Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-07-23
MUSICIANS ASK
WAGE INCREASE
NEW SCALE, EFFECTIVE AUG. 1,
PRESENTED TO THEATER
MANAGERS.
DANCE MUSICIANS ALSO
TO GET MORE FOR WORK
Movie Theater Orchestra Leade rs
Would Receive $50 Weekly, Plan
ists $40, and Side Musicians s28-
Odeon Scale Also to Be Advanced
Nationwide Move for Increase.

| Those who dance must pay the fki-
Tier. After Aug. the fiddler must
nave 70 dance. not exceeding three
hours IN length. But not alone the
fiddler must so be paid, but all union
musicians of the city If tire new
scale, as prepared. is met. The scale,
however, is not for dance musicians
alone. 1t applies to theater orchestras.
Effective Aug. l. leaders would re-
ceive $50 week, an increase OF SO
over present prices: pianists $40 a
week, an increase of $40. and side
musicians SIS week, an increase of
IS. The present scale became effec-
tive Nov. | last. The movie theaters
have no written contracts with their
musicians.
IL Is said the new scale will in
crease the annual cost OF music at
the Strand and Casino theaters from
$4,000 TO $4,000. The managers of
their position with respect 10 ,.>
scale.
Odeon Orchestra Affected.
The increase would also apply to the
aOdeon orchestra, where the advance
proposed is said to be so cents per
! ing the new scale $3.50 perfor-
nance, with 81 extra for the leader.
II has been iDtimated that ii the
new scale is to become effective and
orchestras are to be retained In the
theaters the number of musicians
Will be reduced. Movie orchestras
now employed would cost. under the
new scale, STA week.
| Nationwide Demand for Raise.
The action OF the musicians in de-
manding more money Is nor merely'
local. it Is nationwide. Theaters in
Chicago. faced with'the alternative of
paying big increases or going without
music, have chosen to go without
music. Many movie theaters In Chs,
cago. Denver, Minneapolis. Cleveland
and far western cities have dispens-
ed with music and they claim they
have suffered little from decreased
patronage.
| The first instance OF an Iowa man.
aser releasing his musicians is said
to have been at Mason City. where
j. Jolly Jones. formerly manager Of
the Strand. refused to meet the de-I
mand and let his musicians go.
Fortune in Movie Game.
1t has been pointed out by mana i
gers that the wage Increase becomes
effective at the first OF the poorest
show month Of the year-A.ugust. y
The musicians, however. contend
that the argument of the managers Is
| ridiculous, as comparisons should be
made On the year'stbusiness and that
the movie houses have enjoyed ex-
ceptional patronage when the year is
considered as a whole. The managers
deny the statement that there is. q
fortune In the movie business and
point to increasing cost of everything
/ entering into the show business to
prove their claim.
Film Rentals Are Higher.
Film rentals, one of the principal
items entering into the expense Of
operating q picture house, have ad-
vanced materially. In some cases az
much as so per cent. Operators, 1ani-
tors, ticket sellers and other employees
arc receiving much more than they
did before the high wage wave srruct:
the amusement business. Equipment:
used by the movie houses has adj.
vanced from SO to 200 per cent man,
ayers claim.
Leaders and pianists play four"
teen performances weekly - seven
night shows. of 2 hours and 10 min
utes duration, and seven afternoon
shows of . hours duration. Side mu-
,sicians play seven performances
nights only-of hours and 10 min
utes duration Thus, under the new
scale, the leader would receive $50
and the pianist $40 for less than thir-
ty hours work, and side musicians s2s
for less than sixteen hours work. The
| musicians play thirty minutes and
| then have fifteen minutes rest at al
ternoon and evening performances.
| The action of the house managers
on the new wage scale probably will
be determined within the next few
days. They claim leaders of the mu-
sicans union have been inconsistent
in that they insist on the wage In
! crease, knowing the possibility that
! 1T will be paid only part of the mem :
| bers of the theater orchestras and
| ~