Jurisdictional disputes in the motion-picture Industry : hearings before a special subcommittee of the Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, Eightieth Congress, first-session, pursuant to H. Res. 111 (1948)

2326 MOTION-PICTURE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES COURT ORDER LIMITS TWO PICKET LINES Featuring flailing nightsticks and fists and flying feet, Hollywood's grimmest mob scene yesterday was staged — without benefit of film cameras — at the gates of Paramount Studio as nonstriking workers braved the gantlet of massed "peaceful" picketing which has hampered production for several days. Scores were injured, some seriously, including a policeman slugged and trampled as he attempted to give safe-conduct to workers battling their way to their jobs. Seven persons, all pickets but one, were arrested. Superior Judge Henry M. Willis later yesterday issued a restraining order limiting picket lines at Paramount and RKO studios to 22 persons each, with other pickets ordered to remain at least 200 yards from studio property. STUDIOS FILE COMPLAINTS The judge acted after the two studios had filed complaints to prevent "unlawful picketing" of their property, naming, among a number of unions and individuals, the Screen Set Designers, Illustrators and Dtcorators Local 1421, an affiliate of the Conference of Studio Unions headed by Herbert K. Sorrell, strike leader. The limit on pickets was set in the temporary restraining order pending a later hearing. Paramount and RKO complained that with so-called mass picketing in progress near their studios yesterday, their top artists were informed after consultation with the Screen Actors Guild that they need not pass any picket lines where there is danger of physical violence. Also, yesterday, massed picketing was begun at Republic studio, where a pitched battle was averted by President Herber J. Yates; who shut down production rather than precipitate violence between would-be workers and 200 pickets. PICKETING AT WARNER'S Picketing en masse was continued at Warner Bros., scene of the original massed picketing and subsequent interunion warfare, but there was no trouble beyond a few incipient fist fights. Director of the mob scene was President Herbert K. Sorrell, of the striking conference of studio unions which has been locked for 8 months in a jurisdictional contest with the nonstriking International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. Sorrell's pickets massed at Paramount's several gates at 5 a. m. At 6 :30 a. m., about 60 employees who had gathered across the street rushed the circular massed picket line at the Lemon Grove-Van Ness Avenue entrance. Twenty-four policemen moved in to assist them. The vanguard of the workers hit and shattered the outer line of pickets, but were stopped by the inner line, while the quickly reorganized outer line moved in behind them. Twenty-four policemen moved into the surging melee of flying fists and feet. From the studio gates Paramount police joined the fray. For 3 minutes pandemonium reigned, with bellows of rage or screams of pain as fists and clubs connected, while overhead flew a barrage of bottles, stones, lunch boxes and other missiles." M-G-M DISPLAY VOTED A mass-picketing demonstration at Metro-Goldwin-Mayer studios in Culver City Saturday morning was voted support at a meeting at 360 South Westlake Avenue last night by delegates representing labor groups, including railroad workers, Local 727, International Association of Machinists ; shipj-ard workers, longshoremen and the CIO United Auto Workers. Peaceful picketing with 20,000 to 30,000 in the line; was predicted by speakers, including Sorrell, Philip M. Connelly, secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles CIO council ; Frank Pellett of the Railroad Brotherhood ; and Cyril O'Halloran, regional director of the UAW. Sorrell showed up at Paramount shortly before 9 a. m. and was informed that a deputy sheriff was waiting at Hollywood station to serve him with a citation to court to show cause why he should not be held in contempt. Sorrell visited the station, was served, and ordered to appear before Judge Willis at 9 : 30 a. m. next Monday,