Variety (November 1917)

UNION MATTE* HAT ARBITRATE. Some of the picture exhibitors of New York and Brooklyn are still hold- ing out against the Operators' Union Local No. 306, with the union execu- tives claiming improvement over the condition existing a we etc ago. No. 306 men say several theatres "unfair" last week have signed up meanwhile and now employ union operators. Lee Ochs is still marked "unfair" through his house being outside the union pale, although the matter may be settled by specially appointed arbitration committees before another month. The union is still out at the Odeon and Odeon Annex (uptown), New York, with the management there reported on record as saying that before it signs the union agreement it will turn its houses into garages. It was understood Wednesday after- noon a committee of representative exhibitors, whoje houses are yet to be signed up, had held a conference with S. H. Richardson and endeavored to ascertain just what extent the con- tract matter stood between him and Ochs, as the latter is charged with saying through his trade publication that he was directly responsible for the increase throughout the country. The committee is understood to favor an arbitration on the schedule, and this is expected to be placed in a written form so it may be acted upon by the union. If this plan is carried through, with an arbitration board duly selected and approved by both the union and the exhibitors, some definite action is ex- pected to materialize. MOVING PICTURES is COPYRIGHT MUSIC SUIT. A number of the larger film manu- facturers and releasing concerns are working in conjunction with exhibitors to combat the tax which the American Society of Authors and Composers seek to exact for the public playing of the compositions of the society's mem- bers. The first film concern to take action of this kind was Vitagraph. General Manager Walter W. Irwin has sent out a notice to exhibitors in the com- pany's house organ that Vita will not have in its musical accompaniments any but non-taxable music. He figures that the fees demanded by the society, if generally exacted, would amount to $1,500,000 in a year. Vita's musical suggestion cue sheets hereafter will be arranged from such music as is permissible to be played free of the tax being claimed. An action against the society was started last week by the 174th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue Amusement Co., to enjoin it from attempting to coilect royalties on music played in the plaintiff's theatres. The plaintiff advances the argument that its theatres are conducted for the purpose of exhibiting pictures and incidental music is not exploited to infringe on the copyright of the melodies em- ployed. It is further charged that prior to the enactment of the copyright law by Congress which gave such power to the society to tax all amusement places, music publishers sent free copies and even furnished houses with singers to popularize melodies. Plaintiff only controls one theatre, and as the action requests that the society be enjoined against collecting royalties from other picture houses, it is believed the application for an in- junction is in the nature of a test case, and is supported by a combination of exhibitors. The society is «^ekins to enforce payment of royalty on copyrighted music of its members, through a de- cision in the United States Supreme Court of some months ago, given in its favor and against all places where music was used for or toward profit. TWO EMPLOYMENT BUREAUS. Picture actors are said to be up in arms over the formation of a syndicate employment bureau in which P. A. Powers, R. H. Cochrane, Adolph Zu- kor, Gabriel Hess (Goldwyn) and Wil- liam A. Brady are understood to be interested. The bureau is presided over by Wales Winter, the agent, and the plan is understood to be to hire all picture artists other than the stars, through the Winter agency. A number of the screen actors have gotten together and formed an artists' association, with Arthur Hunter in charge of their employment bureau. The full details of its operation have not yet been worked out, but a tenta- tive plan of campaign is the payment of $25 a year as dues and to pay to their own association five per cent, on all engagements made through Hunter, who is to be placed on a salary. Ten Cer cent, of the booking fees are to e set aside as a sinking fund, the dues to be devoted to defraying all run- ning expenses. At the remainder of the year the remaining 90 per cent, is to be divided among the members of the association. SEELYE HOME. C. R. Seelye, business manager for Pathe, returned to New York Thursday after three and a half months on the coast, where he went to put over a number of important deals tor his con- cern, and succeeded in accomplishing many things. Acting in conjunction with J. A. Berst, Seelye was instrumental in en- gaging a number of feature stars. * : : /• : .:-v-:-:.:.:.4:.^,.j.:W : ! : ! :!: ! :l:!J^i '<>■< ■"■■'•'?£■ ■"■■■•■ mm ■ l??&^f&: **M4--'■■■■;■; It 11 yW.-S-M* ■*?>;': *.'.... *\j_.. 5£ ...:'v:- : WSxv. '*| *Nx ™ ,?. i •:•,..•: ZM ' ffl& ' :W: r\ v ■MHMMMMMIIM