The Cine Technician (1943 - 1945)

May— June, 1944 THE CINE-TECHNICIAN 33 RALPH BOND BIOFF "GETS RELIGION" Our old friends Bioff and Browne have been back in the limelight again. Journal readers will recall that they are currently serving 10 and 8 year sentences for their part in the extortion of more than $2,000,000 from the American film industry. This sizeable fortune was collected not for the members of the I.A.T.S.E. (the American Film Trade Union) whose leading officials they were, but for their own pockets. Their method was to threaten Hollywood film companies with strikes which would close down production. The companies bought off the strike threats by paying these two Union racketeers vast sums of money. The trial created an international sensation, especially as it was suspected that Bioff and Browne were acting as agents for the Capone gang in Chicago. This suspicion as now been amply confirmed by the trial and conviction of seven more I.A.T.S.E. officials, all of whom turned out to be former Capone gang associates. Bioff was brought out of prison to testify against these seven, and announced that while in jail be "got religion," and decided to help the Government prosecute his former pals. He also announced that he had gone all patriotic and wanted to join the Army. A more likely explanation is that he hoped to get a remission on his sentence by testifying for the prosecution. The ramifications of these gangster " Union " leaders were many and various. The Chicago mob operated mainly through their control of the projectionists in the cinema theatres in the big cities and their methods differed from the Bioff-Browne strategy in Hollywood. In Chicago they entered into a conspiracy with the theatre owners to deprive the projectionists of their rightful wages. The number of emplo\ ees in each projection booth was reduced from two to one at a saving of $6,500 yearly for each man eliminated from his job (Unlike here, American projectionists are paid a very high wage). Later the theatre owners paid the gang leaders $1,065 for every man eliminated. Not content with this, the gang agreed to a 20%, and later a 30% pay cut for the members. The power of these gang bosses can be seen by the fact that on one occasion Bioff, with an individual called " Machine Gun Jack " warned the manager of a thi atre that they would " move the building off the lot " if he exhibited Scarf ace. They "considered the picture unfriendly to the boss, Al Capone." The editor of a film trade paper, The Hollywood Reporter, testified during the trial that Bioff organised his printers and then objected to an article appearing in the paper. The editor, a Mr. Wilkerson, quickly grovelled to Bioff and sent him a telegram reading: " For whatever mistakes I made I am willing to do whatever you dictate. There was no intention not to take care of you as you have of me. I stand ready to do anything you command." The njierations of the gang assumed such proportions and their racketeering methods became so obvious that the Union members of Hollywood Local 37 made a determined effort to break away from the I.A.T.S.E. and a majority of them formed the United Studio Technicians Guild. However, Bioff, with the aid of the producers, soon succeeded in regaining control of the situation. After a length} trial, during which many prominent Hollywood figures gave evidence, the ' boys from Chicago " were convicted, receiving maximum sentences of 10 years and fines of $10,000 each. Further charges will be preferred against them by the Government. At this second trial they will be accused of defrauding 42,000 union members of $1,500,000 by imposing a 2% wages tax on all members. Needless to say the proceeds never found their way into the Union treasury. Meanwhile 800 Chicago projectionists, members of the I.A.T.S.E., have filed a suit against Union officials and theatre owners for back wages totalling $5,000,000. If these trials and convictions finally lead to the complete extinction of gangster control and influence in the I.A.T.S.E. they will have served a valuable purpose, despite the fact that at the moment they must have done a lot to discredit trade unionism and encourage the enemies of organised labour. Our sympathies and best wishes go out to our colleagues in the U.S.A. who are fighting for healthy, virile and democratic trade unionism.