Variety (Jan 1940)

PICTURES Thirly-fourth VARIETY i4H/i/t<T,srtr>r Wednesday, January 3, 1940 Greater Distribution Co-op With Hollywood Production By Jack Edwards Hollywood, Jan. 1. Distribution end of pictures has bencflted materially during past year or two by production recogni- tion of need for greater cooperation with this all-important phase of the done its share^ in helping bring about these harmonious ends. That considerable remains to be done before totally Harmonious deal- . ings will be possible between dis-1 tribut'ion and. exhibition is generally THEATRE MAN BEEFS TO FCC ON TIMS THE UNIONS industry For first time in many admitted. But 1939 will go down "S customers staying home to U.s • • • ^ *e-,-ear jvhen^ vast achtevemenU _ -iheatre. =-l^^^Xw^? !. I^^^i—- ' .ers are biting bac. Detroit, Jan. 1. . With Tuesday night biz nipped by ten to giveaway programs, tuealre .man- A strike maneuver, in which It was j gcrs. Aijcnts & Trpasui-or.-i nvo not .sought to put the distributors in Ihe , tORetlier, so far ns jurisdiction cf help I middle by getting them to shut o(T . is concerned, in the film houM<s but I rtim service to theatres that were ; ifs expected that this will not dclcr j not in the American Federation of tinal moves in organixnlion of man- I Labor column and further moves ,igcrs, press agents, li\':i.Miicrs ' wilh a view to solidifying the Inter-■ Bulldtn; Service Hcin national Alliance of TheatriCfil Stage | Meantime, the usliov?. I'.Mirmcn. Employees in the whole amusement; ticket lakers, ot al., are Rirdini; fnr Held, highlighted developments dur-^ 3,, ^.j,,., o^ensive. wilh locals' h,nv- ing 1939 so far as labor unions in'. j • », „- , distribution and theatres were con- ^^ccn chartered in Now YmU .ihd ing exhibitor deals than has ever been accorded it. Production, realizing need for im- frovemcnt in its relations with dis- ribution. paved the way by bring- ing in durin;: recent years fev- eral high-powared theatre opera- tors who bv virtue of their experi- ence, arc cinridii-ed better qualified to work in ht:r,M3ny with distribu- tion than wcuid b; the ordinary run of stualo piiianr.el. ccrned. IThe Hollywood phase was Brooklyn to cover this Iie'>v Al the eisive turnin" point in exhibitor- • Formal complaint was lodged here ' somelhing else again, and is covered jsame time the porters. w>-hwMi-en. distributor reTations. i by Thomas McGuirc, public relations ' indotail in a separate story from the matrons, cleaners. c!c^. rn; h-i.,g iiru„» iw- r,«„', iroo,- <uiii Krino • .. ^ ^ .• ^1- Coast.l I firouood in a union ofTshntil c-f the What the new yeai win pring, j«n_ tug Co-Oocrative Thea- • • . . , ' , forth in distribution channels is i f;,Tof i^Tchl.an S^^^^^^^ charge: Although proving somewhat abor-1 Brndnv^S^^^^^ y^-^y.o.V,^„, live, except that an armistice ' >^which tlic lA is r ^o-i-.-ting and with which, it .sr ■'. I'lr-o is Tho r.''i '. ,S(M-v. a inw;>-''il i.nioii distribution channels is i 4^53 ot Michigan problematical. Much of the current ^^jj^ Federal Communications Com season (1939-40) has gone by and ; ^j^^ion that Horace Hcidfs 'Pot of ' brou.tiht with it increases to booth-, ,„,..,.,,...,„ ambitious plans are already under; q^.^. (^ums) radio pro<;ram. a new men in home office and c«hansc 1 way by virtually all companies tor : jj^^jja^jje for pic houses, was violat- screening rooms in New York, the : the new season of 1940-41. Whether.' ' it will witness further improvemients I in producer-distributor relations, and I likewise improved distrZbutor-ex-1 jjg asked that an 'njunction — — - ,— • m v 1, »i, ♦ At lea.;t savcr,-.l cf ths major, com-'.j,ii,it6r dealings, is pure conjecture.' is.sued to keep pro.gratn off the <^-ators union, Empire, from around ! ,^*[]®^^^^^^^^ panics can attribuls much ot thsir jj^jt everybody within the industry current stron.-ly fortified position to holds hope for batter and far-reaeh- iniroducllcn of new blood promi-. ;„„ developments, arid the HoUy- nently familiar with the problems ^ ^^^^ sUidio personnel may be ex- of distribution and exhibition. Para- pepjjj jts share in bringing moun'. hor, mad: rapid strides m this 3^,,^ juch a condition, direc'ion sir.co i'r. eleva'ion ta s'vUiio s the ... theatres in the New York area :''cveloped but since tho sc:ile de- ader, years of struggle, the KFl. lo-: "'<''"^"' "'"'^ '"^^ c'enn^'S- '"■t^rs. cal.. No. 306, notified the distrib- , utors that they could no longer con- linus to serve these 'non-union' i The ushers arid doorm.nn u.nions in ■ etc.. it is believed there will be a I ;;ct-together ultimately. chieftain of Y. F.ank Fresmin. for years in charge of the fa'.-flun'T Paramount theatre circuit, and well versed in the problems annually be- setting-bo'vh distributor and pro- ducer PraBALL CEDIELET Hollywood, Jan. 1. First pictorial echo ot the recent vote against pinball games in Los Angeles is heard in Culver City, houses. air while the hearing is pending on his petition. That customers are stayin'i h:>me on chance of collecting big casli award is reflected in from 10-40<o estimates on falling oft on biz in smaller theatres here. . • kinds of proposals have been made iricUidih.a tracts to live up to. refused to do , ,„ „.:„ „Vnh..Kiv i,« one that co-ops build together and thU and Local 306 threw picket linos ru^^'S.^ ^l",h h' find out what it would cost far in- •^'•Xli:;'o'^''c:;S U^^^^^ -'""^-^ surance on payolT in case a ci.st^mer Exchange Woikers 52-8 ] ^^^^ .^^ ^^^^.-^^^^^ in one of their .houses gels the call ; walked out. Branches weic badly : ^^^^ country notablv New E'l" Universal under the guidance of ' where Metro is filming 'Jackpot,' an ■ '=>r the big money Other suggC3tion "'P^l«< .^^'V,,'" !" l^L^'"^^}}^^' land and the midwest, whoro ho^vy tw^^^gnized top th|tre s^^^^^^ drives have bee s.i- : directing. 1 s};rttr«i"i?:^°^r ^ ' - j the Greater N.Y. arp;i arc pronnrin? The distributors, having their con- '° ""^ "f the lairor cir- cuits first as a test of slronofi hcfire tion head—has forged rapidly to the front ranks of production and- distri- bution, especially during 1939. Blumberg and Work are both vet- erans of the exhibition field, and as such have bicn always more or less familiar v/ilh the ills of distribution. j , , ^ J o 4 uo.,rf Hollywood, Jan. 1 Gradwell Sears at the head of, ^.^^^.^ ^j,^^ jg^g expected by V/arner Bros, distribution, has been ^ ^^^^^^ granted more power in recent ■ months than has been the lot of the ordinary sales manager, with the re- sult that this company has worked Peace Over Pie Percenters (10S would also go out of the thea- ; tres. Depl. ot Justice Steps In ■Before the Department of .Tustice There have been no extreme dif- ficulties with the opoi-.-itors and sta'tehands throu'ihout th:> rnipii-y during the past voar. exrp-tin!; the 30(1 matter with the distributors. obt.iincd tracts came out number of revolutionary prac- tices, all Or most of which are ex- pected to prove a greater incentive in amicable relations between the bombastic 1939. Featuring the past year was final - signaturing of the Screen Actors Guild franchising agreement,, formally accepted by the Artists Managers Guild and associ- ate members at a meeting Oct. 30. Acceptance brought to an end the ! ^K-f- „^w„c Af ■ drive by actors to bring reforms in distribution and exhibition phases of rcp^esentatiori business, lasting the industry. . ^,0,2 to two years. Of equal im- In the selection of Herman Wob- portance to percenters was an aver- ber as head of its world-wide dis- . dropoff in business of approxi- tribution, 20th-Fox, it is generally ' mately 20':'o. resulting in heavy slash- conceded, took a far-reaching step j^g of personnel and other retrench- forward. Wobber has long been ^ent moves to balance the budget, identified with distribution, having . f^^w that dickering back and forth lor many years been with Para-1 v^jth the SAG is over, agents are mount prior to his going over to the , more likely to settle down in 1940 20th-Fox organization. Free rein and give closer attention to making ' given him by his superiors in han- ends meet with a profit. Latter is a dling the intricate details of dis- ] ,„ord that will be well-hidden around tribution may well be said to be; the corner if studio production stepped in, it was feared the lATSE , oi- 1» • 1 * 1 : would not only call out the operators ? ''I'^L; ri'^^; whl:,:^ o^f^tr- i in New York but throughout the = ii . tions allowed .under bankruptcy, al-I country and also get the exchange ' "!;J°f/""f,^^,:^^^^ ''^'"'"""^ ^^•'"'^'""^ 4««u».A.k« 1 ..4u»« i„ „ i» .....II. I- ,.11 4 1... 1.— ■ na\i.ii^ OCCUIICO. In the Greater New York zone, for. incrca.'.-cs were sent to arbitration in the caise tachment and other laws, in casa any . employees to walk in all the key arbitration award is given against '■ centers out ot which distribs serve \ him. As orginally drafted performer I their accounts. For a time anxiety Local 306's demands was prevented from taking advantage . was also felt concerning any effort ot laws' exemptions allowing him to . the lA might make to also walk its , , hold out money for living expenses, members in every field in which pro- ' (RKO. Loews, etc.) and the Inde- etc, in case judgment is handed ducer-distributors figured, including! 1^'="'^^"' Tlieatre Owners As.sn. down by Arbitration board. SLC sludias, on the ground that union-' ^f^cr lengthy negotiation and event- also still reserves the ri.uhl to, pa.-is made pictures were going first into Arbitration, the ITOA houses on any' commission sharing by two so-called 'non-union' houses. This or more agents. ml;;ht have cori-ie only for the inter- Washup of franchising will now ' vcnlion Ot the D. of J. which rulod give the Artists Managers Guild tops the Now York strike was along il- time to consider several problems of r legal, dangerous lines. their own. centering around mem-1 On one occasion a few years ago, „^„n,,a,(n. ber disputes over clients which were i the lATSE had suddenly pulled op- , fo,r ' Jec hanging fire before SAG licensing, erators out ot theatres in Chicago 11°',:J*„ of both the major circuit houses I granted a 10% Increase and two weeks' vacation with pay instead of one. as formerly existed. Local 30C asked a 2r)'"r increase from RKO. Loew'.s. Warner Bros., Music ■ Hall, Roxy. Par. etc.. with result those negotiations also went to arbitration ision. There has been no icago I action as this issue goes to press, as a , largely responsible for enviable position that company today holds in, the field. No radical departures in producer- fore any powerful union or Guild | merely told group they planned to : take over; that such steps were on ^ the way; and gave victims no al- j ternativc. Vole of thanks was given by agents lo SAG for the open- schedules are. any indication. Stu dios themselves are faced with the problem of meeting lessening grosses and the most likely refiection will distributor cooperation have been | be still further close-watching of effected at Metro, but here, also, im- : casts to meet budgets, portance of unhampered circulation Fine hand ot the State Labor Com- et output has long been realized. In | mission played a big part in final consequence, sales chiefs have been , terms- of the SAG-AMG franchise ^iven added authority until today deal, but without stepping from be- few problems come up thaFare not, hind the scenes. Final analysis handed, fair manner in which agrej- | compl<:tely handled by Al Lichtman . shows SLC lost little of its super- and his co-workers, headed by Wil-' vision over peiccntcrs, except in liam F. Rod,gers, head of Metro sales.' case of arbitrating disputes between Exhlb.s' Cij Sny on Films j agenl.s and clients. Onthi.s par- ■ , , I ticular point. Stale body still re- on clients under 21 years of ai'c More and more are the various • (jj^s privilege of sitting in on ' State laws are such that a minor cm production orpnizations t a k i n g ; 3^^^;^^^ leading exhibuors in.o Iheir confi-: i„ts,-ests. as well as parties involved, dence conferring with them from! Arbitration has long been a head- time to time.on production matters to Labor Bureau,- handicapped and more and more leaning to the One matter lb come up soon for, ^nd other midwcslern keys „ ^. ^ „ . settlement is complaint filed by the : mean, gf forcing a wedge in con- Kxchange Employee Demands Everett Crosby office, char.i{inK his' neclion o with .studio negotiations! Winding up on a twn-yc.ir cen- chent Preston Foster has assertedly under the so-called five-year basic : ''act wilh the distributors, its first been lured away by another agency. ' at-reement. The result was conclu- 1 organization by the lA, the Ex- Thls and other matters have long ; ^ive and quick in that case. No ■ change Employees Union presented oH,?.^" "S- 1 1 : doubt this coup and its effectiveness ' tl>e distribs with demands for an in- SAGs willingness to. enter long . served as a pattern for the operator i crease on a renewal effective Dec. 1. negotiations with the agenls before oiTensive against distributors [A new two-year deal, calling fnr pact was finally signed is without , p_, ^-n,u,„;„„ i various adjustments but reportedly precedent in union annals, neioto-1^"^""^e """""'^^ to exist, having jubstant ally the same scales was theatres that are mostly located In " iuosianuaiii me same seales, wdj, Brooklyn, and while there have been I ^^''^'^ "P*»" middle of December, fresh overtures toward a merger or' Toward the end of tho year, wilh absorption by Local 30C. the situa-: ^°C3' production dwindling, tho vari- tion appears to remain the same. I eastern studio crafts gained new However, recently the State Labor i encouragement when Mayor La- 4.=.....^ .,..4 ...o...... M, wMv.,. « -4c -, Board dismissed a com-1 Cfuardia of N. Y. started a cam- ment was worked out to the bc-nclU ' P'^'"' brought by two Empire op-1 Pf 'fin to stimulate filming on the At- of both sides i erators who had been discharged by 'antic coast, backed by a solid labor New Y.->rk th'eatre and the booth f'"ont. Objective is to got the traii.<rcr Agents particularly rej.-)ice on clause insuring them full projection as it is by a small staff and numer- showmanship anile_ in completed ^us employment problems to adjust output. Mor^ exhibitors, from van- reverting of such power to SAG ous parts of he country, visited the | through State legislation takes a big Hoi y wood studios during the 1039 . burden off hands of Leo L. Schau- period than in any previous year,.' and as result ot these visits produc- tion heads have been enabled to let a pretty good idea aiid cross-section of public wants and opinion. Stu- dios are making little secret that I mer, attorney-deputy for Commis- ! sion. who previously heard the dis- putes. Schaumier figured in on terms of agreement by suggesting numerous ', changes which will work to the ad these exhibitor opinions are deeply ; ^,antage of both actors and agents, valued, and m consequence prob- Qne important change was that an lems ot the distribution forces are i agent will continue to be responsible -virtually overcome in the finished i ^r any liabilities to a'client in- product, I cvirrcd prior lo surrendering his ^ Distribution during the past 12 franchise license. Under clause as months'came in for its share ot Gov-1 drawn by SAG. a percenter could emment attention. Numerous newj wipc out any liability to a client anti-trust suits have been filed in by the mere giving up of his license, various localities, most of v/hich are Anrther matter was the assigning of still pending in the courts. As a re-1 mSriagcrial pacts from one agent to suit, of exhibitor agitation some rei-! another, clause as fir.st drawn al- forms already have been worked out; lowing this to ta",<e place at any and others are in the offing. Greater time in the future by stipulation in- ,cancellation privilege?, allowed by serted in pact at time actor signed walk out of any ticket and .^igii with a new manager, and the per- I center has no recourse to lha courts. ' SAG guarantees agcn instances will mal turned over to 306 men. Tliis might : servo as a precedent where the op- ; eiator ot the Empire-maiindd hou.se ' want.s to turn to 306. , CIO's Minor Allemitls of at least 10^'■ of the production which California now enjcvs. This would provide approximately $350.- 000 weekly for the various union crafts that would benefit, including cameramen, studio mechanics, sla.ce- c inn -war-:«.,ii.aIfcm:ciaim^Fcib"i;;rMi;t;;;n^|^e^, T^^ors'lJl^"'^^^^ and and promi.sing to provide not only ; other creative talent. Behind the mayor to a man, New York Slate labor has agreed that an agreement will be made for a. period of five years under which there will LonM , ; i The CIO has made only cursory i hands, laboratory workers, scenic . i!v'^ .'7- M-^^ moves to Iry to creep into the ple-] artists, operators, etc, not lo mcniinn >e plavci luiblo lo tuie. but a few months ago an or-; artists who arc members ot the ranted wMkouts. That 10%. Sticks (operators but stagehands apiieaie'd 1 Granting ot waiversr by SAG in ; on the horizon. Known as United matter of contracts now in f-jice that, Theatrical and Motion Picture Serv- contain unusual clauses and silua-1 ice Employees Union, its ambitions lions is another matter where agents are nationwide but doubted that it feel actors were generous. Another can eo un ni>ainst tho tatcii? iho , . _ important clause to the ayenls is - ,,:, ^f - against the IAT5E the the ea.st The mayor's c.impaign iiiipuiidiu Lidube 10 me d,i;en[s , way this union now is ■ entrenched , . 4,4 j 14 * iua guarantee that present 10% commis- ^V: ' ,. >Tn ..^ . , *"'^^°"<'7°' 1 'S expected to produce results in the sion cannot be reduced before Jim ! .4^^° attempts lo chisel into j final analysis .so far as stimulation of 1. 1944. and then only upon certain ; ?^ has concerned candy | indie.production in the sector is con- conditions subject to arbitration. i^"''^,?K^ '2 theatres, still pho-' - . All in all, the agents are secretly ' ^•''"^^'''u' ''i""^ off'ce^ilerical help, patting themselves on the back th.-il ^° ^''^ so many advantageous clauses 10-! Although it has been working for acting to-their benefit, not only as' '"'veral years now on the organiza- ' far as clients are concerned, but also '°' managers, theatre publicity be no trouble with producers uliliz- several of the majors, regardless ot the outcome of the ill-fated industry reform code, have gone a long way towards increasing distributor-ex- hibitor relations, and production has with agent. Clarification by Schau mer now calls for client's okay al actual time of assignment. Another clarification also gives an actor the right to claim all exemp- towards correcting many evils they '"'''"■^^''"'''f'ves, cashiers, usher have long talked about rcmovin.g but '^°°'"'"en, etc., the lA has made only never got around to, wore inciudcd sketchy progress in this direction, in the agreement. . Action may be expected, however. If ways can be figured lo abate ■ before another year rolls by, with further-dropping oft ot returns dur- , lA having quietly lined up a lot ing the year, 1940 should work out °f members in the various thcatire happily for those who continue In I crafts under organization, so that their a.gency business. At any rate ' when the time comes to pitch its bat- Ihe assiduous workers ar" a.ssurcd ot i ^'c. a strike could be of more than a certain amount of protection while | ordinary effect, plying their trade in the studios. | The lA and the Theatrical Mana- cerne^d. if not by the major.s who are wholly concentrated in Hnl'v- wood and environs. Par's Solo Starter Hollywood. Jan. J. Paramount reopened its gales to- day (Tues.) after a three-day li"'i- day with one picture, 'The Womai' from Hell,' before the camera. Production of 'Down Went Mc- Ginty' is still suspended because of the illness of director Prestof- Sturgis. Next to roll will be 'Dc- tiny,' slated for Jan. 16.