Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1930)

April 26, 1930 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 19 Exhibitor Locks Out Operators After Demanding $20 Pay Slash Joe Danz of Seattle Places Proposal for Lower Scale and Six-Day Week Before Union and Then Ousts Projectionists — Seven Tacoma Suburban Houses Drop Organized Operators [By Special Correspondent to the Herald-World] SEATTLE, April 22. — A lockout of union projectionists has been placed in effect by Joe Danz, president and general manager of the Embassy Theatre Corporation, operating the Embassy theatre. A similar lockout was staged at this house two years ago, but at that time, finding that non union operation cut heavily into the boxoffi.ce, he aligned himself with unions again. A Glass of Beer and Then a Picture — Maybe ( Special to the Herald-World) LONDON , April 22.— There is a possibility that public bars, known as pubs, may incorporate the him among other modes of entertainment for their patrons, but from a statement made by Sir William Clegg, chairman of the Sheffield License-Transfer Sessions, it is not probable. He said, concerning the licensing ..of these places for the showing of pictures, that “even if the regulations are complied with, the shows, in the opinion of the magistrate, are undesirable.’’ Warner Bros. Not For Sale, Is Reply Of Head to “Talk” Control Cannot Pass Without Present Chiefs'’ Consent, Says H. M. Warner (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, April 22. — Warner Brothers is not for sale, it never has been, and its control cannot pass to any other firm without the consent of those who are now directing its business. This is the substance of a statement emphatically issued here by H. M. Warner, president of the company, with specific reference to talk in trade and financial circles predicting a change in ownership. “The recent announcements made of affiliations to Warner Brothers of groups essential to the future growth of the film,” he said, “are the outgrowth of long considered plans devised to make Warner Brothers a completely self-contained organization. The objective of these moves is to create in Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc., a complete and independent machine equipped to operate in every phase of mechanical entertainment and in any industry which contributes essential factors to its business. “That there be no misunderstanding,” he continued, “it is my desire that our many thousands of stockholders, friends and business associates shall ignore any statement, or surmise, regarding this firm which is not issued with the authority of its officers.” Gen. Elec. Quarter Net Tops 15 Million To Beat 1929 Mark (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, April 22. — The net profit of the General Electric Company for the first quarter of 1930 was $15,042,521, the company officially reported last week. This is equal to 50 cents a share on the common stock, which represents a four-to-one division of the original total. The net profit for first three months of 1929 was $14,505,986, which was equal to 48 cents a share on the common stock. Social Club to Celebrate Columbia* s Anniversary ( Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, April 22. — The Columbia Social Club will celebrate Columbia’s tenth anniversary with a dinner and dance at the Moscow Art Inn on April 28. Both home office and exchange employees will attend. The opening gun of the present trouble was fired by Danz in a letter to Local 154 Motion Picture Operators, in which he set forth at length his troubled business conditions. He asked for a reduction in scale for five of the seven operators. The Embassy is an all-night first and second run house located in the busy downtown section. The letter asked for a $20 a week reduction for these five men from their present and established scale for a six-day week. Drops Operators Second Day The letter was written on April 1 and came before the general meeting of the Operators Union two days later. On vote of the membership, the letter was referred to the executive committee, Danz being advised accordingly by mail the following morning. The labor organization assured Danz that the executive committee would give the matter their immediate attention and confer with him within a few days. Danz, without waiting, on the second day after writing the letter locked out his union men without advance notice. Joe Danz, with whom the difficulty arose, is a brother of John Danz (known as Dynamite Danz), Seattle non-union operator of seven down-town houses, who has battled organized labor for the past seven years. Lockout at Seven Tacoma Houses TACOMA, April 22. — Seven independent surburban theatre ownern here last week locked out their union projectionists, after virtually coming to a satisfactory agreement. O. M. Jacobson, district secretary of the International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees, is on the ground in an effort to iron out the difficulties. Sunday Show Fight on In 3 Mississippi Towns; Writ Stops One Manager (Special to the Herald-World) NATCHEZ, MISS., April 22. — An injunction issued by Circuit Judge R. L. Corban on application of Joseph Brown, county attorney, stopped the presentation of a moving picture show here by the Baker Grand theatre, one of the Publix chain. Announcement of the serving of the injunction on William Jones, manager, was made to the large Sunday afternoon crowd by Charles F. Engle, attorney for Publix. Engle stated that an effort would be made to have the injunction dissolved and expressed the opinion that Sunday moving picture shows were no more in violation of the law than the issuing of newspapers, playing golf and the keeping open of cigar stores and similar establishments. During the past week several civic organizations, including the Natchez Council of Parent-Teacher Association and the Ministerial Association, expressed disapproval of the proposal to open moving picture shows in Natchez Sundays. This action followed the presentation of the question to the executive committee of the American Legion, by the management of the Baker Grand theatre. The legion committee stated that the matter would be referred to the full membership by the post. At Prentiss, Miss., vigorous resolutions condemning Sunday motion picture shows, Sunday baseball “and any other sporting games that militate against the moral and spiritual interests of the people” were unanimously adopted by 100 preachers and lay leaders in the Methodist Conference. W. S. F. Tatum, mayor of Hattiesburg is a leader in the fight to prevent the inauguration of Sunday shows. At Hattiesburg, a jury in county court will hear the appealed case of A. Brown Parks, manager of the Saenger theatre, and his chief projectionist, Lewis Hammack, against the city of Hattiesburg. Parks and Hammack were arrested a month ago by police and fined in city court on charges of violating the Sabbath observance laws. They exhibited a motion picture one Sunday afternoon last month during a performance being given for the benefit of the Hattiesburg brass band. J.H. Gallagher Made Columbia Director Of Public Relations ( Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, April 22.— J. H. Gallagher, advertising executive, has been appointed by Jack Cohn, vice president and treasurer of Columbia, to the newly created post of director of public relations for that company. Gallagher, who assumes his new duties immediately, will have under his direction the advertising, publicity, sales promotion and exploitation departments. He comes to Columbia with an extensive background acquired through years in the advertising business. His appointment resumes an association started 25 years ago when Joe Brandt, Jack Cohn and Joe Gallagher were affiliated with the Hampton Advertising Agency. Since then Gallagher has been connected in an executive advertising capacity with the New York Theatre Program Corporation, the United Cigar Stores Company and the magazine division of the Hearst organization. During the past three years he has been free-lancing in general advertising service and newspaper work. Sam E. Morris Month Total Reaches 37,013 (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, April 22. — The plavdate total for Warner Brothers product, in the drive by which the Warner sales force are celebrating the Sam E. Morris Month in May, has reached a total of 37,013, giving an inn-ease for the week past of 10,502. At the finish of last year’s drive the total was 42,000, or only 5,000 more than the record achieved thus far.