Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1948)

(Hollywood Of nee — Suite 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd.: Ivan Spear, Western Manaaer) Independents Sign With Music Union HOLLYWOOD — Accord between independent filmmakers and another imion was reached when a one-year contract was set by the American Federation of Musicians with the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, the Independent Motion Picture Producers Ass’n and unaffiliated independents including Eagle Lion and Enterprise. Under terms of the new ticket, retroactive to September 1, AFM members are guaranteed a minimum of 35,000 man hours of employment during the contract period, with rates and working conditions to remain as they were prior to that date. Further meetings are scheduled to work out final terms. The AFM thus has worked out new agreements with all production units, including the majors. * * Echoes of the 1945 studio strike were heard in the film colony via intelligence from Washington, where a National Labor Relations board ruling held that eight members of the International Ass’n of Machinists who were discharged from their studio posts after that walkout are entitled to wages retroactive to the dates of their dismissals. The NLRB also issued a “cease and desist” order directing Universal-International, Metro, Warners and RKO to refrain from “discouraging membership” in the lAM’s Cinema Lodge 1185, or laying off, transferring or otherwise “discriminating” against such lAM members. The NLRB ruling, in effect, upheld a trial examiner’s report in connection with “unfair” charges brought by the lAM against the Ass’n of Motion Picture Producers in 1946. * * * Action by the local NLRB in a jurisdictional complaint filed by two makeup crafts found one charge dismissed and another continued until early next month. Thrown off the docket was a complaint filed by the Independent Hair Stylists charging Jerry Fairbanks Productions was guilty of “discrimination” by refusing to hire makeup artists unless they were members of the lATSE’s Local 706. The NLRB ruled in this instance that the lA local had a contract with Fairbanks at the time the charges were brought. A second case, filed against lA Local 706 and Wilshire Pictures by the independent stylists’ group, was continued at the request of Wilshire’s attorney. * * * Cameramen’s lATSE Local 659, will hold a general membership meeting October 5 to discuss the possibility of establishing a pen sion plan to which contributions would be made jointly by union members and studio employers. * ♦ ♦ A contingent of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers officials headed by Roy Tindall, business agent, went to Atlantic City to attend the union’s national convention, which opened September 13. H. W. Irwin Is New Chief Of United Int'l 16mm HOLLYWOOD — Reorganization of United International, a 16mm distribution company, with H. W. Irwin taking over as president, was completed, with Irwin establishing headquarters here. The outfit was purchased by a financial group headed by Edward Doherty of Chicago. United is currently releasing 15 reissues, all reductions from 35mm, including six Rex Bell westerns, four sagebrushers with Ken Maynard, two action pictures and three romantic comedies. 3*1 If! Telemount Pictures, new video outfit headed by Henry Donovan, booked Jan Clayton, stage and screen actress, to star in a series of 13 musicals slanted for a children’s television show. Each film will be photographed in black-and-white 16mm, with sound, using an “open end” technique permitting interpolation of sponsors’ announcements. Lester Cole-MGM Suit Continued Two Weeks HOLLYWOOD — A two-week continuance, from November 16 to November 30, was ordered by Federal Judge Leon Yankwich in the suit filed by scenarist Lester Cole against Metro, seeking reinstatement to his scripting post. Cole, one of the so-called “unfriendly 10,” was suspended by the studio after an appearance before the un-American activities committee in Washington last fall, when he refused to testify as to his political beliefs. Cole contends that because of the nature of the suspension he has been unable to secure work at any other film company. Mono Signs Rodeo Star For Western Film Series HOLLYWOOD — Augmenting its norma! output of Johnny Mack Brown and Jimmy Wakely westerns. Monogram has signed Whip Wilson, Texas rodeo star, to topline in a new series of six sagebrushers annually. The Wilson deal was set by Scott R. Dunlap, executive assistant to Steve Broidy, Monogram president. Brown and Wakely also will star in six westerns each on the company’s 1948-49 slate. 'Blandings' Launched In 45 Communities HOLLYWOOD — Multiple west coast openings of “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House,” produced by RKO and being distributed by the Selznick Releasing Organization, were slated for September 17 in 45 communities in an area from San Luis Obispo to San Diego, Calif. In Los Angeles the Cary Grant-Myma Loy starring comedy was booked for Loew’s State, Grauman’s Chinese, the Uptown, Loyola and Carthay Circle. It was also scheduled for Sherman Oaks, Santa Monica, Inglewood, Glendale, North Hollywood, Pasadena, Alhambra, Long Beach, Redondo Beach, Ocean Park, San Pedro, Huntington Park, Santa Ana, Whittier, San Fernando, Belvedere Gardens and other communities. Slated for an early opening at the Odeon Theatre in Toronto, Canada, Roy Del Ruth’s “The Babe Ruth Story” will be the first Hollywood-produced film to play that new $2,000,000 house. ♦ ♦ ♦ Booked for its world premiere October 2 at the Little Carnegie Theatre in New York is “The Mozart Story,” foreign-made film being distributed by Screen Guild Productions. It is based on the life, loves and music of Wolfgang Mozart, classical composer. « * • RKO’s “Rachel and the Stranger,” starring Loretta Young, William Holden and Robert Mitchum, was slated for its New York premiere at Brandt’s Mayfair September 18. New Epic Pictures, Inc., Sets Three Color Films HOLLYWOOD — Formation of Epic Pictures, Inc., has been completed by Jack Wrather, John Wayne and James Edward Grant with a schedule of three pictures to be made during the next three years, all in Technicolor. No release has been set. Kickoff film, slated to go into work early in 1949, is “Incident in Illinois,” historical western written and to be directed by Grant, starring Wayne and produced by Wrather. It will be followed by “A Man’s Story” and “Stage Coach to Tucson,” both Grant originals. Public Invited to Broadmoor COLORADO SPRINGS — ’The exclusive Broadmoor hotel here recently announced that the Broadmoor Theatre, located in the hostelry, was open to the general public at all showings. The theatre recently opened with downtown prices prevailing and only one show offered, at 8:30 in the evening. BOXOFFICE :: September 18, 1948 61