International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1945)

years. As a matter of fact, Ferney claims to have operated the first Motiograph projector installed outside of Chicago. • We were glad to learn that Louis R. Boyd, president of Local No. 376, Syracuse, N. Y., and chief projectionist at Loew's State Theatre, is recovering from his recent illness. One of 25-30 Club's out-of-town members. Boyd has the best wishes of all the old-timers for a speedy and complete recovery. • Boys, its here! We refer, of course, to that old familiar refrain so dear to the hearts of our exhibitor friends — bad business, declining patronage, uncertain post-war conditions, unreasonable union demands, one step from the poorhouse. etc. — the same old tune and the same lyrics. It is now being chanted by the independent exhibitors of Minneapolis in answer to the request of the officials of Minneapolis Local No. 219 for a 5% increase, vacations with pay. and pay for preparation time for their members. These "poor mouth" gags worked very successfully in the past, we regret to say. However, we don't think the exhibitors will find our union officials quite so gullible these days — they have been stung too many times by the same bug. © We understand that many schools, factories and clubs are planning to bid on the surplus 16-mm projection equipment now in the possession of our government. Motion pictures will be used more extensively than ever before for educational and documentary purposes, and the 16-mm field offers unlimited opportunities to the craft. Come on, boys, brush up on your knowledge of 16-mm operation. © Gerald H. Payne, business agent of Local No. 538, Westerly, R. I., sent us an interesting letter recently informing us that IBEW is opening television schools for its members being released from miii 25-30 Club Notes Herman Gelber, president of New York City Local No. 306. was admitted to membership of the 25-30 Club at the last meeting. A record attendance turned out to welcome Gelber and his acceptance speech was warmly received. • • • "Happy Birthday" greetings were extended that same evening to P. A. McGuire (International Projector Corp.) who reached his umpty-umpth birthday. Mac neatly parried all questions regarding his exact birthdate — we would like to see the man who could best Mac in a duel of wits. • • • The Club lost one of its charter members in the passing of Sol Abrams, one of our most popular members. A brother, Joe Abrams, is one of the Club's trustees. tary service. We are happy to report that I. A. locals throughout the United States and Canada will not be caught napping when television hits the theatres for many of them have been conducting similar classes for the past year. The craft learned its lesson well when sound hit the theatres and this time it is determined to be prepared for come what may. © Through the efforts of Matt Kennedy, business agent of New Haven Local No. 273, a bill protecting the well-being and safety of projectionists and patrons of motion picture theatres has been introduced. The bill — '"While projecting a picture the operator shall devote his entire time and attention to that work, and shall not leave the operating side of the machine. 'Pickups,' so-called, are prohibited when only one licensed operator is employed in the booth." It might be well for I. A. locals in the state of Connecticut to keep an eye on Chicago Local No. 110 donates $10,000 to the Red Cross. Left to right, Thos. J. Murray, chairman of labor donations, looks on as General Chairman, Martin H. Kennelly receives check from Eugene J. Atkinson, business manager and James J. Gorman, president, of Local No. 110. the legislators voting on this bill — they probably will learn which of them really are friendly to labor. © We had an interesting chat with Louis Stoetzer, member of Washington. D. C. Local No. 224, and chairman of the Television School Committee, when he visited the offices of I. P. several weeks ago. Stoetzer, with the assistance of committee members Tom Reed, DeForest L. Ormes. DeWitt Bittenbender and Ralph Grimes, has compiled an impressive report on matters pertaining to the art of television which will be submitted to the membership at an early meeting. © / told you so department. Last month we stated that Fred Kelsick, secretary of St. Louis Local No. 143, and other labor leaders of that city were backing Mayor A. P. Kaufman in his campaign for reelection to office, and that with such backing he was a sure bet to win. Well, our prediction came true and Kaufman will be the St. Louis mayor for another term. © It is with deep regret that we report the passing of another old-timer in the craft. Leon Waldo, member of Local No. 182, Boston, Mass., for over a quarter of a century, and projectionist at the RKO Memorial Theatre in Boston, died early this month after a short illness. Waldo entered St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Boston about six weeks before his death and seemed to be well on the road to recovery when he suffered a relapse and a hurry call was sent out for blood transfusions. The esteem in which he was held by his many friends in Local 182 was borne out by their quick response to this call and although he rallied for a while after a number of transfusions, Leon Waldo died suddenly on the morning of April 4. He is survived by his wife, Hazel, to whom we offer our deepest sympathy. Waldo's many friends in the Alliance will always remember him for his sincerity and loyalty, his sympathetic understanding and unfailing kindness to his fellow men. © Several issues ago (February) we wrote of the anti-labor activities of an organization that calls itself, ironically enough, the "Christian-American Association." We mentioned the set-back this outfit received when a United States Supreme Court decision killed a bill it sponsored in the Texas legislature which called for the registration and licensing of all labor organizers in that state. Undaunted by this defeat, however, the CAA tried its luck in the state of Georgia, and introduced through a Rep. Lovett, a constitutional amendment outlawing the union shop. The Georgia legislature killed this proposed bill by unanimous (Continued on page 25) APRIL 1945 17