Hollywood Filmograph (Jun-Aug 1929)

HOLLYWOOD FILMO GRAPH 25 GILLMORE'S SPEECH Continued from Page 10 workers although I do not remember that thev have ever protested against an organization of employers, but please don't allow Yourselves to be affected by that. I don t believe it matters very much to us in the long run what the papers say or even what the producers say, but it does matter what the actors sav, and to that actor who may leel weak in his allegiance I venture to repeat the words of Decatur, "My country, may she always be right, but right or wrong, m>Somentof ' the agents are our very good friends but I want to warn you that some of them are in collusion with the Producers •Cand therefore -you must not pay any attention to what they say. I hope the agents will realize that after all is said and done :' t s the actors who give them their living : and that the actor is at liberty when this m Hght is over, and after any contract he may have with them is terminated then to make a change in the agent he employs. I should like to remind the agents that . the Call Bureau was inaugurated to prac tically put them out of business and yet toI day we see some of them bowing and scraping before those who endeavored to take " awav their living. v„„n If there be some of you who have been fortunate and have never known the trials and tribulations of the average screen Plajer let me remind you that two years ago the same producers who are so virtuous today and are trying to stand before the public as the paternal guardian of. the actor suddenly announced that all salaries were to be cut 10 20 and 30 per cent. Please mote that I this is referred to in the press as a mere 10 per cent cut. The 10 per cent only affected those whose salaries were below $100.00, but it was 20 and 30 per cent to those who held better paid positions Parenthetically, I may mention that upon this occasion one of the parties who has attacked us in the press sent for me and hurriedly paid up all back dues and also one vear in advance. Kv"ery one admits that it was the action of the Actors' Equity Association which defeated that despotic move. Without the \ctors' Equity Association who is to saj that another ind a larger reduction in your salaries would not be suddenly announced? Some of vou may not love us because you do not know us, but I can assure you that for years we have been the silent policeman on the beat which has protected ' your pocketbooks from depredation ! \ touching little story was brought to me the other day from Henry's restaurant and ' as it is characteristic, and some of you • mav not have heard it, I am going to tell it here. An actor eating his supper said to his friends, "Well, I have got to pay a $60 00 fine for speeding: mothers remiti tance is due; I owe $40.00 on my car; my rent has to be paid, and I turned down a mightv juicy engagement this morning, and he said it with a smile. The real actor is as brave as anyone in the world. K word about Norma Talmadge. bhe seems to have a very good recollection of what appeared in the columns of Equity, since she quoted from an issue three or four vears old in her recent interview. 1 only wish that every member were as well posted but there are a dozen other editorials of an opposite nature in Equity which I wish she would also take to heart. For instance, the one in the May number describing the deplorable lot of the bit and character actowho depends on the Central Casting Office for work. If that doesn't wring the heart and stir the indignation of every fair minded man, nothing will. It there were no other abuses than the one described, we should stamp it out. But In my opinion, these interviews were not written By the parties whose signatures they bear, but by press men engaged for the purpose, the object being to undermine your loyalty — no other explanation. Yes, it is true that we complimented the producers several years ago on their action in starting the Central Casting Bureau. I wonder whether all of you remember exactly how it happened. If not, I will tell you. For years there had been a positive scandal about the way extra people were treated. I'll mention onlv one of their many grievances. At the end of the day they were given their salary slips and they had to return to the studio to get it cashed thus wasting much time and carfare. Consequently a number of usurers sprung up and if did a "fast business in buying those slips at a discount. . ,, That was just one of the grievances. Mr John Emerson, who was then president of the A. E. A., and I had talked this matter over a good deal and once when he was out here he indirectly brought it to the attention of the Los Angeles Times, which started an investigation and published some very scathing articles about it. The result was that the producers conceived the Central Casting Bureau. Mr. Will Hays was proud of this work and asked me to call on Mr Fred Beetson and have it explained. I did bo, and agreed that it was an improvement. I was thereupon invited to take a place on the board, or in lieu of myself, one of our representatives. I asked, would I as a member of that board have any power to change any man engaged to run it, that is, presuming that I was justified in the belief that he was not performing his duty to the extra people. I was told no, and so, of course, I declined to serve. As you know, the big contract players are at the moment on the side lines and unable to help. Many of them regret it deeply, but you must bear in mind that we could not ask them to do an illegal act, since Equity is here to enforce the proper observance of contractual relations between its members and the producers. So, at their own request, we have called upon the thousands of talented motion picture actors of Hollywood, who are the real backbone -of the industry, to win this battle, knowing that they will not be replaced by their fellows of the legitimate theatre, and knowing that they cannot be replaced by^ their fellow artists. We must win, because our cause is just and because in the offing there lies the sympathy and the association, if we need it, of the great American Federation of Labor. In regard to those agents who are trying to force some of you to accept contracts whether you will or not, on the contention that they hold your powers of attorneys, and that you will be breaking your legal obligations if you refuse to take whatever work they accept for you I will draw your attention to the boxed article in the "Equity News of Hollywood." At this moment I will briefly state that you have no need to be afraid of any threatened action of this nature. I beg to announce that the next meeting of the Los Angeles branch of the Actors' Equity Association will take place in this hall 'next Thursday evening, June 20th, at 8:30 p. m., at which time you will be addressed by Mr. Buzzell, secretary-treasurer, of the Central Labor Council of Los Angeles, with which Equity is affiliated. A further feature of the evening will be, we hope, the attendance here of Lionel Barrymore, Louise Dresser, Marie Dressier and John Gilbert, who are hereby challenged to a debate on the sublect which they have expressed themselves so freely in the publio print. These ladies and gentlemen are assured that they will be extended every courtesy and we hope that they will have no fear of expressing before their fellow players what they have not hesitated to express in the public prints. Please bear in mind that the producers per se have never denied a single one of the allegations which we have made against them. Their only statement to the press was that they would continue to use their old contracts. If their case was so strong as they would have you believe through, what we think to be, their mouthpiece, then why don't they appoint a committee and seek proofs? But no, they don't dare do that. In conclusion let me state that this uprising of the motion picture actors is no passionate gesture of the moment. It is the result of eight years of striving to get the producers to meet us in a friendly conference, and because of their indifference to our efforts this move was the only possible thing to do if we intend to remedy the flagrant injustices which are now so common. 1 -f 1 Vallee Completes New Short Talker for Paramount NEW YORK, June 19.— Rudy Vallee and his Connecticut Yankees completed another short feature for Paramount pictures this week at the company's Long Island studio, jumping from the Brooklyn Paramount Theatre to appear before the camera. In the one-reel subject Vallee sings two songs, "I Love the Moon," and "I'm Just a Vagabond Lover." Orchestra played, "Yes, Sir, That's My Baby," and "Tiger Rag." ■f 1 i Wilkinson Re-Signed James Wilkinson head of the cutting department at the Paramount studios in Hollywood has signed a new contract. Wilkinson has been with Paramount for two years. He was formerly chief film editor and production supervisor for the FBO studios. 1 f 1 Miriam Seegar Signed Miriam Seegar has been placed under long term contract by Paramount. Miss Seegar recently came to Hollywood from London and was signed to the role of the "other woman" in Adolphe Menjou's first all dialogue picture '.'Fashions in Love." Her work in that production brought about her contract. 1 1 1 Inspiration Signs Silvermail Inspiration has signed Clarke Silvernail to write the dialogue for Henry King's production of Rida Johnson Young's story, "Out of the Night." Follow The Motion Picture Stars to MCIC CW I N N 8353 Sunset Boulevard Under Personal Supervision of Prince U. Dolgoruky DANCING and DINING Special Features on Sunday RUSSIAN FRENCH CUISINE 7 Course Dinner $2.00 No Cover Charge Special Attention to Wedding, Anniversary and Other Parties ALLA MOSCOVA Is a Russian Dancer Known the World Over ROBERT NEWMAN Musical Director DANCE ORCHESTRA featuring: Russian, Egyptian and American Numbers COSSACK DANCERS RUSSIAN CHORUS ALEX ZNAMENSKY The Russian Caruso an atmosphere that is unusual and PROFESSOR GEO. POZARRO and VAHNA Famous South American Dancers different Free Parking Free Checking Phone CRestview 433 1