International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1935)

12 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST January 1935 last-ditch fight of the electrics to retain their identity as a theatre servicing organization, with its (to date) lucrative pickings — straight equipment sales of sound equipment today being mostly replacement jobs. Sink-or-Swim Situation Further, I. P. points out, now is the time for direct action by projectionists and others on a basis of sink-or-swim — the sinking to happen if the electrics are permitted to write thousands of contracts now for an indefinite number of years. Either projectionists get out now and take control of matters, is the view of I. P., as they should have done in 1927-28, or forever be relegated to a position of secondary importance in the theatre field. An encouraging feature of the mass of letters received by I. P. from projectionist organizations throughout the country, relative to the servicing situation, is the widespread mention of the need for more activity along technical lines by the organized projectionist, either through some national technical organization or direct from the General Office of the I. A. Previous efforts to form and maintain some such organization have been made, dating back to 1928, but the need for such cooperation evidently was not acute at that time and the then existing societies and groups were allowed to languish. Announcement that several I. A. units are already engaged in general theatre servicing work, including sound systems, came as a surprise to a majority of Local Unions. Only Cleveland and San Francisco have been cited in previous articles herein, yet there are at least ten other cities where Local Unions are engaged in servicing work. Cleveland's theatre servicing work by projectionists dates back to silent picture days, thus it is not new, the Local there incorporating the service, which is free, into its contract for Labor. Equipment breakdowns are reported direct to an office maintained by the Union, several members of which are always on call. A small truck, capable of carrying all necessary equipment, is used, and spare heads, jaws, lamps, lenses, batteries — in fact, all necessary equipment — is included. Cleveland theatres would never think of calling anybody but the Union man in the case of a breakdown or any trouble, whether in the sound or the projection equipment. San Francisco's service work started at the time the original RCA servicing contracts expired. At the invitation of RCA, Local 162 agreed to assume the servicing of several theatres. The RCA service engineer, who happened to be a member of an eastern Local, was taken over by the Local. Expecting to suffer a loss on this service man, Local 162 was agreeably surprised after two years of service work to find that his operations had netted a small profit — even after the expenditure of $500 for a test set and proper servicing tools and equipment. New theatres were continually added to the Local's service roll, with the small independent exhibitor welcoming the opportunity to get immediate sound service at a cost of one-third what he formerly paid to the electrics. Local 162 did not enter upon servicing work to make money, or even to gain manpower, its attitude being that such action was the very best insurance in the world against any encroachment upon its jurisdiction. Several interesting angles present themselves relative to such servicing activities by Local Unions: 1. Should the service be free, or should there be a charge made for the costs involved, wages, equipment and upkeep? The answer to this question naturally depends upon prevailing conditions in the various localities. Obviously, the electrics cannot afford to render service without cost; but the Local Union can, charging the cost to job-insurance, or security-insurance. But should the service be free? It appears that such Locals as are now rendering service have no trouble at all in getting paid for it, the price always being kept below the lowest level possible for the electrics to establish. Such income will go toward paying the cost of Local servicing operation, and might even net a small profit, to which no exhibitor would object provided his costs were being sharply cut below the electrics' figures. 2. The angle of existing servicing contracts should be carefully investigated before a Local assumes servicing of a given theatre. This is important. 3. Competency is a vital consideration. The work rendered by the Local should be on a par, from the standpoint of quality and promptness, with that rendered by the electrics. While important, this shouldn't prove too hard a nut to crack, since Local service men would not be interested in "forcing" the sale of equipment and parts. 4. The necessity for proper test equipment. The very same equipment now used by the electrics' service engineers, about which there is no mystery and which is easily obtainable in the open market, could be utilized by the Local. In fact, the S. M. P. E. visual and sound test reel, prepared by projection men within the Society, is now utilized by the electrics and is available to anybody who wants it. In addition, the Local service man would have the advantage of complete cooperation on the part of the projectionists, from his own organization, working in the theatre. Projectionists Plan Service Battle INDICATIVE of the attitude of projectionist organizations throughout the country on any extension of servicing activities by the electrics, and reflecting the influence of I. P. in spurring projectionists to action, is the following letter which is representative of a mass of letters anent this topic received by I. P. : Editor, I. P. Sir: I am planning a meeting of several projectionist groups for next Sunday to consider this whole proposition of projection and sound equipment servicing. I am sure that you can be of great help in supplying data and advice as to the best procedure for us to follow. I am reluctant to ask so much from you, but then that is what you get for being so "doggone" efficient and getting the dope before anybody else. As I see it, projectionists have been snoozing for too long and have slipped a good bet by not taking a servicing proposition to the managers long before now. I believe that there is yet time to get down to business and put this thing over for ourselves. Like all other sections of the country we drifted along from day to day, with some of the men applying themselves diligently and others just sitting back and letting the parade of progress pass them by. Now is the time for concerted action throughout the country, unless we all want to sink together and let others step into our places. The good men within our ranks will just have to exert themselves and pull the others to safety. If given the chance I think that our men can show the managers just as good, if not better, work than other service groups. Now is just the time when we could use a strictly technical organization of projectionists, the value of which when they were functioning the men seemed strangely unable to appreciate. Right now is when we would be collecting royalties in profusion through the existence of such a body. Couldn't you apply your fine talents to reviving such a plan? In closing, I think that projectionists have finally bestirred themselves into action, and you are the guy who supplied the spark to explode the bomb under them. Charles E. Curle Secretary, Local 259, Chattanooga, Tenn.