Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1945)

U. S. CRACKS DOWN IN CURFEW DEFY Asks Distributors to Halt Film Supply to Defiant Toledo Exhibitor The War Manpower Commission moved in this week to enforce the midnight curfew request of James F. Byrnes, War Mobilization Director, and immediately faced the problems of a Toledo, Ohio, theatre reported to be running until 5 A.M. The Ohio WMC director, John F. Craig, Tuesday sent telegrams to the New York home offices and Toledo exchanges of eight major distributors asking them to "insist" that their pictures not be shown at the Loop theatre in Toledo after midnight. Monday Ralph O. Snyder, district War Production Board director at Toledo, told reporters the commission might have the theatre's power cut off after midnight if the violation continued. First Theatre Reported The Loop, operated by Jack O'Connell, was the first motion picture theatre reported to have violated the curfew. John H. Thomas, Spokane area director of the WMC, said Wednesday he had reported to the regional director another violation by a theatre. He charged the New Rex, operated by James A. Pike, with remaining open until 6 A. M. Presumably the War Manpower Commission officials were acting under an arrangement announced in Washington last Saturday under which the WMC and the War Production Board agreed to impose "zero manpower ceilings" and power restrictions on curfew violators. No authority was given for the telegrams to distributors. Mr. Craig took up the matter of the Loop violation this week with Edward L. Keenan, regional WMC director. He also reported the case to the WPB regional office and, after investigation, a report was sent to the WPB in Washington, recommending imposition of sanctions. Mr. O'Connell, in protesting the midnight curfew last week, said that an extra three hours of leisure by his employees would not help the war effort. He pointed out that his ticket-taker is a one-legged Polish war veteran, aged 70. Mr. Craig told the distributors in his telegram that Mr. O'Connell's refusal to close was "giving the industry a black eye," and that 850 other Ohio theatres were cooperating. A sales official at Warner Bros, home office Tuesday, queried about the Craig wire in relation to the Loop, said emphatically that "Warners will not service the Loop theatre until it complies with the curfew request." Contract Liability Seen Charles D. Prutzman, vice-president and general counsel for Universal, explained that any company which had a contract with the Loop theatre was forced to adhere to contractual obligations and could do nothing in reply to Mr. Craig's demand. Universal has a contract with the Loop, Mr. Prutzman said, and under the terms of that contract, "we have no right to say what hours the exhibitor should play our pictures. We are under contractual liability." Distributors who spot-book their films or arrange picture-to-picture deals with the Loop, he pointed out, could exert some influence on the exhibitor. In Washington Monday, a spokesman for the WPB said that that agency would not initiate any action against curfew violators, but would act promptly upon certification by the WMC that a violator who has been given a "zero" manpower ceiling is still operating. Protection against unjust action is provided by a WPB policy to hold a hearing before taking action, at which the Manpower Commission must show that power, fuel and materials needed elsewhere for the war effort are being improperly used. Cases Now Under Study The WPB official indicated that so far no cases of violation have been brought to its attention. At the WMC, it was said a number of cases are being studied but it was not indicated whether any of them would come within the category of violations to be penalized. The WMC faces some, difficulty in determining whether eating places open after midnight are violating the curfew and is moving carefully. New York theatre operators, cafe, night club and restaurant owners, this week extricated themselves from the complicated curfew situation in the city resulting from Mayor LaGuardia's extensive declarations on the subject. Amusement operators decided to abide by the Byrnes' request for a curfew at midnight, despite Mayor LaGuardia's contrary opinion that New York, being the greatest center of entertainment in the country, should be permitted an hour of "tolerance," to a 1 :00 closing hour. Last Thursday, New York's mayor declared in a nationwide radio broadcast that the city's restaurants, hotels and bars which have liquor licenses but do not provide entertainment are legally entitled to remain open until 4 A.M. He asserted such places would be violating no law and that city, state or Federal Government would be helpless to proceed against them. Situation Complicated # To complicate the situation further, regional administrator of the Office of Price Administrator, Daniel Woolley said over the weekend the OPA had received many complaints from the public that certain night clubs, restaurants and inns had raised their prices because they were open after midnight. Mr. Byrnes' assistant, Walter Brown, said in Washington that the War Mobilization Office would not give the Mayor a hearing on his plea to extend New York's curfew, but that the Mayor could go to Congress or to the President if he desired. Governmental Excess Photo Equipment Ready For Bidding Factors of the motion picture industry interested in obtaining equipment were invited this week_ by the Treasury surplus property office to submit sealed bids for lots of photographic apparatus. The bids will be opened on an undisclosed day in April. The equipment is said to be 35 and 16mm projectors, various laboratory apparatus, and 16mm reels and cans. Byrnes to Contrc All Labor Under Manpower Law Washington Bureau Complete control of employment and labor be vested in War Mobilization Director Jame: Byrnes by compromise manpower legislation ported to the Senate and House of Represe tives this week by the conference committee. Briefly, the measure provides that Mr. By may prescribe employment ceilings for any a for any activity or for any individual establ ment. Violation of a ceiling set by the OWM w< leave an exhibitor or other employer open to ] alties of as much as 12 months in prison an fine of $10,000. In addition, he would not be ] mitted to deduct wages or salaries paid illega employed workers when preparing his income return. The bill also freezes essential workers in tl jobs and provides the same penalties for those q ting such jobs as face employers who violate c ings. On the other hand, if the OWM induce worker to move to another city to take an essen job it is authorized to pay his traveling expense The bill recognizes neither sex nor age lin All labor, male and female, regardless of age covered. Foreseeing concerted opposition by the labor 1 in Congress to any legislation which might be c sidered aimed at preventing a strike in the c industry, which now looms as a possibility, mi bers of the committee were quick to assert tha was not a strike-breaking measure, pointing that the penalties apply only to essential work quitting their jobs and that workers on str are considered as still employed. That the bill is aimed at all labor is made cl in its opening section, where Congress sets fo the policy that "every individual not in the am forces shall have an obligation, when called up to serve the Nation in an activity essential to war effort." "The purposes of this act are to provide most practicable and effective means to accompl the fulfillment of such obligation and to provide making the most effective use of the manpower sources of the Nation," it was declared. New York Orders Removal Of Fluorescent Bulbs New York City building inspectors are instru ing theatre men to remove flourescent bulbs fr< under marquees because they violate the la building code. It was learned that Loew's a RKO theatres and others had switched to fh rescent bulbs to provide more favorable lighti and yet remain within the "brownout" rul Fluorescents are not usually lodged securely outlets and the possibility of their falling is si to create a hazard to pedestrians. Transfer Scott Lett Scott Lett, branch manager in Charlotte, N. for Paramount, has been transferred to Atlati from where he will handle the Tennessee ar Harry Dashiell, formerly in charge of that t< ritory, replaces Mr. Lett at Charlotte. Church In CBS News Post Wells Church has been appointed assistant rector of public affairs and news broadcasts i the Coiumbia Broadcasting System, in New Yoi He had been assistant radio director for the E publican National Committee in the 1944 election Waldron Watson Dead Waldron Watson, formerly of the Capitol Theatre, Chatham, Ontario, has been listed dead by the Royal Canadian Air Force. Honor Ned Shugrue Ned Shugrue, director of the motion pictu and special events division of the Treasury's W Finance Committee, was tendered a dinner at t Dallas Variety Club Wednesday evening, by Rc ert J. O'Donnell, WAC southwestern chairm; 24 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, MARCH 31, 19