Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1944)

Wisconsin ITO Discusses Tax Increase Fight Discussions on how to combat current and postwar legislative attempts to increase local and state admission taxes, and the present status of the Consent Decree highlighted the sixth annual convention of the Independent (Allied) Theatre Owners of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, held at the Schroeder Hotel, Milwaukee, last Thursday and Friday. Harry Perlevitz, business secretary, warned the members that a state tax was coming in Wisconsin and that the exhibitors should do everything in their power to stop it. Retiring president William Ainsworth said that the state was seeking additional revenue and looked to the exhibition field for relief. Harold J. Fitzgerald, president of the Fox Wisconsin circuit and state chairman of the War Activities Committee, joined other speakers and urged the exhibitors to remain united to win any fights against taxation or solve other problems. He said that it would be a great mistake to abandon the WAC after the war, as the organization would be in a position to do the industry much good on a nationwide basis. Friday's session, held behind closed doors and limited to ITO members only, was devoted to Decree discussions. Participants included Allied executives, among them Abram F. Myers, general counsel ; Martin Smith, national president ; Pete Wood, executive secretary of Allied Theatres of Texas; Col. H. A. Cole, president of Allied Theatres of Texas, and Sidney E. Samuelson, executive secretary of Allied Theatres of Eastern Pennsylvania. During the opening session, Ray Colvin, secretary of the Theatre Equipment Dealers Protective Association said that new equipment would not be available at least 12 to 18 months after the war. He predicted that projectors and sound equipment would cost 25 to 30 per cent more after the war, compared to prewar prices, due to increased production costs. James Donahue, central division manager of Paramount, and Claude Lee, public relations counsel for the company, made brief addresses. The association increased its dues from lO to IS cents per seat, to include the caravan service to each member. John P. Adler of Marshall, Wis., was elected president. Others elected were: Charles Trarnpe, Milwaukee, vice-president; George Langhenrich, Milwaukee, treasurer, and Luncille Forbes, Merrill, Wis., secretary. The elected board of directors, in addition to the officers, includes James Boden, George Panka, George Fischer, Jack Yeo, Donald Black, L. V. Bergtold, Russell Leddy, William Ainsworth and William Smith. Union May Bar Radio Ar+ists From Studio Programs Some 100 members of the American Federation of Radio Artists, AFL, among them producer Cecil B. De Mille, face possible denial of their right to appear on radio programs because of their failure or refusal, to pay a $1 assessment levied on the union's 2,300 members by the directors. The money was to have been used to oppose Proposition 12, which would have prohibited cornpulsory unionization in California. The proposition failed to win enough votes to pass on Election Day. The delinquents, under the union's constitution and by-laws, have 30 days to make the payments. After that penalties may be imposed. A California Superior Court last week held that compulsory assessments to oppose the proposition were within the union's right. Zabin to Gray Advertising James Zabin, for the last two years general manager of Max Cohen's Cinema circuit, Inc., New York, has resigned to join the Gray Advertising Company. Murray LeBoss, for 14 years with the circuit as manager of supervision, has taken over Mr. Zabin's post. 42 SHORT PRODUCT PLAYING BROADWAY Week of November 13 ASTOR Monumental Utah MSM Spor+s Quiz MGM Feature: Kismet MGM CAPITOL Passing Parade MGM Feature: Marriage Is a Private Affair MGM CRITERION Ski for Two Universal Dogs for Show Universal Feature: Lost in a Harem ..... MGM GLOBE Russian Rhapsody Vifaphone Into the Clouds ...Vitaphone Feature: The Great Moment. . . .Parannount HOLLYWOOD Booby Hatchet Vitaphone Dizzy Day Vitaphone Feature: To Have and Have A^o/. Warner Bros. PARAMOUNT Rhythnn on Wheels Parannount Feature: I Love a Soldier Paramount RIALTO In a Harem Paramount No Dough — Boys Columbia Robot Bomb RKO Feature: Mark of the 'Whistler. .Columbia RIVOLI Jasper's Paradise Paramount Feature: Frenchman's Creek .... Paramount ROXY Uncle Sam, Mariner? 20th Cent.-Fox Feature: Irish Eyes Are Smiling Cent.-Fox STRAND From Hand to Mouse Vitaphone Ski Whiz Vitaphone Proudly We Serve Vitaphone Feature: Conspirators .Warner Bros. Schaefer Studies Film Prospects George ]. Schaefer, chairman of the War Activities Committee, will undertake a survey of the raw stock situation as liaison between WAC and the War Production Board. Mr. Schaefer already has conferred at length with Lincoln V. Burrows, chief of the WPB photographic section. Specific attention to the film needs of the Army is indicated and it is expected that Mr. Schaefer also will confer with Army officials connected with motion picture activities. The present raw stock shortage has been a subject of concern recently to WAC and particularly the supplies of the Army and lend-lease programs. Mr. Schaefer is planning to make periodic trips to Washington to keep abreast of developments. Casey in New York on Newsreel Contract Pat Casey, producers' labor contact, was expected this week to hold a meeting in New York shortly in an attempt to break the current deadlock between the newsreel companies and the lATSE in negotiations for a contract for some 75 cameramen in New York and Chicago. The lATSE locals involved, Local 644, New York, and Local 666, Chicago, are demanding severance pay for the cameramen while the newsreel companies are seeking to insert a provision in contracts providing for 20 per cent of their staffs to be apprentice cameramen if they so desire. Leo Wolcott Lai For Unity Again. Unfair Taxation The need for a "closely knit organization; all branches of the industry to prevent "ui taxation was never greater than at this momc* Leo F. Wolcott, president of Iowa and Nebr;i Theatre Owners, declared in the unit's curl bulletin. Mr. Wolcott particularly called attention to recent publication by the Treasury Departmeri "the almost unbelievable salaries of our film ex' tives, leading all other industries." He also poi out that the Treasury Department noted ad' sion taxes in the U. S. were considerably ' than those in England. . J: In connection with "V-E Day," he urged small town theatres should not close. The thoughts which have been expressed on the " ject, he said, "insist that the day should be on'' quiet thanksgiving, not a wild orgy. People generally quieter in the theatre than any o' place. I think we should have police help hs to quell any disturbance and we should train employees along this line, but I feel we sh( stay open to accommodate our people. Let » ^ slogan be: 'Don't cheer while our boys are ' ^' dying on other battle fronts.' " ; '"^ WLB Orders Election to End SAG-SPU Dispute ' An election in the dispute between the Sci Actors Guild and the Screen Players Un Hollywood, to determine the bargaining a; for extras, was ordered last week by the Nati<i|* War Labor Board in Washington. AH extras' < have worked 30 days within the past year wili eligible, including those performing stunts, sinf or playing bit parts or parts involving a line more of essential dialogue. Regular stunt, ] and bit players and class "A" and class "A" j ior members of the Guild are excluded, date for the election has been set. The exi will choose the Guild or no union. ' Last Friday Secretary of Labor Frances I -^^ kins certified the dispute between producers }• the Dance Directors Guild to the War La Board. j • Negotiations between the studios and the g\ have been in progress since August and there ' been no stoppage of work. While the negotiati have been conducted amicably, L. L. Livings; Labor Department conciliator, had become d vinced of the impossibility of the two groili|ii reaching common ground and recommended t< -ni: the WLB take over the case. itia !tt Inc Cleveland Exchange Workers | Receive Wage Increases A 10 per cent retroactive wage increase [ shippers, inspectors and poster clerks in Clevelf exchanges has been approved by the Regional Labor Board there. Applications for similar increases have been fi^ or are being prepared for these employees in exchanges. WLB approvals for such increa have been made in Seattle, Boston and New Hay Company exchange operational heads were to m in New York Wednesday with representatives the lATSE to set more applications for filing the WLB. Dave Halper, lATSE attorney and Ernest M; ler of O'Brien, Driscoll and Raftery, representl|f| United Artists, have returned to New York fr, Chicago and Cleveland where they sought to ( pedite the approval by the WLB of a system job classifications with minimum and maxim' wage scales and a minimum 10 per cent wage crease for exchange office workers. Hold Party for Danson Paramount's advertising and publicity depa' { ment gave a farewell party November 10 to li Danson, assistant advertising manager, who 1 the company for a post with the Kayton-Spii Advertising Agency, New York. MOTION PICTURE HERALD. NOVEMBER 18, I'