Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1947)

Connection with Browne or Bioff Denied by Walsh Any connection between William Bioff or George Browne and the International Alliance' of Theatrical Stage Employees was denied emphatically Tuesday in New York, when Richard F. Walsh, president of the union, said that if either of the two men showed up at an IA office, "he would be put out." Mr. Walsh further said if anyone could prove a connection between him and Mr. Bioff and Mr. Browne, he would immediately resign. In reference to proposed legislation to outlaw jurisdictional disputes of the kind that has plagued Hollywood for the past two years, Mr. Walsh said flatly that he was in favor of such measures, "providing they are workable." He said that striking Building Service employees, number about 1,500, had been ordered back to their jobs and predicted that the Electrical Workers also would return soon. This was in line with a statement from Dan Tracy, International president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, who said in Washington this week that settlement of the dispute between his union and the Conference of Studio Unions on the coast could be expected within two or three weeks. Mr. Walsh disclosed a telegram he had sent to the House Labor Committee, urging the group to complete its investigation of the coast dispute and make known the facts. The telegram was sent in reference to testimony given before the committee by Oscar Schatte, the head of carpenters at an independent studio. Mr. Schatte had said that he was testifying at the risk of his life and position. Mr. Walsh also said that Mr. Schatte had filed a suit for declaratory judgment in the Southern California District Court, seeking to set aside the agreement between the carpenters and IATSE. The court refused to act on the ground that it had no jurisdiction in the matter. The jurisdictional Hollywood dispute, which has been going on since October, 1944, has cost everyone involved about $50,000,000, Mr. Walsh said. About 3,000 workers, belonging to the carpenters and painters unions, still are out on strike, but chances for their return to work are slim. Manitoba Exhibitor Unit Will Meet March 3 1 The first annual meeting and banquet of the Manitoba Motion Picture Exhibitors Association will be held at the Royal Alexandra Hotel, Winnipeg, March 31. During the past year the Association was reorganized and for the first time country and city exhibitors of the Province worked together in one compact body. Many out-of-town exhibitors are expected to attend. House Committee To Study Coast Strike Congressional interest in the Hollywood labor situation continued this week with indications pointing to a revision of the Wagner Act to include a ban on jurisdictional strikes. Fred A. Hartley, Jr., chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, is considering a special investigation of the Hollywood jurisdictional dispute and has appointed Congressman Richard Nixon of California to study the situation on the spot. In Chicago, David Benzor, Milwaukee attorney and negotiator for the Colosseum of Motion Picture Salesman, said the companies had been asked to bargain with his film salesmen's organization. The Colosseum, unaffiliated, is said to include 13 film salesmen's groups numbering about 500. Arthur M. Van Dyke, sales manager of 20th-Fox in Chicago, elected national president of the Colosseum December 1, said an executive group composed of 14 men from all sections would handle strategy. A strike by the Motion Picture Laboratory Technicians, local 702, IATSE, in New York, against 18 eastern film laboratories was averted Tuesday through the appointment of James J. Brennan, IA vice-president, to continue bargaining attempts. Trans-Lux Has Mexican House As part of its expansion program, the Trans-Lux Theatre Corporation will open its new Prado theatre in Mexico City March 27, with the foreign premiere of RKO-Liberty Picture's "It's a Wonderful Life," it was announced in New York Tuesday by Norman W. Elson, vice-president. The Prado, seating 950, was built by the Mexican Government as part of the Prado Hotel, under construction for 10 years. The theatre has RCA equipment and uses the Trans-Lux rear projection system. TransLux has a 10-year lease. The policy of the theatre, Mr. Elson said, will be to play exclusively first run American films with Spanish subtitles unless the Mexican Government eventually decrees that part of the playing time must be devoted to local product. Mr. Elson also announced that Trans-Lux plans to take over two other theatres in Mexico City and has purchased a site for a third. In this country, Trans-Lux is awaiting approval of a 1,700-seat house in Washington, D. C, plus a 12-story office building. Another theatre will be erected on Madison Avenue in New York, devoted to feature pictures. W. E. Votes Dividend The board of directors of Western Electric Company Tuesday declared a dividend of 75 cents per share on its common stock. The dividend is payable March 31, 1947, to stockholders of record March 25, 1947. Greek Patrons WantGoodFilms: S. D. Skouras Hollywood Bureau Audiences in Greece, like audiences anywhere else in the world, want good pictures, according to Spyros D. Skouras, president and general manager of the D. P. Skouras circuit, which operates 45 leading theatres in Greece. "Immediately after the end of the war," Mr. Skouras told newsmen at a press conference in Hollywood last week, "war pictures were popular, because the public, deprived for many years of accurate information, wanted to know what had been going on in other occupied countries. Now that the desire for information has been satisfied, there remains a craving for entertainment. The Greek people, who have suffered untold hardships, want to blot out— for a few hours at least — the memories of the past, and the uncertainties of the future. They demand distraction, and they'll pay for it, even if it means doing without some of the necessities of life." Theatre Ticket a Good Buy The current admission price in Athens, where the chief Skouras theatres are located,, is 25000 drachmas, the exhibitor said, or roughly 20 cents. Because of inflation, as well as the fact that nearly all commodities are available only on the black market, a theatre ticket represents as good a buy today as can be found in war-ravaged Greece. Queried as to possible competition from other film-producing countries, Mr. Skouras said, "as long as American producers maintain their present high standards of quality,, they need fear no competition. Cites Cooperation "Another reason why American films command preferred playing time is the closecooperation and good will that has always existed between exhibitors and distributors in Greece, and producers in America," said Mr. Skouras, who, as head of Skouras Film Company, is the distributor in Greece for 20th Century-Fox, Paramount and RKO Radio. "As for local competition, there isn't any,"' he said. "There are only four or five pictures produced annually in Greece. We haven't the technical equipment to produce more, nor the capital to acquire such equipment. And, in view of the unsettled political and economic situation, it will be many years before there is any substantial film production in Greece." Mr. Skouras said it was his intention to> maintain the American system of operation in both exhibition and distribution. He is accompanied on his trip by Mrs. Skouras, and by Mr. and Mr. Nick Argyryos. Mr. Argyryos is the distributor in Greece for Universal-International. United Artists and Republic. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, MARCH 15, 1947 55»