The Film Daily (1946)

lursday, July 18, 1946 m DAILY ieeks lA Permit to nioniie Clii. Mgrs. (Continued from Page 1) attempted here. George Dunn of e New York union tomorrow will pear before the lATSE executive '^jl^ittee, now meeting here, and JJ ' permission to begin such unionation. Richard F. Walsh, lATSE esident, would not predict what tion the executive committee would ke in the matter. The lATSE has signed exclusive ntracts with DuMont and B & K llevision station WBKB for all emoyes and with CBS and NBC for jrtain key employes. lATSE is iganizing West Coast television stains now, Walsh disclosed. At the present time lATSE byws do not permit theater managers voting members. This may be anged at the present convention. iTSE has complied with every revest of the AFL in the Hollywood |tuation, but the carpenters' organ'iation has not, and this matter will ceive full discussion during conintion proceedings next week, ^alsh said. Against Gangsterism in lA Walsh said he was no friend of eorge Browne or William Bioff or eir followers and when the present ificers of the Chicago union were inialled he insisted they pledge themIves against all gangster intrusion j every way. Basic pay of Hollywood members )is been increased from $1.05 in B42 to $1.43 this year, Walsh jated, adding that the 25 per cent crease recently obtained in Hollyjood may be boosted later when neDtiations are completed. The lA prexy said there are now j5,500 members in 910 unions in this smntry and Canada of which more jLan 11,000 in 15 unions are in jollywood where two vice-presidents e'iid special representative are staoned. He added that the 36-hour ijeek is standard for the union in ollywood with time and half over 5 hours and double time for Sunday and holiday work, Walsh ex|ained. Favors Full Publicity 3 A 16-page statement filed by the hieago Bebb Committee with Walsh ill not be acted upon until the use is decided in the courts, i'^alsh favors full publicity for union ifFairs at all times and urges local inions to follow a similar plan. He »ld representatives of the press lat no Communists would be perlitted in the LATSE while he is presl[ent. Highest Bidder'^r $S4 Puzzle Lawyers Seek Solution^to Decree Mandate (Continued from Page 1 ) not disclosed, but it was learned that a key aspect was to reach some understanding of what constitutes "the highest bidder" in a situation which obviously presents no common denominator. It is pointed out that the booking of a feature on a percentage basis could conceivably bring smaller return to the distributor than a specified z'ental, with the result that a theater actually bidding the subsequently-demonstrated higher amount would be deprived of the booking. The reverse of this situation is also conceivable, it was asserted. Whether percentage deals or rentals, or both, remain in the future decree settlement, there will be inequities for the exhibitor which will certainly induce chaos, provided the "highest bidder" theory is applied. The size of a man's theater, the potentialities for revenue within the framework of location, competition, and other factors which determine the value of a "bid," will have to be weighed. A showman with a 700-seat theater who offers "x" dollars for an attraction is entering a "more valuable bid" than the showman with a 1,400seater who offers the same "x" dollars, all other factors being equal. Exhibitors with theaters of large capacities would have 'a tremendous advantage in bidding against their smaller competitor or competitors," it was stated. Attorneys John Caskey, of 20thFox, and Ralstone R. Irvine, of RKO, who made a hurried trip to Washington for a confab with Robert Wright, special assistant to the Attorney General, made a verbal report at yesterday's MPAA meeting on the result of the huddle at the D of J. MITO Steps Into Detroit Labor Field STORK REPORTS 1 Canton, O. — Irwin Solomon, man'ger of the Ohio Theater and Mrs. plomon are not superstitious any Hore, since July 13 was the arrival "ate of their son. (Continued from Page 1 ) usually followed the leadership of Co-operative Theaters of Michigan and other booking associations in labor negotiations. The present situation, which is wholly amicable, is that MITO will represent some Cooperative members who are also MITO members, as well as members of other booking groups. Resolution was passed supporting single bills, and pledging support of its membership to any move in Detroit, provided it was 100 per cent, but nothing would be done to initiate such a move. Howard Craven, owner of Exhibitors' Service, told the members his organization will not increase prices for either poster or film delivery, regardless of price developments. Craven also announced the immediate start of twice-weekly poster delivery, instead of weekly as hitherto. To Act on Equity Decision Prediction that the association would take definite action either in suppoii; or condemnation of the new anti-ti-ust decision at its next meeting was made by Irving Katcher, secretary. MITO will hold its first luncheon meeting for next season, at the Detroiter Hotel on Aug. 7. Oscar Gorelick was elected first vice-president to replace William Schulte, circuit owner, who resigned because of pressure of personal business. Gorelick headed the constitution committee during the organization at MITO. NEW THEATERS Adamson Adds Another Portland, Ore. — Art Adamson and Associates have opened the Parkrose, a 635-seater. Theater chain has other houses in Vancouver and Ridgefield, Wash., and Albany and Corvallis, Ore. Ft. Walton Star Ready Ft. Walton, Fla.— The Star, new 400-seat theater, opens this week. Neal Robinson of Crestview, part owner, will operate it. Hirliman Firms File Under Bankruptcy Ad (Continued from Page 1) S. District Court here through their president, George A. Hirliman, for an arrangement under Chapter XI of the Bankruptcy Act. The petition stated that the debtors desire to effect an arrangement with their numerous creditors. They asked for an extension of 10 days to file their .schedule. The petition listed the classes of creditors for the purposes of the arrangement and acceptance thereof. They follow: (1) creditors holding security, (2) holders of claims entitled to priority of payment, (3) holders of claims under $200, (4) film laboratories holding claims against the debtors for labor or services rendered, (5) holders of claims over $200. The payments to debtors in the various classes are listed as follows: (1) creditors holding security shall not be affected by the plan and shall be entitled to realize on security to the extend of their claims, (2) all claims entitled to priority will be paid in full within 10 days after confirmation of the arrangement, (3) general unsecured creditors under $200 shall receive payment in 90 days after confirmation, (4) film laboratories receive payments in full in 90 days after confirmation, (5) general unsecured creditors with claims of over $200 shall receive payment in full within 36 months after confirmation at the rate of 16 2/3 per cent of their claims every six months. Both debtors shall jointly and severally be liable for the payments of debts. The debtors propose that, if the arrangement is confirmed, all debts they incur during the continuance of their business after filing of the Fremont Drive-in Bows Fremont, O.— The 650-car Fremont Drive-In build by Mosser Brothers, has opened. It is entirely equipped with Simplex sound and projection equipment installed under ohe direction of Frank Masek, manager of the Cleveland branch office of National Theatre Supply Co. Hurst's Harlem Opens Denton, Tex. — The Harlem Theater has been opened by W. S. Hurst, a former Columbia salesman. Hurst also owns and operates the 250-seat Plaza. Competing Asheville Strand Asheville, N. C. — The new Strand Theater building, which has been under construction for some time, is expected to be completed sometime in August. The new house, when completed, will have a seating capacity of 750 persons. It will be operated by H. B. Meiselman, of Charlotte. Rank, U. S. Execs. Meet Day and Night on Decree (Continued from Page 1) and visiting UWP, Universal and International Pictures executives in a series of night-and-day meetings. Of particular concern is the decision's mandate for "single selling" in view of the plans of UWP to combine top British product. Rank-made, with American films produced by International Pictures for sales purposes. Other decision provisions bearing upon distribution also are under scrutiny, while attention as well is being given to possible modification of UWP's long-range theater acquisition program. Leading British legal lights are reported sitting in at the meetings, and probably for the first time, are being familiarized with not only American industry practices but the legal restrictions upon them. petition shall receive priority of payment over all debts affected by the arrangement other than those due to their secured creditors. ITTC has employment contracts with Hirliman and Harry J. Rothman dated January, 1945, for five years at $500 per week each. SICK REPORT MILTON HUDSON has returned to his post as manager of the Savoy Theater, Detroit, after several months' hospitalization following an auto accident near Blaw Knox, Pa.