International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1935)

14 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST April 1935 wasn't necessary for a theatre to have . . . equipment in order to operate. "At present the owner is considering revamping our sound equipment to allow extended range reproduction, but I have practically unsold him on this idea in favor of another make of sound equipment . . . Maybe this trick repeated in a few other places will cause ... to change its mind about Unions servicing." The foregoing reports anent the propaganda being spread in the field relative to Union servicing of sound equipment is very interesting, but few Locals appear to be concerned and hold to the view expressed by the second letter above. Should a given theatre discontinue sound servicing, and many of them are, the sound company would hold only a lease contract calling for payment of $1 a year and would have absolutely nothing to say relative to replacement parts. The effort to place theatre sound systems in the same class with telephones, attachments to which are prohibited, likely would meet with little success. Parts Supply Assured Further, there are today many sources of supply for all sound system parts, and the list of such manufacturers would be increased greatly once it became known that difficulties were interposed in the way of obtaining parts. History records no instance of where a commercial enterprise deliberately ignored a lucrative parts business. In any event, should Erpi, for example, adopt such tactics on parts sales, the matter would undoubtedly be made the basis for an interesting legal action the outcome of which, win or lose, would hardly tend to build up good will for either Erpi or its parent company, the American Telephone & Telegraph Co. The latter forbids the attachment to telephones of other than approved parts on the ground that service may be disrupted. One finds it hard to match this policy with one where the refusal to supply parts for a given equipment would directly contribute to suspension of service. Considering all this, it might be well for projectionists to advocate strongly to owners and managers the purchase of other sound equipments which are sold outright and carry no lease clauses which enable the seller to collect thousands of dollars and still retain ownership of the equipment. Advices from the field tend to confirm still another statement made herein, as follows: . . . This new servicing plan is merely the last-ditch fight of the electrics to retain their identities as a . . . servicing organization, with its (to date) lucrative pickings — straight equipment sales today beng mostly replacement jobs." Field reports indicate that sound company warehouses are stuffed full of equipments that were never sold and those that were pulled out of theatres for one reason or another. Sound system business today is strictly a replacement business, and in this direction RCA has been particularly successful. This being so, it is a question as to just how long any parent company will continue to favor the existence of a subsidiary which shows nothing in the way of income to warrant its continuance. Neither RCA nor A. T. & T. will long continue a subsidiary which fails to justify its existence on a purely business basis. Hence, the view of I. P. that the sound companies must of necessity insure their continuance by rigging up a more or less guaranteed income from extended servicing operations. Failing to do so, they will cease to exist. Erpi's abortive attempt to gain organization approval for its servicing activities served to focus attention upon the servicing plans of the International Alliance, which thus far has been working behind the scenes and making no announcements other than those appearing in its Official Bulletin and in these pages. Direct I. A. Contact Asked It is expected that the International Alliance, upon completion of a nationwide survey now in progress, will immediately acquaint its affiliated units with its official attitude toward servicing activities. International Projectionist has been asked by the I. A. to publish a request that all Local Union communica Servicing Developments At a Glance Erpi denies organization resistance and claims craft approval for servicing plan. I. P. proof to the contrary is ignored. Rumors of Erpi participation in manufacturing and distributing field persist. Large theatre chain in Texas reported dropping Erpi service, following lead of Warners and Loew's. Independent manufacturers write large sound parts contracts. I. A. engaged in nation-wide survey of sound system servicing situation. Projectionists are advised by I. P. to favor RCA or other sound reproducing equipment manufacturers as a means of forcing recognition of craft's jurisdictional rights. Field service men spread word that , Locals will experience great difficulty in obtaining replacement parts. Ample supply from independents is assured. I. A. units requested to direct communications relating to organization servicing activities to General Office in Washington, D. C. tions relative to any phase of theatre servicing work be addressed to the General Office of the I. A. in Washington, D. C. Adherence to this procedure will enable a more rapid collating of servicing data. Elsewhere in this issue I. P. asks editorially that, in view of the widely divergent policies of RCA and Erpi on theatre servicing work, and because of other important considerations, projectionists exert every influence in favor of RCA or other sound equipment manufacturers. The editorial cites the records of both companies to date and states that the RCA policy is by far the more favorable to the interests of the organized craft. In addition, it continues, RCA equipment justifies this support on the part of the craft. One splendid result of the servicing drive to date has been the reawakening of craft interest in educational activities. Cities, counties and in one instance a State, report the formation of educational societies. Even should the craft fail in its major objective of controlling servicing work, its efforts have at least resulted in immeasurable good through the resumption of educational activities. Strictly technical questions relating to servicing operations may be directed to I. P. as in the past. Communications relating to servicing activities by organizations as such should, in conformance with the expressed wish of the I. A., be sent to the General Office in Washington, D. C. Duovac vs. Erpi Sound Suit Enters Second Phase Another chapter in the court history of Duovac Radio Tube Corp. against Erpi, Western Electric and A. T. & T., parent body of both electric companies, is being compiled as these lines are written. Beginning on April 22, Duovac is pressing ahead for a permanent order affecting a temporary injunction already granted it in its fight against Erpi and W. E. on the latter's alleged monopolistic activities in restrain of trade in the sound motion picture field. Triple damages will accrue to Duovac if success attends its efforts in the case, which is expected to require two weeks to be heard. Previous court sessions in this noted industry legal joust resulted in the Erpi sound equipment contract being declared illegal, following which Warner Bros., co-plaintiff with Duovac and General Talking Picture Corp. (De Forest), settled its claim for $3,000,000. LOCAL 52 ANNUAL BALL Motion Picture Studios Mechanics Local 52 will sponsor an entertainment and ball for its benefit fund on May 17 in the grand ballroom of the Delano Hotel, 108 West 43rd St., New York. Sol Scoppa is chairman of the arrangements committee. Many stars of the stage, screen and radio will appear.