International projectionist (Jan 1943-Dec 1944)

bitration award last month (Jan. 1943) granting an increase of 14.5c an hour to 1700 trainmen and bus operators employed by the Pittsburgh Motor Coach Company. We suggest that a record be kept by local union officials of these increases, so that they may be referred to when needed. • It looks as though the proposed merger between the AFL-CIO will not take place for quite a while, if ever. There are tremendous problems involved, in addition to a few personal ambitions to be considered. • Clyde Cooley, secretary of Local 343, Omaha, Nebr., and secretary-treasurer of the Nebraska State Association, is organizing the Film Exchange Local No. F-47. When Cooley finishes the job, you can bet your shirt it will be a job well done. • No, you cannot change a leopard's .spots. In a recent talk before the War Activities Committee in Boston, Mass.. our very good friend, Harry Brandt, who although he employs union men in his theatres is still the best labor-baiter in this country, made the following statement: "The new manpower survey is going to watch you closely and bear down on the places where nine operators are in a booth which three could operate, or a place where there are no stage shows but rules require stage hands, as always." Poor Harry, he is still riled at the thought that he has to pay decent wages to some of his employees, and would like ■nothing better than to break down both salaries and manpower wherever he can. He never misses an opportunity to get in his "licks" — even though he generally winds up second best. There is nothing so pathetic as a frustrated labor baiter. • Lester B. Isaac, Director of Projection and Sound for Loew's, Inc., was presented with an honorary gold membership card in the 25-30 Club (New York City) at the January meeting. The presentation was witnessed by over one hundred members, who warmly applauded Lester's brief but very fine speech of acceptance. He now joins the ranks of the other 25-30 honorary members, namely, P. A. McGuire, Wm. Kunzman, James Lynette and Bart Greene. We are proud to have you in our midst, Lester. • When addressing a meeting of the S. M. P. E. Atlantic Coast Section several months ago, R. B. Murray, Director, U. S. Army Motion Picture Service, stated that many of the motion picture projectionists then employed in army camps had never seen a projection machine before entering the service. Since then, we have been reliably informed, the U. S. Army Motion Picture Service has not only gone on record as placing these jobs in the hands of experienced and capable projectionists, but has actually cooperated with officials of many local unions in placing their drafted members as camp projectionists. • Local 626, Nashville, Tenn., has voted to purchase war savings bonds with all local funds that are left over after monthly bills have been paid. To date, Local 626 has already purchased $10,000 worth of bonds — not bad going for a Dear Mr. Sherman : It was with great interest that I read the item that appeared in your "In The Spotlight" page of the January issue of International Projectionist anent the Cocoanut Grove fire in my city in which 500 lives were lost. On that evening, Saturday, November 28, 1942, I happened to be in the immediate vicinity of the night club when the fire broke out, and was an eyewitness to the removal of the many unfortunate victims of that catastrophe. It is useless to state now what should and what could have been done to avert this tragedy. The fact that high city officials including a Police Captain, Building, Fire and Wire Inspectors, and many others are under indictment speaks for itself. You certainly hit the nail on the head when you said a lot of old laws would be dusted off and brought to light, for that is just what has happened in all our city departments. Many of these ancient laws are being put into effect, and absurd blanket orders are being issued by inefficient political appointees. Our craft in this state is very fortunate in coming under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Safety, which is comprised of a group of inspectors who have been in the service for many years, who know their business thoroughly and are neither dominated nor influenced by any of the so-called political "big-shots." Night clubs in the city of Boston are under the direct supervision of various city departments. I would advise each local union to appear before its State Legislature and do its utmost to have enacted laws that would be enforced by honest officials. No time should be lost in bringing this matter to the attention of the proper authorities in each state, as many of the states are now fully aware of the urgent need to make certain changes in their safety laws. The Cocoanut Grove Club holocaust was a terrible price to pay for the awakening of the people to seek the safety measures to which they are entitled. Progressive locals should start the ball rolling at once! THAD C. BARBOWS President, Local 182 Boston, Mass. small local. Credit for this worthy plan should go to Messrs. Brown and Waggoner, secretary and business agent, respectively. • George Lyday, Local 194, Indianapolis, Ind., is in the thick of fighting with the Allied forces in Africa. When last heard from, he came through the first assaults without a scratch, but he was still in a hot spot being in command of a certain sector that the ratzis were anxious to regain. • That we are right in our contention that the manpower shortage does not affect our craft, except where "peanut salaries" are the factor, is borne out by a statement made by Lt. Col. George A. Irwin at a recent meeting of the Manufacturers' Association. Lt. Col. Irwin, who acts as liaison officer in the states of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin for the Selective Service Bureau in Washington, stated "The main drain on employees was not the selective service, but the higher wages in war industry which took a greater number of men from civilian life." This puts another spike in the arguments of those chiseling exhibitors who are always on the alert for an opportunity to cut both manpower and salaries in their theatres. • Alonzo Bennett, secretary-treasurer for Local 521, Long Beach, Calif., advises us that two more of his members, Milton M. Heiss and Dwight L. Moore, have answered the call of Uncle Sam. Our best wishes to you. • I. A. local unions throughout the country have purchased over $1,000,000 worth of war savings bonds. This figure does not include the bonds and stamps purchased by the individual members. To the best of our knowledge, Local 199, Detroit, Mich., leads all other locals with its purchase to date of war savings bonds amounting to $58,000; Local 306, New York City, runs second with $50,000 invested in war savings bonds. • Wherever and whenever possible projectionists should very carefully examine all prints delivered from the exchanges. Many complaints have been made by the exchanges on the condition of film returned to them ; some of these complaints are justified. Many of the complaints may be placed squarely upon the shoulders of the theatre manager or exhibitor, as the case may be, who refuses to replace worn or damaged parts of the projection machine until there is a complete breakdown of the equipment. We hold no brief for the shortsighted manager or exhibitor who is so intent upon pinching pennies that he completely overlooks (Continued on page 19) FEBRUARY 1943 13