Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1962)

PETRILLO'S SUN SETS 40-year reign as head of Chicago AFM local ends as political newcomer wins election by 95 votes The colorful, often stormy career of music union strong-man James Caesar Petrillo is almost over. The end was signalled in Chicago last Wednesday evening (Dec. 5) as election judges — exhausted from two days of around-the-clock balloting and counting labors — announced that a local society band leader had defeated Mr. Petrillo by a slim margin for the presidency of Local 10 of the American Federation of Musicians. The winner is Bernard F. Richards of suburban Evanston, 111. He will take office after the New Year as the head of the AFM's richest local, a post which Mr. Petrillo had held tightly for four decades and without opposition since 1933. Mr. Petrillo, now 71, withdrew from presidency of the national AFM in 1958 and was succeeded by Herman D. Kenin, whom he supported. Mr. Richards's 1,690 votes topped Mr. Petrillo's by a margin of 95. Other candidates running with Mr. Richards on a slate called "Chicago Musicians for Union Democracy" also defeated nearly all Petrillo administration incumbents. One of Mr. Petrillo's sons, James J. Petrillo, incumbent secretarytreasurer of Local 10, was defeated 2,062-to1,209 by Ervin H. Trisko. A general vote recount is expected. Membership Rights ■ The Richards group ran on a platform that promised to return to the rank-and-file membership their rights to be heard when decisions and negotiations are made concerning their economic and working welfare. Mr. Richards also promised that employers of musicians would have a chance to be heard when contracts are negotiated, instead of merely being "told" what wages they would have to pay. He indicated that through more realistic policies he hoped to encourage more use of live music. The Richards group appears to be principally composed of "jobber" musicians who work short term or one-night music jobs in the greater Chicago area. They complained that when the union "arbitrarily" raised the wage scale without consulting either the musicians or the prospective music buyers, the buyers simply cut the size of bands they ordered to keep costs in line and thus James J. Petrillo (standing, I) and his brother, Lee (sons of James Caesar Petrillo) watch as an election worker re-checks the vote in the Local 10, Chicago AFM election. Results showed James C. out as president and James J. defeated in race for secretary-treasurer. • -1 Highway Patrol (Economee) : Sold | to KBTV (TV) Denver; WAGA-TV | Atlanta; XETV (TV) San Diego; KTTSTV Springfield, Mo.; KALB-TV Alexandria, La.; KPLC Lake Charles, La.; [ WSIX-TV Nashville, Tenn., and KODE [ TV Joplin, Mo. Now in 150 markets. ] Sea Hunt (Economee) : Sold to WAVE-TV Louisville, Ky.; WPRO-TV ] Providence, R. I.; WOOD-TV Grand i Rapids, Mich.; WTVC (TV) Chatta 72 (PROGRAMMING) BROADCASTING, December 10, 1962 ! Bernard F. Richards (with crossed arms) is surrounded* by cheering well-wishers as he claims victory in his fight to unseat long-time AFM local president, James Caesar Petrillo. Mr. Richards, a society bandleader, won the $26,000 a year post by a slim 95-vote margin. N. D.; Minneapolis; Rochester, Minn.; Sioux Falls, S. D.; Indianapolis; Green Bay, La Crosse, Madison, Milwaukee and Wausau, all Wisconsin; Champaign, 111.; Chicago; Davenport, Iowa; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Peoria, Rockford and Springfield, all Illinois; South Bend; Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, and Traverse City, all Michigan; Toledo; Cleveland; Chico, Fresno, Sacramento, Salinas, Bakersfield, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and San Diego, all Cali fornia; Reno, Nev.; Phoenix; Tucson; El Paso; Portland, Ore.; Seattle, Yakima and Spokane, all Washington; Albuquerque; Denver, Grand Junction and Pueblo, all Colorado; Salt Lake City and Honolulu). Also sold to Clairol Inc., via Foote, Cone & Belding, New York, for five markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit and San Francisco. Other markets sold are Washington, D. C; Portland, Me.; Cincinnati and St. Louis. In 53 markets.