Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1947)

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Announce Basic Anglo-American Labor Exchange News ot agreements dominated the industry labor scene this week. In New York, Richard F. Walsh, head of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, in a joint press conferer.ce with Tom O'Brien, British member ot Parliament and the head of the National Association of Theatrical and Kine Employees, announced basic accord on the Anglo-American plan for an exchange of top technicians. Mr. Walsh also disclosed that there definitely would be no strike in the New York laboratories and that an agreement, providing for a substantial wage increase for the 1,600 lab employees, had been worked out. And the International Photographers of the Motion Picture Industry, IATSE, sent out new wage scales for four classifications, which went into effect June 2. Retroactive pay is collectible from July 1, 1946, to Juno 1, 1947. Mr. Walsh and Mr. O'Brien left for England aboard the Queen Elizabeth Thursday. While in Britain, where he will stay for four weeks, the IATSE head will make a complete inspection of the entertainment business. He also will confer with heads of the other two British studio unions, the Association of City Technicians and the electrical workers. Mr. O'Brien explained the reasons for the resentment felt in British technical circles over the ease with which American personnel can come to work in Britain. However, only 20 came last year while no British technicians worked in the U. S. Mr. O'Brien said a three-cornered agreement, based on a formula that would outlaw jurisdictional disputes in Britain, will be signed in London June 23. In Hollywood, meanwhile, Pat Casey, recently resigned labor relations director for the studios, declared a lasting settlement of the jurisdictional strike on the coast was impossible unless there was a drastic change in the attitude of the union leaders involved. Paramount Opens New Jacksonville Branch Paramount Pictures' new Jacksonville, Fla., branch opened formally Monday, June 9, with a meeting at which the company's 1947 "Celebrating 35 Years of Leadership" sales drive was discussed. The session was conducted by Hugh Owen, Paramount's Eastern and Southern division sales head. Heading the branch personnel at the meeting, which lasted two days, was Al Duren, who was recently promoted from Atlanta sales manager of the company to take over as manager in Jacksonville. Paramount discontinued the Florida city as a branch center in 1939. Since then the company has operated a shipping station there. Skouras Non-Sectarian Head For Jewish Appeal Barney Balaban, national chairman of the United Jewish Appeal, Tuesday announced the appointment of Spyros P. Skouras, president of Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp., as non-sectarian chairman for the motion picture industry in the UJA's 1947 drive for $170,000,000. In accepting the post, Mr. Skouras said : "I regard the opportunity of serving the United Jewish Appeal as a sacred privilege, and to be associated with Barney Balaban and my friends in the industry engaged in this most vital humanitarian endeavor is a great pleasure." 20th-Fox Gives New Authority to Division Heads The inauguration of a new policy which will give Twentieth Century-Fox division sales managers full authority in the field to negotiate and approve contracts and to handle problems of distribution was announced in New York last Friday by Andrew W. Smith, Jr., new general sales manager. "The men in the field are responsible for the distribution of our company's pictures and we are now giving them the authority that goes with that responsibility," Mr. Smith said, adding: "This is our 'open door' policy." The new policy was outlined by the sales chief at an industry press conference held at the home office in New York at which William C. Gehring, assistant general sales manager, was introduced. Mr. Smith said the company may hold a national sales meeting some time this autumn, pointing out that 20th-Fox has not had one in several years. Immediately following the trade press conference, however, Spyros Skouras, president of Twentieth Century-Fox, announced in Hollywood that "Forever Amber" and "Captain from Castile" would be roadshown at $1.20 top with restricted runs. At the same time the company announced pictures which will be released during June and July. In June, exhibitors will get "Miracle on 34th Street," "Moss Rose," and the re-release of "Western Union." In July there will be "Bob, Son of Battle," '"The Crimson Key" and "Meet Me at Dawn." Berg on Eagle-Lion Staff Herb Berg has joined the Eagle-Lion home office publicity staff, it was announced this week by Max E. Youngstein, Eagle Lion director of advertising, publicity and exploitation. Mr. Berg, who resigned last week from Selznick Releasing Organization, assumed his new duties immediately. Prior to his SRO affiliation, he was with Paramount and other major companies in various publicity and exploitation capacities. Decision on Suit Jurisdiction Due In Week or Two The expected Supreme Court decision on taking jurisdiction in the New York industry anti-trust appeal failed to materialize early this week, but the attitude of the judges in all probability, will be made known within a week or two. The court was originally scheduled to recess for the summer after next Monday's session, but, according to court officials, adjournment is not likely until the end of the month in view of a very crowded schedule. The justices usually like to dispose of all pending cases before recessing. Late last week, attorneys for the American Theatres Association, the Confederacy of Southern Associations and the Southern California Theatre Owners, filed an appeal with the Supreme Court defending the right of these groups to intervene directly. The brief was filed in answer to an attack on the intervention filed by 20th-Fox, Loew's, RKO, Paramount and Warners. In New York, the question of whether operation of theatres by two or more distributors which own them constitutes a pool or a partnership had lawyers arguing. Under the decree, the deadline for the dissolution of all pools is July 1. All five distributor-exhibitor defendants have liquidated their pools with independents and among themselves or are in the process of doing so. The language of the court decree has given rise to uncertainty in some cases. There is, for instance, the example of the Buffalo Theatres, a circuit of 10 houses in which Paramount and Loew's each own 43 per cent while the remaining 14 per cent is owned by Vincent McFaul. Early this week attorneys for all eight distributor-defendants met in New York in an effort to minimize duplication of argument in appeal briefs which have to be submitted to the Supreme Court 30 days before the tribunal hears the case. Appoint Nemec SMPE Executive Secretary Boyce Nemec, engineering secretary of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers, this week was appointed executive secretary. He succeeds Harry Smith, Jr., who resigns July 1, to enter his own business. Mr. Nemec is a member of the general committee for the 62nd semi-annual convention, to be held October 20-24 at the Hotel Pennsylvania, New York. Emerson Is RKO Manager Joseph C. Emerson has been appointed manager of RKO Radio's Denver exchange, effective immediately. Mr. Emerson has been with RKO Radio since 1941, at which time he joined the company as salesman. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JUNE 14, 1947 19