Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-10
FLASHES


Jumps to lame every week
or so all is not we'll. AS
lar east as Washington one hears
walls OF distress and the cries OF the
injured. The ak has fallen. neatly
paring Oft a 10 per cent of much
inflated salaries. The magnatcs have
spoken. A sign has been tackled over
the cashiers window. And the worst
part of the whole business is that the
employees who suffer this distressing
slice i'll wages cannot tell their bosses
to jump into the Pacific and then
start work with competing organi-
zation. The producers have every
thing in their own hands; their
pocketbooks control the industry.
The only thing All actor could do, if
he did not like his new salary, would
be to quit his job and then stand
on the corner of Hollywood's Broad
way, or whatever street takes the
place OF that famed boulevard in the
City OF Movies, and watch the
crowds go by. 1t is sad
1t has been two or three weeks
now. since the producers issued their
famous Statement-that all salaries
were to be cut 10 per cent. Now the
actors and actresses arc holding in
dlgnation meetings. the most notable
OF which has been a session OF the
Actors Body OF the Academy OF Mo-
ton Picture Arts and Sciences. in
Hollywood. Conrad Nagel, executive
chairman, informed the members
that the time had arrived to be
frank and courageous and settle the
matter without. any beating around
the bush" The opinion was unani-
nouSly expressed that the present
condition OF affairs was "a chance for
the actor and actress in the movies
o take definite stand and refuse 10
accept the cut i'll salaries. but, at the
same time, voicing a desire TO CO.
operate III any way with the pro-
duCers III cutting down unnecessary
expenses entailed in picture produc-
ton The entrance of the Actors
Equity (the stage union) into tho
dispute is regarded as especially in
tercsting. Few OF the screen players
arc at present identified with this or
Ganization. a few of the brightest
stars at the meeting announced that
slash, but their plan is unknown.
Alter all, there is very little public
sympathy with the screen players and
their troubles. The average movie
goer has heard entirely too much re-
garding the enormous salaries paid
the screen stars. He icels that they
arc paid entirely too much III com
rarison with the results accom-
plishcd and he would probably like
to sec goodly percentage OF the So
called featured players stick by their
resolution and drop altogether from
the pay rolls OF the producing COM
panics.
There is no way OF getting around
the fact that the present move OF
the producers may iniurc the indus
try. The wholesale cut may not have
been wise thing TO dc 1t would
probably have been better to lop
off a half or three quarters OF
the very llrGc salaries. o. stopped
them entirely, Tie general decrease
gives a false impression OF the in
dustry. 1t is not suffering such de-
pressing quality as hard times"
Business is good, and the whole mat
ter seems 10 have come about through
the producers suddenly awakening to
the TACT that there exists much ''un-
necessary expense
And the actors, by their reso,u-
ton, show that they are willing and
eager to cooperate i'll cutting ex-
penses--cutting expenses wheever
~
salaries arc not tempered with 1t
is big-hearted resolution. voiced in
a manner which leaves little doubt
concerning a Willingness to aid in
any possible way The first shot OF
the battle has been fired by the
producers. and it echoes from the
main Offices in New York to Holly
wood and back again.
= * * :.
GENERAL days before the recent
- wedding OF Wilma Banl,y and Rod
la ROGUE there arrived al the desks
OF newspaper editors complete stories
OF the nuptials, including newsy,
snappy articles on the romance, BIZ
ographies. fashions. etc. One story
even went SO far as TO disclose the
fact that there was riot o. film fans
and 100 police reserves were called
when Miss Banky left her apartment
for the church. These articles were
all written days ahead OF the big
event and broadcast over the coun-
try for use on the day of the we'd
ding.
Ali this merely shows the way OF
the modern press agent. He is moth
ing if not ION the job" although his
knowledge OF newspaper methods
may be bit hay. The various ar
ticles of the news sheet" freely sub
mitted to editors days ahead OF the
wedding contains articles with head
lines as follows: "All Hollywood At
tends Formal Church Wedding" so
cial World Pays Tribute to Screen
Couple" What Mr.. La ROGUE
Wore" "What Miss Banky Wore"
Romance Started When Rod Took
Her to Dinner Party" Police Re-
serves Called" and Honeymoon
Plans"
1t might be stated in passing that
the Banky biography gives the stars
Artists