Exhibitors Herald (Jan-Mar 1920)

March 13. 1920 EXHIBITORS HERALD SETTLED STRIKE Aaron J. Jones, of the Firm of Jones, Li nick and Schaefer, Chicago, Who Got the Operators and Exhibitors Together and Settled the Threatened Trouble inForty-five Minutes Chicago Theatres Adjust Labor Controversy and Avoid Closing Speedy Settlement Is Effected February 26. After Chance of Compromise Appears to Have Dwindled — Arbitrate Future Difficulties The disagreement, which threatened to close every motion picture theatre in Chicago and suburbs March 1, was adjusted Thursday. February 26. and immediate danger of a "strike" or ''lockout" has passed. W ith the settlement, an agreement to arbitrate all future difficulties has been drawn up and signed. For the time being, some of the tenseness which has kept Chicago theatre owners in a constant state of anxiety for the past eighteen months has been relieved. Cause of Disagreement Is Not Yet Clear Few people, apparently, understand the root of the entire trouble. The majority of exhibitors believed that an attempt was being made to force two operators into every theatre which had two projection machines. Officers of the union declared they wanted two operators in only six houses. Officers of the A. A. A., after the settlement, stated that the union demanded two operators in twelve theatres. Claims Censor Board Is Political Machine Oregon Civic League Sponsors Debate on Subject at Its Weekly Meeting. PORTLAND, ORE — The motion picture censorship board here is nothing but a tool in the hands of a political machine, according to Dan Kellaher. former city commissioner, in a talk before the Oregon Civic league. John H. Stevenson, in opposing censorship, said that the nation had gone far enough in its restriction of individual liberties and its rule by commissions and boards and Soviets. He declared that censorship is opposed to the sacred rights granted by the constitutions of the government and the state. Mayor Baker charged that showmen were making deliberate attempts to abolish censorship in Portland. He said that he saw a peril to the children through the influence of pictures, and advocated national censorship with men "big enough and fearless enough to handle the job right." Lower Theatre Taxes SAVANNAH. GA.— The city council has amended the tax ordinance so that motion picture houses charging over 10 cents for admission will be taxed S350 and $250 where the admission fee does not exceed 10 cents. The former tax was $500. \\ hen the agreement was drawn up. six theatres, the Riviera. Central Park, Crystal. Howard. Broadway Strand, and Pantheon, were classed as "De Luxe"' houses. The disagreement, however, furnished plenty of material for the newspapers and for four days, morning and evening, the public press was filled with "defies," "gun men." "stink bombs." "advertising graft." "lockout." "criminal conspiracy," and other unsavory phrases. A score of exhibitors, exchange men and labor leaders were quoted, and issued denials of the "quotations" the following days. Public Is Bewildered As the head lines grew more animated and the quotations more fiery, the public and the great majority of the exhibitors became more mystified as to what it was all about. Exchanges continued to send out salesmen and exhibitors continued to book their programs. All over the city a confidence prevailed that the theatres would not close. Thursday afternoon, the newspapers were more livid than any previous day. It was declared all chance of adjustment had passed, as Maurice A. Choynski. president, and Dr. Sam Atkinson, business manager of the A. A. A., declined to meet any union committee which included Thomas J. Reynolds, president, and T. E. Maloy, business agent, of the Operators' Union. Then, late in the afternoon, a statement was issued by Ralph T. Kettering, publicity manager for Jones. Linick and Schaefer. that the theatres would remain open and the trouble had been adjusted. Claims of Victory Follow The following day. the complete terms of the agreement were issued, announcing the designation of six theatres as "De Luxe" houses and a provision for arbitration of all future difficulties. "The A. A. A. obtains everything it wanted." declared Dr. Sam Atkinson, business agent. "The union wanted to designate twelve houses as De Luxe. And in the future. Maloy cannot pull operators out of a theatre any time he wants to. He must come up to our rooms Fridays and arbitrate. There can be no more strikes." Aaron Jones Brings Settlement Aaron Jones, of Jones. Linick and Schaefer. was the man who compelled and obtained the speedy settlement Arriving in Chicago from New York, he called up the A. A. A. offices and asked Maurice A. Choynski and Dr. Sam At I'UMHuamwMiiiMi iiiii!ii:;]u:na;:'^'iiiiiniiiiiii<niiMiiiniiMMiiiinig The Agreement j "This agreement made this 26th | | day of February. 1920. between = I committees appointed by the Allied j Amusement association and com j 1 mittees of the Operators' union, | I local 110, is as follows: | "That at present there are only j | six de luxe houses in Chicago, j | namely: Riviera, Central Park. J | Crystal. Howard. Broadway Strand | = and Pantheon, and that these { | houses are to employ three opera I i tors, one at matinee and two at | 1 night, and they are to operate de | 5 luxe shows seven nights a week j | and two matinees on Saturday and § Sundays, or holidays, and if they | j operate de luxe shows any after j j noon they are to employ additional j | operators at not less than thirty | | two hours per week, and there are j j to be no new houses classed as de 1 I luxe unless they put on a de luxe I | program. | "That it is mutually agreed that j If any grievances between members § | of the 'Allied Amusement associa | I tion' and local 110 of the Operators' j | union will be adjusted by joint ac § 1 tion of the executive board of the 1 j Allied Amusement association and 1 j business agent of local 110 on Fri | 1 day of each week." IiriBmimMMi™^ kinson to attend a conference with the union officials in his offices. "We won't meet with Reynolds and Maloy." they are said to have declared. "Well. I am going to settle the strike for the theatre owners of Chicago this afternoon, and you can attend or not as you see fit." was Jones' reply. Maloy and Reynolds were also invited and are said to have declared they would not meet Choynski and Dr. Atkinson. "Well, Dick Green, vice president of the international union, is going to be here. You can attend or not as you want to. Use your own judgment." is said to have been Jones' response. Choynski. Atkinson. Maloy and Reynolds appeared. The four were in session with Jones and Green forty-five minutes. At the end, the strike was called off. Friday morning in Corinthian Hall, in the Masonic Temple, the A. A. A. met to ratify the agreement, and passed resolutions thanking its officers for the good work in landing the victory