Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1948)

NEWS AND VIEWS OF THE PRODUCTION CENTER (Hollywood Office — Suite 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd.: Ivan Spear, Western Manager) Producers and Guild Plan Wage Parley Academy's Ballots In Mails on Jan. 20 HOLLYWOOD — Preliminaries to the film colony’s big annual glamorfest, the Oscars sweepstakes, will get under way January 20 when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will mail out nominations ballots. The polls will close January 29 and the awards nominees will be announced February 14. Thereafter the nominated pictures will be screened from February 21 through March 13 at the Academy Award Theatre. Final ballots will be mailed March 1 and the polls will close March 15. The Academy’s board of governors voted to make the presentations in ceremonies to be held on a sound stage at the Warner Bros, studios in Burbank March 24. It will be a closed affair, with no general public admission. This is a departure from the policy established during the past several years, when the Awards function was held at the Shrine auditorium and the public was permitted to purchase admission tickets. Stars Present Xmas Show For Veterans Hospital HOLLYWOOD — A star-studded array of Hollywood talent helped make Christmas a merrier one for patients at the veterans’ administration Birmingham hospital in Sawtelle through presentation of a variety program emceed by Johnnie Johnston, singing star. Participating in skits were Kay Thompson and the Williams Brothers, Kathryn Grayson, Betty Garrett, Larry Parks, Hedda Hopper, Andre Previn, Eddie Bracken, Esther Williams, Richard Beavers, Mary Jane Smith and Sandra Boi’dova. * * * Irene Dunne was notified by the National Conference of Christians and Jews that that organization had voted her the person who has “done most to promote better understanding among peoples of all faiths during 1948.” The actress will journey to New York early in February to accept the award, which last year went to Eleanor Roosevelt. 20th-Fox Official Weds HOLLYWOOD — Honeymooning at Palm Springs following their recent marriage were Fred S. Meyer, director of personnel and industrial relations at 20th Century-Fox, and Molly May Weber. ’The quiet home ceremony was performed by Rabbi Max Nussbaum. ’The bride and groom were both bereft of their mates about two years ago. HOLLYWOOD — Representatives of the major and independent producers are expected to begin parleys next month with the executive committee of the Screen Directors Guild, which has requested a hearing to submit new requests for wage increases, thus reopening the eight-year contract on which producers and the SDG reached agreement last summer. No salary boosts were granted at that time. Negotiators for the SDG include President George Marshall, Joseph Mankiewicz, Raoul Walsh, Albert S. Rogell and Lesley Selander. Participating in the huddles will be Charles Boren, labor liaison executive for the MPAA, and Anthony O’Rourke of the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers. The new basic pact drafted last July called for a 100 per cent guild shop and certain improvements in clauses covering layoffs and directors’ rights to supervise cutting of their pictures. At that time, however, the SDG withdrew a demand for salary hikes. + * * Following refusal by the local National Relations Board to process the charges, the Screen Publicists Guild has withdrawn from the case in which it had filed unfair labor practice charges against Maury Foladare, freelance publicist. The SPG contended in its NLRB complaint that Foladare had refused to bargain for a guild shop for his employes and also was guilty of intimidating his workers who had expressed an interest in an SPG affiliation. Further, the SPG contended, Foladare granted wage increases to his employes in an effort to nullify the Sign Over Safe Ignored In Futile Robbery Try Phoenix — Phoenix gunmen either can’t read or don’t believe in signs. Three of them bound and gagged the night janitor of the Aero Theatre recently, and while one of them stood over him with a gun the other two spent 35 futile minutes trying to crack the house safe. The sign over the safe read: “Boxoffice receipts are deposited daUy. No money is kept in the safe over night.” The gunmen left before finding out the sign wasn’t kidding. guild’s efforts to secure a bargaining agreement. Foladare has been placed on the SPG’s “do not patronize” list, however, and the organization has also requested the AFL’s central labor council to place the publicist on its “do not patronize” list. This request has been referred to the CLC’s executive board. After the SPG’s NLRB complaint had been filed. Foladare requested that an election be held to determine whether a majority of his employes desired SPG affiliation. No such election will be staged, however, since the NLRB tossed out the SPG’s charges against the blurber as being “without merit.” With negotiations for a new contract “proceeding satisfactorily,” but with additional time needed to settle all the points, the Screen Actors Guild and Artists Managers Guild have extended their contract to May 1, 1949. The pact originally had been due to expire January 1, 1949. Extension of the agreement was announced in a joint statement by John Dales jr., of the SAG and Adrian McCalman of the talent agents’ organization. •-k * * Successful conclusion of negotiations for a new union shop collective bargaining contract was disclosed by the major producers and the Screen Extras Guild. The new ticket covers a five-year period and may be reopened at stipulated dates in 1949 and 1951. It replaces the present contract which has been in effect since November 1, 1946. Unanimously okayed by the SEG’s board of directors, the agreement is subject to ratification by the SEG membership and the directorates of the producing companies. The new ticket provides for retention of present basic daily rates of $15.56 and $22.23, and calls for continued negotiations concerning the disputed $9.45 daily rate for “mob” scenes. “Preferential employment” of extras is to continue for players presently registered with Central Casting. A1 Jolson Gives House HOLL'YWOOD — An estate in the Hollywood foothills valued at $75,000 was presented to the Cedars of Lebanon hospital by A1 Jolson, radio, screen and stage entertainer. Jolson said the institution may use the 14-room home and property for “whatever purpose it sees fit.” BOXOFFICE :: December 25, 1948 51