. New Era for Exhibition Hailed by Allied of NE Among those at the 20th anniversary dinner of the Independent Exhibitors of New England were, left to right, top panel: James Guarino, H. M. Richey, Michael Kelleher, Arthur Howard, Nathan Yamins. Second panel: Abraham Myers, President Daniel Murphy, Thomas Hannon, W. L. Bendslev, Lew Lehr, Bill Cunningham, Walter Mitchell. Third panel: Neil Shea, William Ainsworth, David Palfreyman, Maurice Safer, Julian Rifkin, Leonard Goldberg and Trueman Rembusch. Da¥id Seidman Retires After 50 Years of Shows NORTH ADAMS, MASS. — After 50 years in showbusiness, during which time he has participated in virtually every kind of theatrical venture, David Seidman, 68, manager of the Mohawk Theatre, has retired. Seidman is suffering from an injury to his left side received in a fall March 7, and has been advised by doctors to retire and live in the south. He will make his home in Miami Beach. Seidman started in shO'Wbusiness in 1908 and was an actor, producer and owner of traveling shows. He has been manager of the Mohawk for E. M. Loew’s for six years and prior to that managed theatres in New York City. Hamden Safety Police Bill Opposed by Exhibitors HAMDEN, CONN. — A proposed amendment empowering the board of selectmen to provide policemen, firemen or other officers as they deem necessary for the “adequate protection” of the public at any public dance, play or show, theatrical exhibition, moving picture exhibition, etc., was objected to by Dr. J. B. Fishman for the Dixwell Playhouse, Howard Johnson of the Strand, and Maurice Bailey of the Whitney Theatre. Fishman pointed O'Ut that the state police maintain a rigid code with respect to theatre patrons’ safety. Gets Drive-In Permit WOLCOTT, CONN. — ^The zC'ning board has approved the application of Philip C. Cahill of Hartford to construct a drive-in theatre on Route 69 near Cedar Lake. The project will cost $75,000. Some Cedar Lake propei’ty owners objected strongly to the proposal, contending that the open-air theatre would create additional traffic hazards on the state highway and annoyances for neighbors through the loudspeaker system. . BOSTON — News of the supreme court decisions and the impact they will have on the industry overshadowed all else at the 20th anniversary convention of the Independent Exhibitors of New England last week. After Abram F. Myers, national Allied’s general counsel, submitted a report on the court rulings Nathan Yamins, Fall River exhibitor and one of those who instigated the antitrust suit, declared, “This victory for independent theatre ovmers is the greatest step forward in its history.” To which Trueman Rem'busch, president of Allied of Indiana added, “This is the goal we have been trying to reach for 15 years.” The convention found time for a forum discussion of film prices and selling practices and to hear talks on television, the public relations program of Publicists Anonymous, concessions business, insurance, and the children’s cancer research foundation of the Variety Club of New England. MOGER TELLS OF PROGRAM The program of Publicists Anonymous was outlined by Art Moger, Warner Bros, exploiteer. He made three points: (1) Inferior pictures must be exploited with oldtime showmanship. It has been demonstrated that inferior pictures have done better than average business vidiere the exhibitor has put in special effort to sell it to the public. (2) The drop in the boxoffice is not a death-rattle but merely a leveling-off of prewar normalcy, and the exhibitor must convince the public that pictures are still good and still the cheapest form of entertainment for the masses. (3) Exhibitors, distributors and actors, alike, must stop criticizing their industry in such a way that it discredits the industry. In a discussion of theatre insurance, Henry McKenna of Employers Group Insurance Co. pointed out that the introduction of concessions into theatres on a large scale calls for a new type of insurance. Concessions expose exhibitors to payment of damages for such things as foreign substances found in food products eaten on the premises, he said. TALKS ON TELEVISION Other speakers were E. P. Genock of Paramount Pictures on television; James Mahoney of Interstate Theatres on physical operation of theatres; Samuel Lowe jr. and James Ryan, -who discussed theatre concessions; David Palfreyman of MPAA, whose topic was admission taxes, and John Dervin of United Artists, chairman of the children’s cancer foundation of the 'Variety Club, who thanked the organization for its contributions to this cause. The convention wound up with a banquet attended by 200. Bill Cunningham, columnist and reporter, told of his experiences in Hollywood and western Europe. Lew Lehr was master of ceremonies. Greetings were extended for Governor Bradford by Neil Shea; for Mayor Curley by Thomas Hannon, and by Michael Kelleher, president of the Chamber of Commerce. Seated at the head table with them were Walter Mitchell and W. Leslie Bendslev, co-chairmen for the convention; Nathan Yamins, Abram Myers, Arthur Howard, Julian Rifkin, Leonard Goldberg, James Guarino, Maurice Safner, Dr. J. B. Fishman, Trueman Rembusch, William Ainsworth, Irving Dollinger and H. M. Richey. Those registered for the convention were: Ted Rosenblatt John Anthony Leonard Richter Anseln Sanborn Dominic Turturro Marshall Carlton Marie Bruno Joe Carrolo (Continued on next page) BOXOFFICE :: May 15, 1948 NE 87