Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1938)

Two Plans by Junior SAG Filmdom's Labor Forces Experience Tranquil Week; Wary of IATSE In what quite possibly may be the lull before the storm, Hollywood’s labor legions passed through one of the most tranquil weeks experienced among the film colony’s union, craft and guild memberships since, in past months, the labor picture has become entangled in its present complexities and complications. Temporarily dimmed, but still existent, is the shadow of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes and its threatened drive to assume jurisdiction over all phases of studio labor — the opening drive in which came to a complete collapse when the Studio Utility Employes withdrew charges, filed with the National Labor Relations Board, that the IATSE had attempted to claim jurisdiction over some 85 SUE workers at Republic. Labor leaders unanimously are confident that the IATSE will strike again in the near future, with more than a dozen unaffiliated Hollywood unions as possible targets for the IA’s jurisdictional encroachment move. Following a conference with Dr. Towne Nylander of the NLRB, Harland Holmden, vice-president of the IATSE, declared that the dispute involved only eight men. Dr. Nylander then instructed SUE and IATSE officials to straighten out the matter themselves. The Conference of Motion Picture Arts and Crafts, which sponsored the recent and poorly-attended mass meeting of unemployed studio workers at the Hollywood Bowl, was to hold its regular meeting Thursday. Conference leaders were expected to continue to map plans for a five-day week for film laborers and other means of staggering production more evenly throughout the year in an effort to eliminate depression and peak periods. SWG-SP Fracas Adds To Muddled Situation Albeit a bit wearily, the Screen Writers Guild-Screen Playwrights, Inc. -producers embroglio again has been tossed up for grabs, developments on each of the three fronts adding further to the muddled situation this week. Latest hindrance to the certification of the SWG as sole bargaining agent for film scriveners came in the form of a landslide of protests against the manner in which the recent National Labor Relations Board election was conducted, the objections being filed with Dr. Towne Nylander, regional director of the NLRB, by seven major studios involved in the balloting— 20th Century-Fox, Paramount, Republic, Warner, M-G-M, RKO Radio and Universal. Each protest was the same in tenor — setting forth that the producers’ constitutional rights had been violated through the manner in which the election was conducted, and that there was insufficient evidence that the writers who voted were actually working for the producing companies where they cast their ballots. Dr. Nylander, absent from the city early in the week, was expected to return Thursday or Friday to ponder over the producers’ objections and to decide whether they carry sufficient weight to order a local hearing. If he decides against such a move, the protests will be forwarded to the NLRB headquarters in Washington along with his intermediate report concerning the election and his request that the SWG be certified as bargaining agent. The SP, meanwhile, delayed action on two important fronts. Meeting late last week, it re-elected John Lee Mahin president of the body, retained all other officers, and appointed a committee comprising Casey Robinson, Grover Jones and James Kevin McGuinness to study the situation as it stands before deciding upon what course to pursue as to possible absorption into the SWG membership; and held further discussion of its frequently reiterated plan to appeal the SWG election victory to the Federal Courts, without taking definite steps in this direction. Apparently little perturbed by the protests filed by the producers, the SWG held an executive board meeting Monday night at which it quietly pursued its current chief item of business — completing the draft of the code which it expects to submit to the producers when the NLRB forwards the expected SWG certification as bargaining representative. The Guild also issued a bulletin to its members in which it asserted that no “mass merger” with the SP or any other group would be considered, but reiterated its “open door” policy in handing out affiliation invitations to individual members of the rival writing group. “We want them in the Guild and they belong to the Guild,” the bulletin said in part. “ . . . The Guild warmly welcomes within its ranks any and all members of the Screen Playwrights.” Dudley Nichols, SWG president, left Monday for a ten-day business trip to New York, planning to return here briefly and then going east again for a vacation on his Connecticut farm. Open Writer Agency Dealing in story material and writers exclusively, Dave Bader and Jules Liberman have opened agency offices on the Sunset Strip under the firm name of the Literary Corp. of America. Connections are being established in New York, London, Paris and other cities. Riskin-Goldwyn Talk Samuel Goldwyn Thursday admitted he was negotiating with Robert Riskin, but denied any deal had been consummated. Generally interpreted as a move to permanently end dissension within the ranks of the Junior Screen Actors Guild, is the announcement that the Junior SAG and Central Casting have agreed to institute two changes in the policies and operations of the casting bureau. Under plans worked out by Aubrey Blair of the SAG and Campbell McCulloch, general manager of Central Casting, the clearance bureau for extra and bit players shortly will reopen its interview department for such day players, granting each enrolled extra the right to personal contact with the bureau at least four times yearly. Such rights have been denied extras since, some months ago, the SAG closed its Junior membership roster and instituted a closed shop for such players in the industry. Further, Central Casting will establish a special clearing department for racial groups. The two changes, it is expected, will pave the way for extras working in lower wage brackets to qualify themselves for more desirable calls if they possess the ability. SAG spokesmen were non-commital as to the reasons for the move, but, coming as it does on the heels of a rift within the Junior Guild in which six council members turned in their resignations, students of the situation are inclined to the belief that it is being instituted to prevent further internal differences. The closed shop will, however, continue to prevail. The Junior SAG council was to meet Thursday to hear Blair outline the plan, and to take action on the resignations of the sextet of council members, which up to now have not been recognized. Other Guild activities were of a minor nature, the acting body continuing to mark time while awaiting the return of Murray Kinnell before setting a date for the opening of their arbitration sessions with the producers — a move agreed upon when the recent SAG-producer huddles anent changes in the Guild shop contracts for the coming year ended in a deadlock. Kinnell, selected as the Guild’s arbitration representative, is on vacation. SAG officers have set July 31 as the deadline for payment of regular quarterly dues, with members thus notified. The Junior branch of the Screen Directors Guild held a board of directors meeting early in the week to discuss the coming hearing before the national labor relations board on the petition for recognition filed by the senior body. Date for the hearing was expected to be set by Dr. Towne Nylander, regional director of the NLRB, late this week upon his return from an out-of-town business trip. Metro Sets Two Lionel Barrymore and Freddie Bartholomew have been set for the top roles in Metro’s filmization of the Broadway stage success, “On Borrowed Time,” by Paul Osborn. 30 BOXOFFICE :: July 16, 1938