Variety (May 1941)

Wednesday, May 21, 1941 Disney-Cartoonists Setdement Imminent; ScUesinger s lockout' Hollywood, May 20. Consent decree in the Walt Disney dispute with the Cartoonists Guild appeared imminent when the tenta- tive deal was set at a hearing Mon- day before the trial examiner for the National Labor Relations Board. Hearing will be resumed Wednesday to allow time for NLKB attorney to draft a stipulation providing for a consent, decree for submission to Disney's counsel before the hearing Is resumed on the unfair labor charges. Gunther Lesslng, Disney v.p. and attorney, tentatively agreed to the stipulation when it was explained _ that the company is not required to admit it dominated the recently dis- banded Federation of Screen Car- toonists. It Was declared that the decree would merely require the posting of a cease and desist order and the dis- establishment of relations between the company and the Federation which was certified in 1939 by the Board as collective bargaining rep for the workers. Sehleslnger'i Hove Beating the Screen Cartoonists Guild to the punch, Leon Schlesinger closed his studio over the weekend after receiving notification ins ink- ers would walk Monday morning (IS) unless the company signed con- tract covering new wages-hours con- ditions. AFL leaders charged Schlesinger with 'jumping the gun* and said his action amounted to a lockout of employees as no work stoppage actually occurred. SCG spokesmen said the only remaining hurdle in negotiations is the length of contract and hopeful agreement will be reached within few days. Cartoonists submitted a one-year pact but Schlesinger demanded one running three years which was re- jected by the tmlon because of un- settled conditions and rising living costs, being unwilling to tie up wages for such long period unless contract specified reopening the wage ques- tion at the end of each year as pro- vided in other Guild* covenants.. Union-also is asldng $85 weekly minimum for Class-1 animators, with Schleslnger's best offer $10 uqder that figure. Union said 185 workers •re affected by closing. ' Schleslnger's I<ooney Tunes and other cartoons are-released by War- ner Bros. Sign posted at the car- toon studio, 'dosed on account of strike' wUI stay iip until the union's demandis are *possible of fulfillment,' Schlesinger said. Warners planned 86 shorts ' this year, the largest number 'for- one season- In the history of the studio, program to consist of a dozen two- reel black-and-whltes;, six two-reel Technicolors; 10- one-reel Master Melody band pictures; 10 one-reel Vltaphone Varieties; 10 one-reel Color Parades; IS.Looney Times; 26 Merrle Melodies and two cartoons carried over from the I<eon Schlesinger schedule. Central labor . council of San Fernando Valley placed Schlesinger on-the unfair list of AFL. It's dis- posed cameramen at the studio also Joined ^e walkout, but another at- tempt will be made to compose " dlfterences and reopen plant AmecWs6diYr.At20th Hollywood, May 20. • Don Ameche, five years on the 20th-Fox lot, was renewed for an- other term, with 'Weekend in Ha- vana' as- his next chore. Actor recently finished 'Moon Over Miam}.' Walter Lang is assigned to direct the William LeBaron production, 'Weekend in Havana,' which cast, be- sides Amache, is headed by Alice Faye, Carmen Miranda and Cesar Romero. Par Pobficists Balk AtSPGasBargaimng Agcy.forPJLsinN.Y. Refusing to join the Screen Pub- licists Guild In the east, which fol- lowing numerous hearings is now awaiting certification as collective bargaining agency for workers in home office film companies, a group of Paramoimt's topflight publicity employees is considering forming an independent union of their own and has so advised the SPG as well as the National Lcbor Relations Board In Washington. They hope this won't be necessary, however. The Par publicists. In their letter to Joseph' Gould, president .of the SPG In New York, with a copy to the NLRB, both of which were mailed yesterday (Tues.), take exr ception to the manner in which the SPG Is being tun, as well as Its policies. Among other things, the Par group says it has been hesitant about joining the SPG because it went on record as opposed to con- scription and also to the lecse-lend bUL 1 SPG has had difficulty in lining up \Par workers. So far as can be learned only one publicist and some of-the members of the art'depart- ment, eligible to SPG membership, have joined up. The pressbook writers were In the SPG but with- drew. Letter to Gould and the NLRB was signed by the top members of the Par publicity division whom the SPG has been trying to enroll end finally has asked why they won't Join. The letter is theii^ an: swer. Thoee signing It are Tom Waller, who handles all syndicates and lilfe magazine; AUeen St. John Brenon,. In' charge of magazines; jC. N. Odell, who covers all the dallies on publicity; Herb Berg, trade paper contact men: Hank Lamer, who Is associated wi^ Odell on dallies; Paul Ackerman, of the foreign department, and liCO Brody, of the .ma^zlne .branch. Reported that certain top men In other companies are not satisfied with the SPG administration, which could mean an Indle unioii move- ment that would also embrace other ^ajer film conv)any employees, though the threat from Par is' to set UP' what would amount to a com- pany union. 'Old Hickory' to Reel Hollywood, May 20. Andrew Jackson, soldier and president, is to be fllmagraphed by Paramount with a heavy budget m The Remarkable Andrew,' with Brian Donlevy playing the title role. Dalton Trumbo, who wrote the novel and sold it for $27,500, is do- ing the screenplay. William Holden plays the romantic lecd. Producer is Arthur Hornblow, Jr. Driye to Centralize All Studio Laborers In Bargaining Groop Hollywood, May 20. The Studio Laborers and Utility Workers Local 727 of the^ Interna- tional Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes has.started a driye to take over all laborers in the film industry. Apparently peeved over the action of the producers in refijsing to honor their work permits. Local 727 Is ask- ing the workers to approve a con- solidation of Studio Utilities Em- ployes Local 724 with the lATSE group and to designate Local 727 as their collective bargaining represen- tative. A total of 3,000 postcards are being distributed in the studios to be signed and returned to Local 727. Zeal Fairbanks, business represen- tative of the union, stated that more than 1,200 cards have already been returned. Hie card states: I am a laborer or utility worker empolyed In the motion picture stu- dios, and im of. the opinion that there is not room In the industry for two lal>or organizations, and that there should be a consolidation of Local 724 of the Hod Carriers and Local 727 of the lATSE. I hereby cast my vote to consolidate the two locals into Local 727 of the lATSE and for Local 727 to be the bargain- ing agent for wages, hours and con- ditions.' L. C. Helm, business representa- tive of the Local 727, refused to dis- cuss the siniation other thap to say the jurisdictional matter had been referred to the International presi- dents of the two American Federa- tion of IialKir crafts. He was re- ported to have told lot workers, how- ever, that if any consolidation was made. Local 724 would be desig- nated as their bargaining represen- tative. Local 724 recently entered the Basic Agreement and apparently is depending upon that group to give It a break. Par's Dissatisfaction jContinned from pace >: TECHNICOLOR REELECTS Dr. B. T. Kalmns Again Prei—Hay Tint 12 to 2« TIiU Tear I Technicolor, Inc., annual stock- holders' meeting Monday (19) unan- imously reelected Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus, Eversley Childs, L. G. Clark and J. L. Anderson for three-year terms. George F. Lewis, general counsel and vice-president, presided at the session in the absence of tilal- mus, president, presently on the Coast. Kalm^ In his annual message .to the stockholders, read.at the meet- ing, stressed thirt- Technicolor al- ready had started the pikotographing of 12 features, with the anticipated total possibly running as high as 20 this year. He stated that the largest total of' features for any previous year for Technicolor was 12. Indications are that. Technicolor earnings for thie.first six mpnths this year will be substantially'ahead of those In the corresponding period last year, Kalmus Stated, basing his estimate, on actual iSgures available . the first four montb^ of 1941. •i. -^4^ k.r mm o : .f . •'. j A :i J n .■ " FOUR STUDIOS GET COL OVERFLOW PROD. Hollywood, May 20. Production is so heavy at Colum- bia that four deals were made with outside studios to handle the over- flow. Tonight Belongs to Us' Is in work at the RKO-Pathe studio; 'Ladies In Retirement' slated for the Roach plant; 'Girls From Panama' on the Chadwick lot, and much of "Youll Never Qet Rich' at the old Schulberg studios. Estras'Oiarg^Forwardedto Green. May Be Aired at AFL WadL Meet Hollywood, May 20. A report containing charges of film extras that the Screen Actors Guild Is controBed by 1,200 stars and featured players, and that 8,000 Class B members ere denied a vote has been forwarded to .WlUlam F. Green, prexy of tiie American Fed- eration of Labor. The report was prepared by Aubrey Blair, AFL or- ganizer, on instructions from Meyer Lewis, western director for the F^erctlon. The report dafans that 8,000 extras are denied a voice in- bargaining with the Produpers, and that many of them ere now on "the 'verge of starvation.' It also ch^ges that, al- though the extras pay more than half of the funds collected by the SAG, they have no Isay in how this money Is spent and are given no ac- counting.- Much of the data' turned over to Blair was collected by the Extras Advisory Council, of which Harry Mayo la chairman. Mayo also was chairman of the Screen Actors Guild Council at the time it was abolished; and affairs of the extras turned over to the SAG bocrd of directors. The extras claim they are the only group of workers in the Industry who have not received a pay increase during the past 12 months. The extras also claim that the SAG permits the producers to use dummies in pictures, thereby de- priving hundreds-of extras of work. They claim they ar^ given no rep- resentation on' the SAG bargaining committee, e paid employee of the Guild being appointed to represent them. It has been hinted that the charges will be aired before the AFL Exec- utive Council at Itg, meeting this week in Washington. AFL officials said It was not on the Washington agenda, but added that it could- be brought up by any official who de- sired to do 50. theatres, numbering 11, in which It, FP-C, has had a 49% interest all along. The outside share of 61% is owned by Hanson, an old friend of Nathanson's, and others. Hanson was at one time president of the old Tiffany Pictures company, an indie. Coincidental with the resignation of Nathanson and promotion of Fitz- gibbons, the directors elected R. W. Bolstad v.D. and treasurer, also mov- ing up Noel G. Barrow as secretary. Bolstad, comptroller of FP-C, had formerly been an auditor in Minne- sota for Par, while Barrow up to last week was assistant secretary of FP-C. Tom Bragg, who was secre- tary-treasurer, is out Barney Balaban, Stanton Griffis and Austin C. Keough, Par h.o. execs on the FP-C board, were in Toronto Wednesday (14) when the changes took place. Canadian or U^. Control Given as Cause of Split Toronto, May 20. In a wide-open split as to whether the comply is to be governed by American or Canadian con^ol, N. L. Nathanson dramatically resigned the presidentcy of Famous - Players Canadian at the annual meeting here of that corporation and was accom- panied in this action by the entire Canadian directorate. 'While the re- tiring group is expected to compete with their erstwhile colleagues, Nathanson is expected to be given an important government post in Canada's aircraft industry Immedi- ately. Those who resigned. In addition to Nathanson, were Hon, W. D. Ross, Hon. F. B. McCurdy, A. E. Dyment, Major A. P. Holt, T. J. Bragg, Clar-- ence Robson. - ■"" It has' long been Nathanson's dream to bring about a vast British Empire ctiain of theatres, this link- ing up the British Isles, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, etc., and the nucleus of this was nearly brought about .with Gaumont-Brit- ish some years ago but for the op- position of his two colleagues, I. W. Killa%, Montreal financier and news- paper publl^er; and Adolph Zukor, then head of Paramount-Publix. Nathanson at that time resigned. No Odeon (Dentseb) Hookap It is significant that the new Paul Nathanson chain (Odeon) Is using the same name cs the large Oscar' Deutsch chain In Great Britain but, under existing foreign exchange regulations, it is manifest that Deutsch or other British capital could not have been transferred to C^anada. Both Deutsch and N. L. Natiianson say they have no per- sonal interest in the Odeon chain In Canada. The present rift is partly over the question of Canadian or American control. It is. understood in the in- dustry that Nattianson offered to buy controlling Interest but that there was a difference of some $5,000,000 over which the prospective buyer end Paramount could not come to a decision. Said Nathanson when interviewed; 'Practically all the money which has built up Famous-Players Canadian has been supplied by Canadians through the $5,300,000 of bonds cut- standing and through purchese of $5,200,000 of preferred stock. The American interests put no money into It at all and controlled it through common stock which cost them nothing. In 1929, the same situation arose when I was trying to get control within the Empire and I resigned. Then Canadian share- holders exchanged most of their shares for Parcmount shares on a five Famous for four Paramount ex- change, and Paramount later went Into receivership. The shares of the Canadians were then cut in two. When the receivers took charge in 1033, they asked me to come back. After the receivership in 1936, I made c five-year contract which now expires. •The arrangement then was that some deal should be worked out whereby former Canadian sharehold- ers would have an opportunity of getting their shares. When Barnes Balaban succeeded J. E. Otterson as president of Paramount Pictures, the new management did not recognize this understanding. With 1,000,000 Canadians going Into these theatres a week, the control of policies should be In Canadian hands. From the national standpoint, such matters as cholce^bf newsreels and type of pic- tures should be done by Canadians. Good as. many American pictures are, and much as we appreciate that fact, the retiring directors feel that. in a time like this, the picturea, should be chosen from a strictly Cenadian and British viewpoint. 'I have been 25 years building up this business. The time has come to decide finally whether control shall be Canadian or American. It was started on a Canadlan-Kiontrol basis.' The new control takes the view that the metter is entirely a busi- ness one, that Canadian control is not the issue, that Canadian picture- goers will get the films they (the picture-goers) want to see. Includ- ing the (^ood British product. Ex- tremely shurp competition in the Canadian 'film Industry is expected to be an outcome. F, P.-Canl's 13 In Vaneonvcr Vancouver, B. C, May 20. Stanley, one of the largest sub- urban houses In Vancouver, bought by Famous Players-Canadian, bring- ing to 13 the numb^ of houses oper- ating in Vancouver under FP. Man- ager Amy Scriven stays. B. 0. Slump ; Continued from page 7^ to protect as best it can. Thus, it may not hold for '41-42 pictures which it could deliver tMs summer. Warners may also come through. What others may do Is a question, but in any event the outlook on the whole Is not sanguine' and many closings may be forced as a result As a matter of fact houses are al- ready beginning to shutter, and this is only the middle of May. April-May Averaces Down Business nationally as an average during April and May has been sub- stantially behind the same two months last year. This may be due to the arrival of abnormally early summer this year, while the show- ing that was made during the winter met- with interference over wide areas due to cold, snow, Illness, etc. Flu and other epidemics took' a big toll, it is believed. The war and the natural worries It causes is blamed to some extent but not so much now because 'it's the biggest show on the air,' as com- plained when the hosUlitics began, operators taking the view that the average person is trying to escape from it all and thus vould be ex- pected to go to shows or somewhere else to relax. Worries attendant upon the war, what the future may hold, whether jobs are safe and for how long, what the added tax burdens are going to be and general restlessness, in some case's causing illness, are other tan- gents on which the theorists hang their conclusions. Growing inroads by a miscellany of other amusements out to get every loose dollar are also not-being deprecated. U. S. Emphasis j^^^Contlnned from pace ^s^^^S Uxes and living costs, exhibitor leaders point out But these leaders wish the Government In Its thrift propaganda, would make this clear. Pix and other such entertainrftent always have been regarded in other war and emergency periods as es- sentials in building and maintaining public morale, they say. Plenty of CompetUion There are plenty of other causes being cited for the sudden boxoffice slump during the past two months, however. These Include prospects of higher taxes and living costs that tend to tighten pursestrlngs, war and draft fears and uncertainties, gen- erally unsatisfactory screen product and a further drift from theatres to bowling alleys, taverns, etc. In this secUon, too, it's pointed out there is comparatively little de- fense and war spending" and there's no large army camps hereabouts to offset the public's non-spending trend; As a matter of fact exhibi- tors claim, skilled and unskilled la- bor are leaving the territory for in.- dustrial centers in other parts of the country where employment is much more plentiful and'wages consid- erably higher. These and the draf- tees and National Guardsmen being taken away have been among the best buyers of film entertainment. It's asserted, and their places aren't being taOken. Theatre managers say that never before have they noticed so many unescorted femm^ patrons at evening performances.