New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-14
Some Film Houses
Will Stay Closed
Throughout August
Broadway Picture Palaces
Not Affected by Decision
Announced by Exhibition
League to House Stats

A meeting Of the Motion Picture NJ
tendants' Union was held Yesterday at
union headquarters, 169 East Houston
Street, to consider notices sent out by
members of the Motion Picture Ex-
hibit;on League that their houses
would be closed during August The
meeting was preliminary 70 a general
session Of the union to be held next
Monday at midnight, when vote will
be taken as to what course the union
will pursue.
This situation does not affect the
Broadway houses.
The Attendants Union is made up of
doormen, cashiers, ushers, porters and
managers Of motion picture theaters.
AT Mondays meeting there will be
present Delegate Roche, of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor; w. Firestone,
of the United Hebrew Trades; Samuel
Goldfarb, of Local 900, composed of
operators of moving picture machines,
and Samuel Tullman, of 1869 Broad
way, counsel for the At.edants' Union.
Poor Attendance Blamed
Mr.. Tullman said yesterday that the
unions had received letters from the
alter proprietors, explaining their
houses would be closed for four weeks,
some of them beginning July %, and
others August /. All of the letters
gave general business depression and
resulting poor attendance as the rea
son for closing. Present contracts
with the unions expire September 6.
Mr. TulIman said that at the end Of
June the unions notified the owners
that their demands for the new con-
tracts were being formulated and
would be submitted to the exhibitors
when ready. but that no reply had
been received
Mr.. Tullman said he believed the
theaters were closing as the result Of
an understanding among the proprie-
tors. If this were so, he said, it virtu-
ally was a lockout of employees and a
violation of the contracts, if not an
attempt TO break up the unions. These
were formed in 19i9, and after brief
and successful strike, the owners
formed the Exhibition League, and con-
tracts with their employees were made.
While no specified periods of employ
ment were provided, owners must give
two weeks notice and furnish reason
able cause for discharging help.
Would Leave 500 Idle
The closing of 100 theaters in New
York, the Bronx and Brooklyn would
result, Mr.. Tullman said. in throwing
from 500 to 700 persons out of work.
AS rates of admission had been in
creased almost 800 per cent in the
last year. and as films we're now shown
for several days week in many houses
that used to change them daily. he
said the unions would demand a better
reason than business depression for
the months cessation of business. In
any event wages represented by four
weeks inactivity would have to be
alded to the contract terms for the
coming year.
| At the Offices of the Motion Picture
Exhibition League, in the Times Build
ing, it was said that the expenses Of
operating film theaters and decreasing
attendance were putting many places
out of business. There had been no ac-
ton by the exhibition league in re-
gard to the four weeks closing, it was
said, the owners settling this matter
as their judgment dictated.
The rental of films at present rep
resents about half of the expense of
operation, it was said, and employees
wages about % per cent. Attendance
has fallen off from SO to, Is per cent.
Large numbers Of theaters are clos
ing the country over, and others now
are closed several days a week, due
partly to the high cost of films.
There will be meeting of the Mo-
ton Picture Chamber of Commerce at
2 o'clock this afternoon at the Hotel
Aston