Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1947)

» NEED MEDIATOR ON COAST: JOHNSTON Thomas Drive Is Planned at PRC Sales Meeting Plans for the forthcoming "Harry Thomas Drive for 1947" and sales plans of Producers Releasing Corporation, including the reissue of nine features, were covered at the two-day meeting of district managers Saturday and Sunday at the Hotel Warwick, New York. Ralph H. Clark, new general sales manager, pointed out that the high calibre of films coming demanded campaigns of increased scope. Every medium of promotion will be employed, he said, with special emphasis on direct-to-exhibitor campaigns. Mr. Clark said the sales drive, which starts on Mr. Thomas' birthday, April 23, and runs through August 30, will feature the PRC Spring Specials such as "Born to Speed," "Devil on Wheels," "Untamed Fury" and the current Philo Vance releases. At the meeting Mr. Thomas outlined a new sales policy for the company predicated on the new distribution problems facing the industry. Plans were also made for the distribution of nine reissues in the series of Edward Small Masterpieces. Friedman Addresses Club in White Plains Chester Friedman, editor of the Managers' Round Table of Motion Picture Herald, was guest speaker at the Lions Club regular luncheon meeting held at the Roger Smith Hotel in White Plains, N. Y., last Thursday. Mr. Friedman pointed out the mutual advantages derived from cooperative advertising between theatre and merchant, after outlining a brief history of the motion picture industry, its problems and achievements. "The theatre," said Mr. Friedman, "is a bulwark in keeping local consumers of tangible merchandise in their own communities. The theatre also helps to attract extra business for the merchants from rural and surrounding areas through the entertainment value and great drawing power of motion pictures." He pointed up the important part the theatre played during the war. . Albany Variety Club Honors Smakwitz The Albany Variety Club honored Charles A. Smakwitz, retiring chief barker, at its sixth annual dinner and dance at the De Witt Clinton Hotel, March 1. Mr. Smakwitz, assistant zone manager for Warner Theatres upstate New York, was presented traveling bags by the club through the new chief barker, Neil Hellman. Tells House Group Such Official, with Authority, Could Have Halted Strike The appointment of a mediator with the necessary authority to enforce his decision could have prevented the jurisdictional dispute in Hollywood, Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association, said Tuesday while testifying before the House Labor and Education Committee. Part of his three-hour testimony was given over to a discussion of the influence of Communists in U. S. film making. In advocating compulsory arbitration between labor and management, the MPA head condemned the practice of enforcing a certain lapse of time before a strike can be called. "A cooling off period -is actually a heating up period," he said. At the same time he urged that the Government be taken out of collective bargaining as much as possible. Says No Red Influence in Films Questioned about Communist influences on production in general and the sevenmonth-old jurisdictional strike in particular, Mr. Johnston said that he did not know whether the strike was started by Communists or not. "None of their influence or ideals get into pictures and only a few of them are in minor positions and not connected with actual preparation of film scripts," he said. He implied that Communist influences might be behind the jurisdictional dispute when he said that while Communists constantly criticize the U. S. film industry, "their tactics seem to aim at slowing down production." He called Communists "enemy agents" and recommended to the committee approval of legislation preventing known Reds from serving as officers of labor unions. He also said employers should be given the right to discharge Communists without being charged with unfair labor practices. Sorrell Found Injured In Hollywood, meanwhile, the strike again erupted into violence this week when Herbert K. Sorrell, president of the Conference of Studio Unions, was found badly beaten and bound on a highway. Mr. Sorrell told police that he had been kidnaped in Glendale after he has taken his wife to church. The abductors are said to have been three men, one of them complete with policeman's uniform and badge, who pulled him into a sedan, slugged him with a pistol butt and later abandoned him on the highway. The strike leader was taken to Ridgecrest Hospital, where attendants said he was suffering from head injuries and lacerations. This marked the second time that an attempt had been made on Mr. Sorrell's life. The first time was in October, 1945, when four shots were fired at him as he was sitting in his car. Richard F. Walsh, president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, said in New York this week that Hollywood producers had been informed that the union expects its members to receive bonuses equal to the increase in living costs between July and December of last year. The notice was in line with the provisions of last July's interim agreement, which said bonuses would be granted if the cost of living advanced more than five per cent during the last six months of the year 1945. Denies Hutcheson Talks Mr. Walsh denied that he had been engaged in talks with William Hutcheson, president of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, whose affiliate is involved in a jurisdictional dispute with IATSE carpenters, in an effort to settle the current studio strike. He continued firm in his contention that the Hutcheson group had failed to comply with an arbitration decision. Coast estimates meanwhile said that if all unions were to receive increases proportionate to the 11.17 per cent boost granted the Screen Extra's Guild last week, studio labor costs in 1947 would rise approximately $13,500,000. This estimate is based on December employment figures when the average pay received weekly by about 24,000 workers was1 $98.98. Congressional interest in the Hollywood labor situation was further manifested this week when Congressman Richard Nixon of California, a member of the Labor Committee, announced that he would investigate the labor unrest on the coast. At the same time he said he would study alleged Communist activities there. No date for his departure has been set so far. Supreme Court to Rule on Validity of Lea Act The United States Supreme Court agreed Monday in Washington to rule on the validity of the Lea Act, sometimes called the "anti-Petrillo law," on request of the Government. The Government appealed to the high tribunal from a decision by United States District Judge Walter J. La Buy in Chicago that the act is unconstitutional. The act, passed by the last Congress, prohibits compelling or attempting to compel broadcasters to hire more employees than are needed "to perform actual services." James C. Petrillo, president of the American Federation of Musicians, has contested the law. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, MARCH 8, 1947 25