The Independent Film Journal (1954)

Walsh Victorious In I A TSE Vote Group Insurance Program Investigated For Industry A group life insurance plan which would permit all industiy firms to participate re¬ gardless of size is being investigated by COMPO, which has sent out letters and ques¬ tionnaires to all members of the industry. The policy would be of the association type and would be written by John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Co. The reason for the undertaking of such a comprehensive plan is that many industry firms can not get group insurance coverage because they lack the necessaiy 25 members, explained Robert Coyne, COMPO general counsel, at a trade press conference. These firms would now be entitled to coverage via their membership in COMPO, he stated. With the small independent theatres as the principal concern of COMPO, the letters went out also to industry associations, trade papers, equipment dealers and anyone con¬ nected with COMPO. The group is canvass¬ ing 6,500 employers to see whether enough are interested to begin the plan. The cost of the premium is expected to average about $1 per month for each $1,000 of insurance, it was estimated. The tentative plan contemplates having all executives earn¬ ing $5,000 or more a year to receive policies of $5,000, all ushers policies of $1,000 and all other employes policies of $2,500. Advantages named for the plan is that it gives coverage to persons regardless of age or physical condition, it strengthens employeremploye relations, and it permits the writing of policies at low rates available only through a group plan. The cost of the premiums would be deductible for expenses, it was stated. Clarence W. Wyatt, John Hancock vicepresident, assured the press that the mini¬ mum of 600 persons needed to put the plan Martina Proposes Exhibs Form Major Company To Combat “Oppression” Albion, N. Y. — The possibility of estab¬ lishing a major producing and distributing company by the nation’s exhibitors is being explored by theatre owner C. V. Martina of the Rialto Theatre here. The exhibitor stated that he will sound out the nation’s theatre owners at his own expense. Martina declared that the forming of such a company is the only way to stop “dis¬ tributor oppression,” which, he claims, is caused by the fact that it is now a “seller’s market.” He stated that the reduction of the Federal admission tax has caused the distributor to take more advantage of the exhibitor than ever before. The exhibitor hit out against the “ruth¬ lessness” of distributors, in rental terms, lack of prints and cancellations of confirma¬ tions. He stated that distributor oppression will cease only when the law of supply and demand is made equitable. He noted that the exhibitor company could produce a mini¬ mum of 36 pictures a year. Martina pointed out that exhibitors have “more at stake” in only 1,000 theatres, including all equip¬ ment, than all the Hollywood studios and distributing organizations combined. into operation would be met easily. He added that it is conceivable that through COMPO the motion picture industry policy could turn out to be the largest association policy ever written. Coyne and Samuel Pinanski, a member of the COMPO triumvirate and a director of John Hancock, urged that all persons receiv¬ ing a questionnaire fill it out and return it to COMPO whether they are interested or not in joining the plan. The information is needed to compute the first year’s rate and other details, it was explained. The premiums on the policies would be paid by the employer, rather than the em¬ ploye, it was explained. No medical examina¬ tions would be required, and an insured per¬ son leaving his position has the right to convert the policy to any regular form, or, if he takes another job with a group also in the plan, transfer the policy to his new position. COMPO is being used “to pull the thing together,” Coyne explained, and will in no way profit from the arrangement. An inde¬ pendent trust will be set up, which will act as a self-sustaining legal entity. The plan’s durability is not dependent upon COMPO, and the policy would remain in effect even though the association itself were to cease. Added Incentive It is COMPO’s duty to help the industry survive and improve, Pinanski told the press. By undertaking this insurance plan, it has made one step to show the employe that the industry thinks of him and wants him to remain within the industry. The plan would be an added incentive to entice young per¬ sons to enter the industiy, he noted. For those firms that already have group coverage, the new plan could be superimposed upon the other to increase the amount of insurance, Wyatt explained. Therefore, he thinks it possible that many of the large cir¬ cuits as well as the major film companies may consider joining this plan. Although the plan is starting out as a life insurance policy, it is probable that its scope will be ex¬ tended in the future, Wyatt stated. Any employer who decides to enroll in the life insurance plan, must enroll for his entire staff of employes, it was explained. The pri¬ mary market consists of approximately 25,000 lives, although it is conceivable that the plan could one day include many more. Coyne pointed out that COMPO is not try¬ ing to sell the program but is merely attempt¬ ing to find out whether industry business establishments would be interested in it as a COMPO service to its members. In line with this, he repeated his plea that everyone re¬ ceiving a questionnaire fill it in and return it. Group Liability Insurance For Theatres Planned The development of a liability insurance plan will be the next concern of COMPO, following the setting up of the life insur¬ ance plan now being considered, according to Robert Coyne, group’s special counsel. Coyne noted that the theatre business has badly needed such liability coverage for a long time. Cincinnati. — -The 42nd biennial conven¬ tion of the International Alliance of Theat¬ rical and Stage Employes concluded late last week on one of the most dramatic notes in the union’s history with the reelection of Richard F. Walsh and all other incumbent of¬ ficers as president and top executives, respectively. The balloting was hot and heavy with the Walsh slate poll¬ ing 798 votes against 408 for the ticket headed by Roy M. Brewer, who had resigned a year ago as an international representative of the union. Voting showed that the margin of victory was virtually the same for General Sec¬ retary-Treasurer Harland Holmden, nine vice-presidents, three trustees and two dele¬ gates to conventions of the American Feder¬ ation. The election, which served as climax to the week-long convention, was preceded by virtually months of campaigning on both sides. Walsh, who has been president since 1941, was faced with a major threat in the Brewer candidacy. Both sides had been predicting victory until the last day of the convention, with Brewer seeming to gather strength as a result of his recent barnstorming tour of the country. O’Brien Urges Understanding The Walsh slate, however, gained in mo¬ mentum during convention sessions. This was visible when the president was ac¬ claimed in a long demonstration following his two-and-one-half hour summary of union progress over the past two years. Walsh seemed also to win a test of strength when Brewer was overwhemingly voted down in an effort to gain special consideration of a resolution that would substitute voting machines for the regular ballot. Walsh did not oppose the resolution. The more than 1,200 delegates present heard addresses by Tom O’Brien, member of Parliament and general secretary of the National Association of Theatrical and Kine Employees of England; Merle Chamberlin, chairman of the Motion Picture Research Council’s projection committee, and Leser Isaac, managing director of Cinerama. O’Brien advocated better understanding between members of the industiy in the U.S. and Great Britain. He said that eight out of every 10 pictures shown in his country are made in the U.S. Resultant situation, he noted, has brought unemployment to more than 8,000 British motion picture workers. O’Brien explained that he intends dis¬ cussing the situation in Hollywood. He said that he was confident that something could be worked out that would equally benefit his union and the IA. Onq suggestion revolved around production of more televi¬ sion pictures in England for showings in the U.S. Chamberlin said that IA members have ( Continued on page 22) 6 THE INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL— August 21, 1954