The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

5 Circuits Give 306 15 Percent Increase Other Concessions Recorded in Deal New York City — A 15 percent wage increase for 700 motion-picture machine operators of the local affiliated circuits spread out over a period of time was announced last week following three months of negotiations by an arbitration board of two men representing the circuits, two representing Local 306, and Professor M. J. Handler, Columbia University, as chairman. Operators will receive approximately $105,000, representing eight percent in the 15 percent increase, retroactive to September 1, 1938. The eight percent increase will continue until September 1, 1941, when an additional five percent will be granted, to continue until September 1, 1943. Another two percent will be added from that date to September 1, 1945. The agreement provides also for two weeks’ vacation with pay and includes various changes in working conditions. Van Schmus Handles Center New York City — W. G. Van Schmus, managing director, Radio City Music Hall, took over the management of the Center last week following the run of “Pinocchio.” He said the future policy of the theatre probably would be determined soon. Sodikman in Albany Albany — Nate Sodikman, formerly the Monogram sales manager in Rochester and Syracuse, was last fortnight promoted to the managership of the Monogram office here. Rochester Raps ROCHESTER — Local theatres unwittingly are taking some behind-thescenes raps, it developed last week. Certain churches opposed by city buildings department in a move to restore “Bingo” on the grounds of overcrowding buildings point out theatres are using the game. When told that’s different, they reply, “All right, we’ll run pictures, too, and that’ll make us theatres, same as those using ‘Bingo’.” Council of Church Women were much disturbed over automobile giveaways during Holy Week. No attempt was made to stop the giveaway, but it was brought to the attention of members as causing unnecessary harm to pre-Easter religious activities. April 3, 1940 “Parole Fixer” Ad Followed by Arrest Manager Jaffa Haled into Court Gloversville— The Schine home office legal department under Attorney Howard Antevil went quickly to the defense of Garson M. Jaffa, manager, Schine’s Cortland, Cortland, who was arrested last fortnight on a charge of “causing to be published untrue, deceptive and misleading advertising.” Charge grew out of the fact that Jaffa used teaser ads in advance of Paramount’s “Parole Fixer.” Ads are reported to have offended a member of the New York Parole Board, and on his complaint Jaffa was picked up. Such lines as “Do You Want a Parole — and Do You Know How to Get It?” and other interest-arousing phases containing the words “fix” and the title of the picture “Parole Fixer” were condemned by Parole Commissioner Frank L. Hanscom who made the complaint as “the cheapest kind of cheap advertising.” Jaffa, however, whose home is in New Bergen, New Jersey, pointed out in his report to the Schine home office that the lines and suggestions were taken from the Paramount press book. He had no intention of offending anyone, and did not believe any person would assume from the ads that parole could be fixed or were for sale. Arraigned before City Judge Donald W. J. Yager, he pleaded innocent and asked for time to prepare his defense. He was to appear in court again March 29 for argument of the case. Meanwhile, it was learned that a public apology would be offered the Parole Board and Parole Commissioner Hanscom, with an effort being made to have Paramount join in it. Case was looked upon here as an unfortunate combination of circumstances. Investigation showed that no trouble probably would have resulted except that newspapers containing ads were received at nearby Attica prison. These were read by prisoners who were gullible enough to believe that they actually offered the services of a parole fixer. According to Arthur Denno, chief clerk at the prison, several of them started to raise a fund whereby they might answer the ad. It was this situation, brought to the attention of the Parole Commissioner Hanscom, which aroused his anger and resulted in his complaint to Cortland County Attorney Louis A. Folmer. THE EXHIBITOR “Pinocchio” Dualling Brings Local Protests School Committee Complains to RKO New York City — Exception was last week taken to the double-billing of Walt Disney’s “Pinocchio” and “The Saint’s Double Trouble” at RKO neighborhood theatres by the Schools Motion Picture Committee, a voluntary organization composed of parents and teachers, which weekly recommends film programs for children between the ages of 8 and 14 years. In a letter of protest issued by Mrs. William Barclay Parsons, Jr., vice chairman of the committee, regret was expressed that the showing of “Pinocchio,” which the letter said “has been eagerly awaited” at neighborhood houses, could not be recommended because it was coupled with “a Class B melodrama featuring a sinister gem smuggler, a waterfront den, a hail of police bullets and three murders.” A copy of the letter was sent to Will H. Hays, president, Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc. John J. O’Connor, vice-president and general manager, RKO theatres, said in reply to the protest that “The Saint’s Double Trouble” had been approved by the Legion of Decency, Snow Upstate Headache New York City — Reports from the upstate area indicated that the big snow last week was severe headache to theatres and the film delivery services. Film salesmen were snowed in, but, generally, most theatres had film. Upstaters say this was the worst winter in years. Billboard Bill Defeated Albany — The Assembly defeated last week, by a vote of 87 to 48, the Wright bill providing for State regulation of outdoor advertising on public highways. Pasternack on Neely NEW YORK CITY— That the Neely Bill or any other media which would limit creative work would result in inferior pictures, was the feeling expressed by Universal producer Joe Pasternak upon his arrival here last week on a vacation visit. In response to a vague question concerning his personal reaction to the proposed antiblock booking legislation, he asserted: “The moment you limit creative work to formula, you’re licked. . . . Nothing can hurt the motion -picture business but bad pictures. The bill, as I understand it, would mean that if an exhibitor booked a film from script, the finished product will have to be exactly like the original script. Something like that is impossible. There has never been a picture in which the director followed the original story religiously. It is those little touches not in the script that go to make a great picture.” NYS.