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)

MOTION-PICTURE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES 2329 16 JAILED, 3 TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER WLLD WINDOW-SMASHING MELEE Furious fightiug broke out between AFL strikers and AFL nonstrikers at Cuher City's Metro-Golchvyn-jNIayer studios yesterday and pickets in tbe filmland dispute congregated at otlier motion picture plants in the second day of demonstrations. Nearly 200 persons engaged in the melee in a narrow street near the MGM plant. Police restored order only after the strikers had smashed windows of nonstrikers' automobiles going into the gates for the late shift, yanked hoods open and ripped out engine wires and radio antennae and attempted to overturn 6 of the 1.") cars headed through the picket line. One picket was luirled to the top of an auto and was still struggling on it when it disappeared inside the studio gate. There were bruised faces and torn clothing from the exchange of blows. The fighting was described as the fiercest of the 2-day-old strike. LAWLESS ACTS INCREASE Police generally reported that the seriousness and number of individual lawless acts rose sharply yesterday, the second day of the new AFL union jurisdictional strike, engulfing 7 of the 10 major motion-picture studies. Massed picket violence receded somewhat from tliat of the previous opening day. Pickets arrested were charged with, in the various instances, rioting, criminal contempt of court, assault with deadly weapon, carrying concealed loaded sap, tampering with an automobile, throwing chunks of concrete and bricks at cars carrying nonstrikers, throwing coffee into the face of a nonstriker, disorderly conduct, malicious mischief, disturbing the peace, the smashing of automobile windows and the scattering of tacks on studio driveways. In all 16 persons were jailed ; all but 1 were pickets. Three persons, two pickets and the other a nonstriker, were hospitalized. Most of the trouble was at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio in Culver City and at Warner Bros., in Burbank. Two pickets arrested Thursday got into new trouble yesterday and were again put in jail. SLUGGING AT COLUMBIA "We have a regular traveling mob for the rough stuff," one who appeared to be a picket leader, told newsmen at Paramount studio. "If the strike keeps up we'll hit all the studios. ■ These boys here are just for show to keep out the timid scabs." There was some slugging at Columbia studio as nonstrikers, all AFL members, went through the picket lines of the AFL strikers. None of the hit workers would file a complaint against their picket assailants as none appeared to have been badly hurt. , I just have a few more of these. Los Angeles Times, October 2, 1946 : Rioting Marks Film Stkike : 16 Injured and 13 Arrested MOB of 400 IN BATTLE WITH 200 OFFICSERS A yelling, cursing mob of 400 motion-picture strikers and sympathizers battled nearly 200 deputy sheriffs and police for 15 hectic minutes yesterday at the MetroGoldwyn-Mayer studio in Culver City. Hundreds of bystanders witnessed the scene. Scores of men were knocked down with sticks, bottles, bricks, and fists. One deputy, knocked down, was kicked into unconsciousness before fellow ofiicers with drawn, cocked guns rescued him. Blood streaked from battlers' faces as the fighting spread over a long Culver Boulevard block in front of the studio's south and main gate. The street was slippery with mud and in some spots with blood. NINE DEPUTIES TREATED Nine deputies, one in a grave condition and another with broken ribs, were treated in hospitals. Seven strikers, all with reportedly lesser injuries, also were treated in hospitals. Tliirteen strikers were hauled off to the Culver City jail. All were charged with defying a superior court order that restricted picketing operations.