Variety (Jul 1946)

20 PICTURES Wednesday, July 3.1, 1944$ Walsh Slate Reelected in Tame IATSE Conv. As Opposition Fizzles . Chicago, July 30. ■* Coming ay a surprise lo no one, Richard F: Walsh was reelected prexy of the International. Alliance | or Theatrical Stage Employes at the i closing session of the union's 38lh i biennial convention Friday (26).' ending a week of meetings that stood out for their tamencss in con- trast to advance ballyhoo plugging the confab as one iii which •im- portant union .issues were to set off explosions on the convention .floor. Sweeping into office with Walsh was the entire administration ticket, including William P. Raou); succeeding himself as general sec- retary-treasurer,.- and nine incum- bent veepees who. walked in with a two to one majority. William T. Bennett of Washing- ton, D. C. gave Walsh a run tor his money, polling 42,6. to Walsh's 649 votes.Early convention dope- slers gave Bennett an even chance to upset Walsh but as the week Frankovich Vice Davidson Hollywood, July 30. Ron Davidson,Writer and associ- ate producer of cllffhongers at Re-r public for. 10 years, checked oft the I lot and Mike Frankovich has 'moved in as his successor. | Prior to his entry into the Army fcur years ago, Frankovich was as- sistant to Allen Wilson, production chief. Chi Sun Tried to Make IATSE Cony, a Racial Issue as in AFM Case Chicago, July 30. As in the case of the recent Amer- ican Federation of Musicians con- tention at St. Petersburg, the racial , , ... . ., . , I question came up at the Interna- wore on and the opposition failed lo !- lional Alliance of Theatrical Stage capitalize on opportunities, result Emplovees con f ab at the Stevens of the election was never in doubt. hoU , hfire Ust weelt . 0nc daily- Important question of_ whether or , Marsna „ Field:s S un-tried hard to not 1A would grant a Charter to the j- k isjiue o( refusal of IA execs Motion Picture ^Theatre Operating I ^ , t N mernbers sit ifl on the Managers A -Assistant ^Managers; | - at /the very time the Most Guild was disposed.of at Thursdays y , Bernard J. Shell. Catholic • 251 session with a negative answer , ^Uiry bishop of Chi. was. mak- wilh the explanation thatlAs con- , ea for racial understanding, sl.lut.on does not per.nit the grant- ^ n ^ hing much came of it. mg of charters to any person or, Negroes> wh0 were finally made group holding an executive position ■ fu „. ( f edged ' de i ega tes with power to or who has the right to hire and ^ at e conventlons afte r having £ ^ .»t>wm.«. « *,r~ been granted giiest privileges only Ceorgc Dunn, MPTOM&AMG * ^ ^. ■ nalf . ccnt ur y ex- prexy. issued a stalennent say.ng f * w Q . h ]ast , 0 make any that in view of the IA stand . , u n(j t . that the story ,A gr '"^M 6 ' mterC f S ? f! about their being barred from the both the IA and the managers to conVcn tj on t-iall was badly garbled, have the .Managers^Guild affiliate ^ ■ stressing th at "none of the directly with the A. Such afftl.a- i « . Ne|roei b ause tion might seriously jeopardize the B members are segre g ate d into slat.-., of the IA. both in negotiations ^ m loca)s: paving {u „ un ion Wi th employers on behalf , of ,ts < » J * d " » d tj ivi . present members as well in regard ,£„ f 1Vw> „ „,,,„. H enied to the managers." Colored auxiliaries were given the right to representation at future conventions and the privilege of submitting - appeals direct to the -. general exec board instead of going : through their "mother locals. Four resolutions that would bar ■ communists, fascists and other sub- • veisive groups from the IA were i brought before the delegates Friday : 126) and drew heated remarks pro ! CPicture Grosses a Continued from p«K« 12 sbJ SEATTLE "Smokv" (20thi and "Club Havana" tPRCj'(4!h wk). Good $5,000. Last week, okay at $6,100. Paramount (H-El (3.039:. 45-80)— -"Somewhere in Night" (20lh) and "Shouldn't Happen lo Dog" (20lh) Only $8,000, slow. Last week. "Well Groomed Bride" (Pari and "Devil's Mark". (Col), good $12,500 on nine days. Roosevelt ('Sterling) (800: 45-80)— "Stolen Life" (4lh wk). Anticipated $5,000, good. Last week, $6,400, great. Winter Garden (Sterling) (800; 45-; 80)—"Saratoga Trunk" (WB) and ■■Just-Before Dawn" (Col) (3d run). Indicated $5,000, big. Last week, "Dark Corner" i201h) and 'Little Giant" (U). okay $4,100. 'WED' SOCK $23,000, 'YEARS' 20G, BUFFALO Buffalo, July 30. "Easv to Wed" is out front cur- rently,' with "Green Years" close be- hind. Third money goes to dual bill of "Smoky" and "Freddie Steps Out." Estimates- for This Week Burials (Shea) (3,400; 40-70)— "Easy to. Wed" (M-G). Sock $23,- 000. Last week. "Smoky" (20th) and "Freddie Steps Out" (Mono), $21,000. Great Lakes (Shea) (3,000; 40-70) —"Anna and the King of Siani" (20th): Brilliant $21,000. Last week, "Green Years" (M-G) (2d wk), hefty $14,000. .Hipp (Shea.) (2.100; 40-70)^. "Smoky" (20th) and "Freddie Steps Out" iMono) (m.o.). Looks stout $10,000 or over. Last week, "Stolen Life" (WB) (m.o.) (3d wk), near to. $9,000. Teek (Shea) (1.400; 40-70)— "Green Years", (M-G) (m.o.). May. hit oke $6,000. Last week. "To Each His Own" (Par) (m.o.). $5,500. Lafayette (Basil) (3,300 ; 40-70)— "Runaround" U) and "Cat Creeps" (U). Weak ..$7,500. Last week, "Lover Come Back" (U) and "House of Horrors" lU), good $9,500. . 20th Century (20th Cent., Inc.) (3.000: 40-70) — 'The Stranger" (RKO) and "Bamboo Blonde" (RKO) (2d wk). Husky $9,000 in and con upon. Resolution 8 which empowered t the International proxy and the ex- ■ eculive. board "to take immediate 1 steps to rid the International of any subversive, radical or communistic groups!". Hollywood strike situation was given a large play, finally ending with the delegates giving Walsh what amounted to. dictatorial power j in dealing with the matter. He was leges." said that they were denied ' access to the convention floor but that, filially, "after appealing to in- ternational officers of the union, were given -seats in the balcony." What really happened, however. ; view. Last week, terrific $18,000. . was that a number of the sepia \ m '■ ~—- : members couldn't find seats, as was also true of a lot ^f the whites. There were seven of them seated, and a few others wanted in but there wasn't • room-.. That was the On the " ,cw j L first day of the convention. Oi Convention finally decided■ n ™ y h all got seats. olut.onflwhK.h Pmnn^r.dlsecona ^ the story of with Bishop Sheil's the "shutout," dramatic plea for racial unity, which included, remarks that "the world heeds bitterly the love, of men for men; the love of Chinese for Caucasian; of the. Negro for the white; of the Pole for the Russian; of the Irish, for the Jew, and the love of- the American for all the world. Only the strong man can empowered to suspend provisions of ' , , . -. „, u „_ ,. pm , „ f -. accept his brother on teims oi '" holiest equality, without the union's constitution, if neces sary. in order to come to a solution of the Coast jurisdictional dispute, Earlier in the week Walsh ac- cused William' F. Hutcheson, prexy of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, as being the stumbling block in the way of industrial peace in Hollywood. He claimed that Hutcheson failed to live up to the findings of a special three-man in- vestigating committee appointed by the exec council of the AFL to look- info the Hollywood situation. The committee recommendations were to be binding by both sides but when the group released its deci love of rancor, brother for with the brother." "But even as the Bishop spoke," said the Sun. "Negro members were being barred irom admittance to both the balcony and the conven- tion floor." KORDA DEPOSES IN CHAPLIN'S UA SUIT Pre-trial' examination of Sir Alex- ander Korda was completed last week in connection with the $2,000,- sion in January, 1946, the carpenters 000 stockholders' action brought by failed to live up to their share of the bargain. IA has, Walsh said. Charles Chaplin against David' O. Selznick, Vanguard Films and 20th- Fox. The Korda deposition " was taken by attorneys for Selznick on a court order by N. / Y. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Null. Korda testified on the negotiations between Selznick and UA- stock- Single-picture: selling has no holders which led to Selznick's bc- bearing on the three-day circuit 'coming the fourth partner in the meeting of RKO division manajer.s corporation in 1941. During these at RKO's homeoffice, ending tonight negotiations. Koe^.a- said, Selznick (Wednesday), according to^ Wiltiam {imposed several conditions under W. Howard, assistant to Sol which .he would become a partner Schwartz, v.p. and general manager land the other stockholders agreed. RKO DIVISION MGRS. 3-DAY N Y. POWWOW of theatre operations,..^^who has charge of all out-of-town opera- tions. Ho stales U.at the agenda is of a routine nature, as held once a year, to discuss -general operating prob- lems, policies, bookings,, etc. At- tending, among division managers, are Emil Grojh of Boston, Arthur Frudenfeld of Cincinnati, John Redmond of Minneapolis, Frank Smith of Chicago, Harry Unterfort Conditions laid down included Selz nick having a clear right to abandon, any scripts he had then or might acquire in the future; and also that he .might hire out any artist under contract to him, according to Korda. Chaplin charges that coin received by Selznick in deals made with 20th- Fox for the sale of. three literary properties and talent belong to UA stockholders. Money : for the pur- chase of the talent and stories pf Syracuse, and Hardic, Meakin, liimounling tq $300,000, according, to who was recently promoted to a div j Chaplin's complaint, was borrowed post at Trenton. I from the UA treasury. W-'Aybi' 106 In Okay Omaha; 'Own' 12G ' Omaha. July 30.. "A Stolen Life" and "Falcon's Alibi" are sock at the Brandeis where they will get $10,000 and be held over.. 'To Each His Own," at the Paramount, looks like a good $12,000. "Green Years." at the Omaha, looks a fair $9,000 on move- over from Paramount. Estimates for This Week : Brandeis (RKO) (1.500; 16-65)— "Stolen Life" (WB) and "Falcon'-S Alibi" (RKO). Terrific at $10,000. Last week. "Renegades" (Col) and "Partners in Time" (.RKO), slim $6,400. Orpheum (Tristales) (3.000: 16-65) —"Jesse Jame"s" (20th) and "Return of Frank James" (20thJ (reissues). Okay $J 1.000. Last week. "Shock" (20th) and Lionel Hampton's stage brnd show at 20-80 cents, smash $23,000. Paramount (Tristales) (3.000: 16- 65)—"To Each His Own" (Par). Good $12,000. Last week. "Green Years" (M-G), $13,200. Omaha (Tristales) (3.000; 16-65)— "Green Years" (M-G) (m.o.). Fair $0,000. Last week, "Cluny Brown" (20th) (m.o.)' and "StranEe Con- quest" (U) list run)., fair $8,300. State (Goldberg) (865; 15-50)— "Condemned to ' Devil's Island" (FC) and "These Three" (FC) (re- issues). Expect normal $3,000. Last week. "Bride Wore Boots" (Par) and "Face .of Marble" (Mono), $2,600. I tttltUtl l MMHt lt HH t tttttHH • • • Thumbnose Sketch—Enul Friedlanderl : ; ++tH ^ Hmm By'Joe Laurie, .^r. ♦♦♦♦♦^ It was on July 4; 18B8, that an angel, instead of celebrating the holiday by shooting firecrackers, dropped h noisy bundle into the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Friedlander at Pittsburgh.- The proud parents looked at Ihe kid and said, "Why bring that up?" But they'did and tagged) him Emil Friedlander. The kid didn't want to live in vain, so the family moved from Pittsburgh to New York City where Emil at the age of four first s«w the light of day and Dazian's. For the first few years Emil did his home work with a spoon. He grew to be a slim kid, as slim as an eel,, and people started calling him Emil the SLIM-EEL! He went'to Public School No. 109 where he majored in pig.' Latiii. It seemed.he was born for arithmetic—hLs teacher said he was a "problem'', child. He'd pull the chair t out from under Whistler's mother. He was the smartest kid in the third grade. He still is. It was in this school that he spent the palmiest days of hLs ignorance. At the age of 12 he figured.he could never stick in school long enough to get a Ph.D., so he w.ent out for a J.O.B. In 1900 the grindstone was waiting for his nose! With a winning smile and his brother's suit he presented himself to Mr. Dazian, the head of one of the oldest and finest theatrical costuming and dry goods concerns in America.- They had just finished costuming "Floradora" and "Ben Hur," so Emil looked real small to Mr. Dazinn. The kid was actually 36 inches high, so Mr. Daziah figured he could use him for-a yardstick. He offered him $3 a week Emil said, "Be patriotic and make it a V." He got the job for three bucks a week. He -started from the bottom, took care of the furnace, cleaned the floors, opened and closed the place and acted as errand boy: Some nights he would have to slay in and make a noise, like a piece of cheese to catch the rats. He was busier than a'.fiddler's elbow. He asked for more money or he would leave the Arm flat. Mr. Dnzian said, "I have no time to sing it to you, but you'll find the answer in. the second line of 'Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here.' Emil stayed. He joined the union. Local Np. 000001—he was the only member. He became-slock boy and salesman, besides keeping his other jobs as errand boy, cleaner-upper, opener and closer and mouse-catcher. In no time he was in line for a raise; the line didn't move for three years. • AH this time pur hero Emil was attending Harlem Evening School. He Ihen went to Copper Union Institute where he studied Civil Engineering and Spanish. He wanted to go to South America which he figured couldn't be very far from South Ferry. By now he knew very little about a whole lot and kept on learning less and less about more and more until he knew absolutely nothing about practically everything. He gave up Cooper Union and for Dazian and days out he stuck to his job at Dazian's. By iiow he had things so mixed up at Dazian's that they couldn't get rid of him: he was,the only one who knew Where everything was. lie was a close ob- server so he had lo wear glasses. The glasses improved his looks—by 50 feet. Sometimes he takes them off and looks nude. His faith was his for- tune. He now knew how to win friends and infuriate people. While boy-of-all-work at Dazian's, Emil delivered costumes to the aristo- crats of the show world.' He also got a hunk of acting as a super at Ihe Metropolitan Opera House, Dazian's costumed the show there and Emil would be a super and 1 watch the costumes at the same time. He was nuts about the music. The prima dennas would squeeze him to get the'right pitch. Ssmc of the Greats ' For over 40 years the blue bloods of the show business, including actors, managers, press agents, artists, have sought the advice of this young man. James K. Hackett, E. H. Southern, Richard Mansfield, Sarah Bernhardt. Leo Dielrichslein, Tom Wise, Doug Fairbanks, Sr., Henry Miller, Julia Marlowe. Virginia Harned, Rose Stahl, Caruso, Planchoh, De Reszke, Montgomery ti Stone, Pavlova,. Maude Adams, Mary Ryan, Fritzi Scheff and hundreds of others were and are-his friends and customers. In 1917 he started (he textile branch of the business, and in 1918 he bought Into the firm of Dazian's and became one of the greatest authorities on fabrics and cos- fuming of show business. In 1934 he went to Japan and taught them about textiles! He is now very sorry he gave them the right slant. He has made 12 trips to Europe and in 1919 went around the world and brought back, costumes and cloth from every corner of the globe. He helped costume all of Victor Herbert's operettas, "The Miracle" and Geo. M. Cohan's shows. He costumed the great Vanderbilt ball at Newport, where he tasted his first champagne, the Charles Barney ball, Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish ball (no pun intended), the famous Bradley Martin party, where nude girls came out of the fountain. Emil took one look and ran home, showing he was only interested in costumes—then. He presented Irving Berlin's "This Is the Army" show with over $10,000 Worth of drapes and costumes. The big flag covering the entire stage at the Lambs was presented by.him to the -club. In 1929'he was hurt in the market: a bunch of bananas fell on hjm. He is a director and one of the sparkplugs of the USO Camp Shows. He belongs lo the Masons, Catholic. Jewish and Episcopalian Guilds. (He takes no chances; he figures one of 'em may be right.) Member of the Negro Actors' Guild (as a bystander). He is a life member of the Actors' Fund, is co-chairman of the Jewish Federation of Charities, trustee of the Dazian Medical Foundation and co-executor of the estate, just resigned as president of Dazian's and is now chairman of the board. Emil Friedlander has added life to his years when others have just added years to their lives. He has straightened out everything but the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and I hear he is working on that now. He now has so much money in his pockets he trips. He figures things in this world are just lent to.us. Money to him Is of very little use except that it be spread, He likes to play handball, golf and to box. Showing he is full of energy but has no strength to use it. He is a genial, generous and delightful friend. A man whose hands claim long acquaintanceship with hard work. A liberal, unselfish fine citizen. His employees and associates are proud, of-him. This is Emil Friedlander who was a little errand boy and 1 became the president of a great firm. TIME MOOCHES ON—but Emil Friend- lander never docs! 'Postman' Smash 32G, *Kid' 19G, 2d, Cleve. Cleveland.'July 30. Loudest bell-ringing is being done by "Postman Rings Twice" on a smash opening at the Stale. . "Kid From Brooklyn," on second lap at Palace, .is punching hard while Hipp's "Stranger:" another h.o., picked up. as result of cooler weather. ' Estimates for This Week Allen (RKO) (3.000; 44-65)—"Of Human Bondage" (WB) (m.o.). Oke $7,500. Last week; "Stolen Life" (WB) (m.o;), bright $9,700. Hipp (WB) (3,700: 44-65)— "Stranger" (RKO) '(2<l_wk). Shoot- ing up, after a slight dip. to $14,000. Last week, fine $24,000. Lake (WB) (800; 44-65)—"Stolen L ; fe'' (WB) (m.o.). Nice $4,000. Last week, '"Without Reservations" (RKO) (m.o.), satisfactory $3,500. Ohio lLoew's) (4,200; 44-G5)— "Green .Years" (M-G). im.o.)^ Third downtown week looks excellent $9,000. Last week, "Young Widow" (UA), fairly pleasant $6,500. • Palace (RKO) (3,700; 55-85)— "Kid From Brooklyn" (RKO) (2d wk). Is swinging haymakers in di- rection of $19,OftO, after copping $31,000 in first sesh when breaking house's weekend record for straight pix policy. State. (Loew's (3,450: 44-65)— "Postman Rings Twice" I M-G). Registering tremendous $32,000. Last week, "To Each His Own" (Par)i average $18,000. ' Sttllman (Loew's) (2,700: 44-65)— "To Each His Own" (Par) (m.o ). Middling $11,000. Last week. "Green Years" (M-G) (m.o.), cheerful $11,500. -;■ PELLEGRINE JOINS FAR Lou Pellegrine joins Paramount next Monday (5) as tradepapcr con- tact for the publicity department, post formerly held by Sid Mcsibov, which remained unfilled several weeks after latter , had been made assistant exploitation director. With Film Daily several years, Pellegrine formerly was on the Coast in tradepaper work. SOPEG Talks Sept. 27 Walkout in NX or Else Unable,to make any headway on a new deal with major film com- panies following four meetings, the Screen Office &. Professional Em- ployees" Guild, New York, has given employers two months to Sept. 27 in which-16 negotiate an agreement or face a strike. Old SOPEG. con- tract expired Saturday (27). Union is demanding a straight $10 weekly increase and automatic progression boosts ranging from $5 to .$22, in addition to a closed shop, dues checkoff, 35-hour, five-day week, three weeks' vacation with pay and arbitration of all disputes. Companies ■ involved are Loew's, Paramount, Columbia, RKO, 20lh- Fox', United Artists and Republic. During the past week, by a vole of 24-6, collaritcs of PRC's home- office voted SOPEG as--their col- lective bargaining agent in a Na- tional Labof- Relations Board elec- tion.