Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1946)

Unions Must End Disputes For Own Welfare: Nelson Labor unions in general and Hollywood unions in particular were subjects of discussion by Donald M. Nelson, president of the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, following his arrival in New York from Hollywood last weekend. Unions face the prospect of "bringing disaster on their own heads" unless they resolve their own intra-mural issues such as those in Hollywood which have beset production "tremendously," he said. Studio strikes are mainly responsible for an increase in production costs of as much as 100 per cent, Mr. Nelson said, presumably speaking of the production costs of SIMPP member companies. Late last week, Henry Ginsberg', Paramount production vice-president, at a press conference in New York estimated studio production costs had increased from 60 to 70 per cent. Mr. Nelson emphasized that "good unions are a definite part of the American system," coupling this with the warning that the "American people will become fed up with unreasonable and unnecessary strikes and will look to the Government for relief." The SIMPP president expressed the hope that labor will find the solution to its own problems, but if that does not come about, he said, Government intervention should be used as a "last resort." The answer lies in arbitration of differences, he said, adding that he failed to understand why machinery could not be developed to settle the Hollywood dispute. IIP MICHIGAN STADIUM Gmm Ghbx/i,HtUh. PITT STADIUM PJXabu/vcLk,PoL. OUTDOOR REFRESHMENT CONCESSIONAIRES OPERATING UNITS IN 28 STATES AND 88 CITIES FOR OVER ONE QUARTER CENTURA NOV/ SPECIAL IN SERVICE I?2AT|?ES IZlNGi went/ for SPORTSERVICE, Inc. HURST BLDG. BUFFALO 2. N. Y. Short Product in First Run Houses NEW YORK— Week of November 25 CAPITOL: Hi-Li Columbia Glimpses of California MGM Feature: Rage in Heaven. MGM CRITERION: Best in Show Columbia Champagne Music Universal Feature: The Time of Their Lives Universal GLOBE: Fair and Warmer Warner Bros. Desi 4rnoz Warner Bros. Feature: The Chase United Artists HOLLYWOOD: Goofy Goofers . .Warner Bros. Battle of Chance Warner Bros. Feature: Deception . Warner Bros. PALACE: Wet Paint RKO Motor Maniacs RKO Feature: Nocturne RKO RIALTO: Ben Hogan RKO Donald's Double Trouble RKO Rodeo Romeo Paramount Feature: Dick Tracy Versus Cueball : . . .RKO RfVOLf: Musica-Lulu Paramount Be Kind to Animals Paramount Double Rhythm Paramount Feature: Two Years Before the Mast . . Paramount ROXY: Jail Break. 20th Cent.-Fox Sons of Courage 20th Cent.-Fox Feature: The Razor's Edge 20th Cent.-Fox STRAND: The Last Bomb Warner Bros. Okay for Pictures Warner Bros. King of the Everglades Warner Bros. Feature: Never Say Goodbye Warner Bros. WINTER GARDEN: Sampson Junior. .Universal Feature: The Notorious Gentleman Universal CHICAGO— Week of November 25 GARRICK: Jasper's Derby Paramount Feature:My Darling Clementine ... 20th Cent.-Fox GRAND: Skating Lady RKO Feature: Notorious RKO ROOSEVELT: Rhapsody Rabbit. . Warner Bros. Feature: Cloak and Dagger Warner Bros. STATE-LAKE: Mousemerixed Cats.Warner Bros. Feature: Deception Warner Bros. WOODS: Ten Pin Magic Columbia Feature: The Dark Mirror Universal Expect Delay in Trial Of Hughes' Action Howard Hughes' anti-trust suit against the Motion Picture Association may possibly be delayed until the middle of next year, it was indicated in New York this week, when Judge Alfred C. Coxe of the U. S. District Court granted Mr. Hughes an extension until January 21 to file answers to the MPA's counter claims on "The Outlaw." The delay of the trial until after January 21 will depend partly upon whether or not the producer will seek examination of witnesses before trial, an MPA spokesman said. At midweek the Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court reached no decision on arguments in United Artists' appeal from Judge Walter's decision refusing to force New York City exhibition of the picture. Supply Makers Stress Exports Equipment manufacturers, expecting current heavy demands for projectors and theatre equipment will decline in a few years, are developing foreign markets by allocating a substantial amount of present output for export. The export flow, built up steadily the past six months, now is understood to average about 20 per cent of the total output. One company has earmarked a blanket one-third for foreign countries. The manufacturers point out that the policy in the long run will be of advantage to the American theatres also, since it is only through solidifying the foreign market that the expansion of facilities needed to assure constant production can be justified economically. European manufacturers, they explain, offer the competition of cheaper but inferior equipment, which must be met at this time. File Indictments In Coast Strike Now entering its tenth week, the Hollywood jurisdictional labor dispute was highlighted last Friday by grand jury indictments against Herbert K. Sorrell, president of the Conference of Studio Unions, and 13 other union leaders. The grand jury's action eliminates the need for a preliminary hearing and the defendants will go on trial immediately after entering pleas January 7. The labor leaders were accused of conspiracy to commit acts to pervert and obstruct due administration of law, willful disobedience of process and lawful orders to the court, refusal to disperse an unlawful assembly, assault with a deadly weapon, and extortion. Monday, the producers took under advisement a telegram received from Mr. Sorrell following a meeting of strikers Sunday night. The telegram urged resumption of discussions of the strike issues as a preliminary to contract negotiations. The wire, generally interpreted as conciliatory, said the CSU recognized the December 26, 1945, directive of the American Federation of Labor. The directive has been the key point in the current dispute, and reiterates a desire for permanent arbitration machinery to avert future stoppages. Railway Express Rates Rise December 13 A new scale of express rates will become effective at all 23,000 offices of the Railway Express Agency December 13. The new rate will represent an increase of 20 cents per 100 lbs. on first class and 15 cents per 100 lbs. on second class rates, with increases in minimum and graduated, charges for packages weighing less than 100. lbs. 100 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 30, 1946