Variety (Sep 1945)

6 PICTURES Wednesday, Soplcmbcr 5, 1945 697 Boothmen Get 10% Raise, On 3-Year Spread, in Ciii Contract, Elding Nine Weeb of Bickering CliiciiKO, St."pt. 4. ♦ : Nine weeks of biclceiiiig over Taises for members ol Motion Pic- lure Operators Union. Lotal J10 (lATSE), wound up Wednesday (29) \vitli wage increases for Clii area's 697 boothmcn totaling 10'i; spread ■'over ! ,the next three, years, New contract became effective Saturday .(1), and ruiis to Aug. 31. 1948. i ' 'Unionist.s were crowing over, boosts, despite fact they'd been \ tlireatening: a blackout in the; area's 3S7 pic houses unless they got 15''; | inasmuch as those in A and B class , . hou.ses now get pay increases of o'f i the first year. 2'>>% the second, and another 2^2 the third. Operators in C hou.ses (those charging less than. 38c adniish) get boosts from pres- ent scale of $1.80 to $2.C0 an liouv. based oh iiininber of seats the theatre ha.s, to a new scale of *2 to $3.25 ■an: hour. /.Increase totals $475,000. and makes. Chi's operators the high- est paid, in ttie country, according to both union and exhib reps. As one ot the latter put it. "We're now in partnership with the operators." Pact, signatured at 3 a. m. Wed- ne.sdSy (29), averts shutdown on Chi pic houses threatened (or Sept.; 1, expiration date o£ the old con- tract, unless union demands were met. Exhibs had offered a rai.se, earlier 012^-!.% for fir.st year.. Ifi; . second and-lte'v third, but bid was rejected by union. Outcome: means that operators in S-400 seatel's will get $2 an hour; those in houses with capacity ol 901 to 1.150 get $2.40, etc.—all the way up to; $3.25 an hour for those working in 2,201 to 2,500 sealers. At that rate, latter figure will be .$3„')8 an hour in three years—or 171.84 for a 48-hour week in 1948. . Jn addition, ipact covers prcijeetion of films of every type—8 mm, 16, 35, etc.—plus television, Contract also , calls for improved sanitary condi- tions in booths. Negotiatois for union were Gene Atkinson, business agent; .Daniel ., Carmell, union.''..attorney, and Tom C^orman, pi exy, E^fhib reps were ;; Morris Leonard. Balaban & Kiitz: ' : (Continued oiv page 20) :. ; ^AG Inks Three Indies tlollywood. Sept. 4. Contrncts; covermg wage.^, hours, and conditions for actors have been inkod by Screen Actors: Guild with Kmpire Productions. Inc; lona llenry I'rOdiK-tions, InCj and Golden Pic- tures.- IilC:- ■ Deals were made by Executive Secretarv .John:Dales, Jr. SPG Quitting rdm Walkout ■.:■.■'■.■.■■..■■■ Hollywood. Sept. 4. Screen Publicists Guild, appear.s on verge of emitting the jurisdictional strike here, with 138 now back on the job and 67 remaining out. Some 20 of those out are'meeting, to de- tei'mine whether they :wjll return to their chores. ■ ' Screen Office Employees Guild was Irolding to lines already e.sta'olisheci, but producei's were trying to con? vince them to return to wjork before posts are tilled b.v outsiders released from warplant jobs, producers claim about 75% are back-, while uiiion heads state about 50";; of white col- larites returned. Meeting of strikers held over weekend, at which Her- bert Sorrell. Conference of Studio Unions prexy. called lor stronger support ot strike. Meanwhile, picket lines cQulinued at film houses, although: luilawtui acts by pickets, were prohibited and picket li'nesi it was announced, would be ejitended' to ' include ■ National Screen Service and Foote. Cone & Belding', because latter were servic- ing; studios with advertising. The $64 Question Hartford, Aug. 28. Re: the 64 buck question. ■ Where do managers of Hart- ford motion picture theatres take their ; vvives and faiiiilies wlien tlie managers have a night oil'.' Ans; To the movies. Always at -a house.headed by another managei''. ■ ■ The Hartford Courant sent a repoilor out with the query and publi.shed the answer after in- terviewing .Harttor<l hovuse man- agers. les Starts 'London' Eye Experiment Of 'GI Joe'Day-Dates On Same B'way Block .,Bu.yers are awaiting with interest live experinieiit being .Undertaken in connection with the Broathvay day-i and-dale run of ".G.'I..Jroe..'' \\'hich is slated to open shnultaiicously in twd houses, botli located in tlie same Times Square block, durmg the week of Sept, 17, ■ ,.:•■.,,■■■ Deal made with. Harry Brandt by George J. Schaeler, dian-nuin ot .t.(e.s- tiei': Cowkiv. Producti6n,s: "U'lii.ch inade the picture tor relea.se through United Artists, calls for day-and-datc occupancy of both the. Globe and Gotham, but with policies diO'ering in the two tlieatres. According to Schaefer, ".foe"" will play the Globe on a continuous ba.-iis at 70c. to $1,50. but, at the ,smanel':OollianVit, 'wil.l .be shown three' times daily, all seats reserved, at a top cif $2,40, with a probable low of $1,10. Gotham .■-eats 900. the Globe 1,416. Policy is patterned .somewhat alter that which obtained someye.ai.s b.ick for "Gone With the Wind,'''but that T\'as roadshown at the A.'itor, six blocks away from the Capitol.where It played day-date on- a contiivuou.i ^'riiii,; ■;',' ■ : A - substantial advertising Wm- paign will be put on tor ':Joe," ac- cording to Schaefer. Terror' Methods Charged to Execs Of Boothmen's Union in Chicago Teansters Get Pay Hike Hollywood; Sept. 4. New wage rate of $1.34 per hour for team.sters has been put into ef- fect on major studio lots as well as by Society of Independent Mo- tion Picture Producers. Rate went into etfect immediately when Wai Labor Board controls were removed on increases that do not call for a rise in commodity prices. Deal was negotiated by .lo- seph Tuohy, bu^.ine.'is representative of Studio Traii!-porta(ion Drivers Local 399, Chicago. Sept. 4. Daniel CarmeU, attorney for Lo- cal 110 of Motion Picture Opeiators (lATSE), is preparing answer to sliit . filed here last week in Superior Court by Ora D, Bcbb, .secretary- treasurer of the union, accusing union officials of using leiMoristie methods to run it, Bebb's suit was a cross-complaint to one liu; $100,000 damages filed b.v Ray Pai kci, former unionist, ; to .compel otfi,ce,rs;'lo' ')'c- ' turn him to membership, Bebb, who was named a ?lefendant in Parker's suit, denied in liis: com- plaint that he was an.v part of; a conspiracy to keep Parker out of work, and accused Gene AtkiiLwii,< biz agent; Tom Gorman, prexy, and Clarence Jalas, assistant: business agent, of conspiring, since their elec- tion on Feb, 17. 1944, to control and . dominate the union bv use of threats, intimidation and physical violence. Bebb complained he was pi evented j Irom performing, his duties as .'?e«- I rotary-treasurer. b.y tlie three limon ol/icials, who,' he. said, removrd books and records from his control. He alleges unionists were threatened when: they sought to interfere with. the officers, and in one iiuslanoe a member, was beaten up. Parker's suit:alleges otficei s squan- Navy News Pix To Center in L. A. ■" :' -;;; Los ,\r.geles. Sepi, 4. Under new N.ivy newsreel set up. I..OS Angeles will be the center of coverage, Capt, Gene Markey, direc- tor of the Navy's photogiaphic divi- sion;, told West Coa.st reefers at a j lilitciieoh at the Variety Club; rooms ■ dcred ,$102,000 ot the local's tiinds in the Ambas.'iador At the same time Capt Mai key re- yeiiled that the.Navy:.Will soon re- turn til mi ng of naval events lo:c.i,yili>m rce's Tliis mean,', lotiiin to competi- tive shootii'i,y, with reeiers agiun bat-' lling toi CNcluMve clips for legular weekly nevvsreel -edition.s. Com- from MaV 1, 1944, to April :iO, 194,^ (ic'ipite fact that union's income for .'■ame periad wa.s only $78,000. It's also claimed offlciers coerced nieni- ber.ship into voting salary increa.scs for thoijlseivesi- '' " ' Raps.: Kalscs' ■ Bebb's suit augments Parker's with maiider Walter W. Emerson has been accusations thftt Atkinson's pay was named assistant director of the Navy photographic division to work out Of Los Amjele.s under the new setup. Nkv.y pUsiis tf) keep together a unit raised from $200 to $300 a week, plus : $100 a week expense account; that .Iala,s' expense account. WHS rai,sed from $25 to $100 a week: and lliat Sold Away to handle ,secret liliniiig and other Goiman's pay was Inked lioin S!,L;'0 imatlers that civilian reelers will be. U.o $2,r)0(), a,'year, ;Wit.,h, union fund:tt: ... .... I Freed Says Tollies' Will Stay on Road .' ;'.; Hollywood, St-pt. 4. , Denying, i-^pprts'. .^hat';- ■';Ziegfeld Follies" would- be.yanked from road- showing. .Arthur' Freed, producer of PiA in Rritick ChiJiA I the Metro film* stated that statements I It III Dnilbil UlllQIO! were "absurd" in light of the recoid- P,n I, , % ni 4 I unable to u.uch as m-L A complete ""a'^'e to stand the galL He al^o I itl.-buigli, Sept, 4, K„,,..i.,p ,,,, virtoiv lool,We now com- claims that lATSE Prexy Richard Letter Cowan has s,old "St.nv „£ ^eiv te on VlUoi.\ loou„e now com ,"o.,ionn fo' I- T T„„" „„.... n.^„>, v„r>, ;,, iiig in and future film will be mam- vvai,sn nas laiieo lo Uspond lo Pin.hur h ;, H"k', r tHh niM,„ . I tained here in.stcadot in Washington. ;'floated request, to look into af-.. riUsbiiigh Htia fcrnie fyle pn.'Uu,e' ■ , .. ■. ifiiirs of the local will have its first.run showing early , Pre-editing service oivPacifioioot;- ^^^^^^ w^ei>e' denied by At-^ hext month at Harris theatre, key | age 'WiU be maintained by Com- i f^j^ "Variety"- f liiit spot here in Harris circui,t. ^Film , m^ndei W C. Pai Ic, acting as l,a,.son . g^,',^.; ^ "nuisance" .suit. I had practically been announced to, ^elwcen the Nav.v and the reclcr.. ,.„m,,i„„ in-tween .x- 'play either Loew's Pcnn here o. | R'V'-^' N»\y tian.s-P.icific-^ plane will ^ ,.j,y,,^p j,,,,,,,^,. union. '. :Fbi'mer:,''.' .Alk'irt^^^^ ■ ;WB's: Stanlev (houses are . operated deliver footage in San FranciscO to ibcaliy Under-a WB,-Loew,"pool>, but Capt. H. W. Gordon, public, iiiror;nia-; terms couldn't be agreed on and I Ho" "IC'ccr. wlio will .send it on here deal witli Harris was finally; closed [ Gommander ;PaVk,, Hollywood, Sept, 4, Start of his first production in England, "London Town," tinier nvu- sical. IS announced by Wesley Rug- - gies in cablegram received here; ■ Ruggles IS making the pic at Sound City, Sliepperton,, England. .Studio is.operating for the first time show basis at $2.4.0 top. since the war started; having been' "—.:, ;used by ,the air min.istry,'. Iiug.gles said. The 'Plant has been badly blitzed, but there is sutficiertt stage space benvg made available. breaking bu.sines.s :being done in the initial showings. Changes in Ithe film are only to be three minutes "of overture 'and exit music.,:which \viU be . tacked on at the request of the studio's New York otfice. Shosv will continue on road- MCA Studying London As New Overseas Hdqt^'. '" . London'. Sept.. 4. Tatt Schreiber claims he is not here to sign, up American bands for London hotels. His mission is; only to survey conditions atlecting post- war operation.s. he avers. Has been here for 10 da.>f( and is slaying an- last week. • _;',; '; ; Second time. in. recent wet-ks an outside/theatre has grabbed oft a plum from the chains; Sam Gold- vvyn also sold-Danny Kaye's "Won- der Man" away from local WE-Loew pool and it'll go into Sliea's Fulton later, in the month. U Shake-Up Sliifts Front Oftice Boys Hollywood, Sept. 4, Final score on the Univer al shakeiip finds Milton Schwaizwald shifted fiom producer job to posi- i decide whether MCA opens an office tion a)^ consultant'.iti, the studio mu- Iherei ■..'; . . '.;'. '; ■: , : .'>• Schreifeer iVtalrtlaini^.^^t^^^^ is; a-lot: [ of talent hei'e, ' :lfe"S:.p<VrtiGularly im,- I pressed : with several, .playwrights l and scripter.s;:who would; :-p.ro\',e;, an asset to /Hollywood ;and Broadway. WASH., BALTO VARIETY CLUBS SET GRID GAME '■;:> . Washihgtoil, Sept. 4;.;^ ■; Wa.shiii,gton and Baltitnore:yariely cluljs will jointly sponsor , the toot- j ball game, between the Wa.shingloh [Redskins and the Detroit Lion.s in I the 'Baltimore Stadiumm Octobeiv I Proceeds of the game will be efciual- I ly divided between the l\yo 'tents; Following pre-editing treatment at Pathe lab. by Cominaiider Park, nx negatives will be proces.sed for air- ing direct to. newsreel honie offices in New York, bypassing Washington. tJilder this setup reel companie.s can have any naval event in theatr<jfs In one week or Ic.ss after it actually happens. Navy will coiitiiiiie. servicing ;rcels out of Wa.shiii.gtoh on ils special sub- jects: and' W'ill conliniie :thi,s even alter action filming is returned to ci- vilians.' ■ ; sic department.;, ' .:. ; .James. Geller; f()riri.er].y of: War- rier's,' and nipre; recently-;wilh Wil- ; liam Morris Agency, is in, as coordi- .nator of -writer and jStory aqtivities. :,Ted Caiii .cpntinues as businesS: rnan-' ager of the music department and Gwen O'Brien, ,'.tory editor, and Ruth Barrett; head of the .scenario ' department, remaih , on; the , same .iolxs. , Robert Sparks, reheved bv Geller, is now__-an a.ssociate___execii- tive— or^Fie Univer.sal advi.sory ■board. - - .■; -■"■-■ • ■, WB's Leatherneck Tieup Hollywood, Sept. 4. Twenty'rpage brochure, telling, the story ot the Marine Corps, and inr eluding production record of "The Pride of the Marines," is being pub- : lished b.v Warneri Bros, in coopera- tion with the U. S. Marine Corps. Contributors include General A. A. Vanclegrilt, Marine ■ Corps com- mandanl: Brig. Gen. ' Robert L. Denig, OSMC; Ben Hibb.«i, editor of Satevcpost; . Robert Butterfield, au- thor and editor, and Constance. Or- ion, of the Free Library of Phila- d«1phja. Brochure win be dlKtribul- «d to schooI.s, ;celleges, libraries and <$Gi'vice organi^Sitions. other two weeks alter which he will i ^^'^^^ t'^'^. B"y.s club of each city receiving the bulk ot the profits. This is the first lar^e-scaie: prciimo- tion for the..;;Baitimdre 'fent! Avfiiie, tlie Washington Barkers Jj!«'-e--f;,h£iFed; iiiithe promotion qf prii!efi'i[h.isj';ice shows and other eveiit.s. ' ';; ;/ , , The ; following . corrtmittees have Chi Exchange Workers Ask in Wage Boost . ■.■.■■:'.' ■.; ■ ■ Chicago, .Sept. 4; lATSE Local B-45 iFilni Kvchange lEni:p.l'oyees) told, exchanges h last W-eek'ihat '-it is-ready to start negp- tiations for a: new - contract, retioac- tive to Deo. 1. 1944. and ending Nov. 30. 194() Uiiicn seeks a 20', wage boost. Current; agreenieiit's 10'i/ in- crea.se, approved; ,b,v WLB in ,M.ay has becM paid .by all exchanges, aC' Should MCa" decide on .resuming ' been appointed, by. Chief: Barkers:I.cording to .Sam;Ijaniansky, bu.sin'c.'f.s operations here it will be on a much: larger : .scale thaii ; before: the 'war. Tint Chiefs to England :' ' Hollywood. Sept,; 4. Problems • ot Technicolor, expan- sion abroad, with emphasis on. color control, will be taken up by Natalie I Kalmus. lint director for Techni- 1 color, and' Kay Harrison, manager of , Briti.sh Technicolor: Pair leaves here this week for England. Harrison lias been in Hol- lywood the pa.st: month . discussing matters of plant expansion Frank H Durkee of Baltimore and | agent. Fred ;.S. Kodgod of Washington: Honorary eo-phairmen. Gov. Herbert 1 \JA Scts 45 CirCUit R. O'Connor of Baltimore, Mayor Thedore R, McKeldin of Baltimore, Col.-Edvvard-J,~Kelly; police-super- intendent, of ■-Wa;shihgtoh;.;Htii'n;i)tp.n, R. Atkinson, Baltimore police com- ml.s^loller. and Leo C. Ma.y, presi- dent of-the Boys club of Washing- ton. SHORT ANKLES REF ■Hollywood. .Sept. 4. Antrim Sliort has turned iH; his resignation as casting director at RepubliG and will check oft the lot at the end of thi.s week. Sliort, who has been with (he Val- le.y plant for last year and a half, .stated he needed a re.st. No BUcces.sor for tbe pa«t :ha» ;be«n named as yet. Gov. Thye A<:cepls Post .; , .. Minneapolis, Sept. 4. Gov.'E, .1. Th.ve of Minnesota has accepted the po.ft of lionorary chair- man of a committee of prominent prOfes.sional and business men spon-. :.soring .the Northwe.st :'Vai'iety Club's $32.S,000 drive for the construction of a hcarl: hospital at University of Minnesota. Mayors H. H. Humphrey and McDonough of Minncapoli.s and St. Paul, respectively, will .serve with the gi>vernor. The club will equip a.<! vvell as build' the hospital and contribute $25,000 annually to its.support. ., Pacts for 'Southerner' UiTited .'\rtistj5~Kas~sei *;) circu.'tr bookings.:' for the. Loew-Hakim pro- cliicliiii-i, "The Southerner,'^ iiu'luriinf; I Uie: Wciinetco and BijOu c.ircuils"in: I the .Atlaiita icri-iiory,; the' Intprstate, Dallas; Lichtman, Washington; Tri- Slates, Omaha; and Brandt, Sltoura.s and'Prudential, New York, Separate Lnew hookings cover Loii.sville. Memphis, Norfolk, Rich-. mniid and Baltimore. ;: ■ ,..■ ';';;;; :. ■, ■ UtilityMen MuirWages Los Angflcs, Sept. 4, Priipo.HOd recla,'<sification,s,; mini-; niiini .scales, etc., are under discus- sion by Studio Utility Employees Local 742. tTiiion is seeking to hold most of current weekly earning.s, if .studi** decide lo .rolurii to ^6-huur week for technicians. • , ,. backed action in order to di.scredit the union during wage iiu r.ea,sc^ ne- gotiations. Atkinson also said his incinbei'ship . was "almost lOO'!:" beliiDd' liim, lutvi;, ing signa;tured a vole of (.lonfidence ■ in their leaders. Business ■agenl;stiid.'. it was all a"muior spat" which could have been ironed out without resorting to the courts, but that "ex- hibitors saw ill it a good opportunity. to discredit u.i by financing Bebb's su.it.''.. .■" .'■;■/■.'■ ■:.■. Dail.v: papers here, meanwhile;. were vchashing. tli^ ''blody history" tllat , has inarked : ;the. ■s.ti'ugRlti; for control' of the operators'' union here' • ince the eaily 192(K Alkin«on was ■; cfuoted as leiterating his. elecUoii proiiiise; that "the uiiiim is i'uii ' for tlie benefit of its members anil will never again experience the perpeiu- aliqn of the: deals that .sent men to i tlie penitentiai'y. .Our (irganizatibri I has no more space for mob.stc.i's." . ; ; , Lai ter remarks referred, of cour,se, :to the slaying of Toiliniy Mal.oy, lo- cal's first prexy, on Feb, 4,: IfJS.'i: by: men who lired shotgun blasts into: his car, A week later,. George E.. Browne, who was sentencedwith ; Willie Bio/T. to prison in 1941 lor extortiOii .of . more than $i;OO().i)0O from the niovLg-industr.v, took over.: the union, reputedly as a stooge lor the: Capone gang. Atkinson, Gor- man; and; Jalas were: elected . last ' year on an,anti-gangster platformi Studios Start Prohe Of Extras' Call Skips Holl.vwood. Sfpt. 4. . "Double 'dating"; ;aiid :''cair -skip-: ■ ping.'', racket b.y which studios liaye,; been-; tl'immed; out qf tliou.'iaiids ;pf'i' dollars !.s:.uiide.r; irivcsligatiori,'With . scores of film extras tacing 30-day to .iiidefihile .s'uspensioiis; .'.r'robe:starte<l: when' clieckup on .shallow line in a big scene in Sam Wood's "Heart- beat" showed only 18;i extras pre.'fut tllough. there were: 2i|5 on .call,:'\ Kxtra pla.vei's have been accepting cal!.i at two 01' more; .studios the; .same day and geltiiig others to an-• swer l.or.thein in case of roll call. Central Ca.sling inquiry has alresrdy resulted in numerous su.spcn.sions tiud .some permanent rcniuval/S'/fOin the- available extra list. '