Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-23
THEATER OWNERS
DECLARE MOVIES
WILL NOT Be DARK
Operators Threaten Walkout
if Musicians Fail to OBJ
tain New Contract.
DEMAND FOR WAGE RAISE
GRANTED PR0JECTI0NISTS
Musicians and Owners Mark Time.
Dispute Will Reach Climax
September /.

Although the Moving Picture Ma
chine Operators today reiterated their
threat to walk out" at midnight Au-
gust 81 IL no agreement is reached be-
fore that date between the Musicians
Protective Union and the Motion Pic
ture Theater Owners Association over
renewal of contracts, the latter organi-
cation insisted that local theaters would
not be dark in the event OF strike.
A. Julian Brylawski, president Of the
owners association, in making this an
nouncement today, failed, however, to
indicate just how the managers pro-
posed to meet the projected strike,
merely assuring that the theaters would
continue to operate.
Another lengthy conference yester-
day, the second of its kind in two days,
resulted last night in the signing of a
two-year contract agreement between
the operators and their employers.
Concessions on the part of both fac
tons are said to have been made, with
the operators demands for salary In
creases being granted.
Fred j. Stevens, president OF the
Moving Picture Machine Operators
local and chairman of the Wage Scale
Committee Of the body, said this morn
ing that the operators were extremely
anxious to bring about an agreement
between the musicians and their en-
ployers. He declared, however, that this
controversy did not enter into the
1017 hour conference yesterday, which
out terms for renewal of the operators
contract, which expires August 81.
The maximum basic salary increase
Is understood to have been from $50
to SIS, the increase varying according
to the status of the theater in which
the affected operator is employed.
Balancing adjustments were made for
overtime pay to Offset the salary in
crease, 1t was explained.
Meantime no advance had been made
today in the disagreement between the
attitude has been adopted by each that
1t is the others move and each stead
tasty declines to take any steps toward
comforting on negotiations.
MFR. Brylawski indicated this morning
that statement shortly would be forth
coming In behalf of his organization,
pointing out in clarified terms the stand
Of the theater managers and once more
inviting the musicians union to renew
negotiations If they so desire.
The stand OF the employers Is that
they are willing to negotiate with the
union for the employment of certain
uhuiucI VI ulHSlCldIiS lOL pleCe WOEk on
q strictly wage basis, but they stanchly
refuse to enter into contract In any
shape or form. The musicians, on the
other hand, have refused to accept these
terms, holding out for renewal Of their
contract, which expires August 81.
The musicians contract, which was
in blanket form, bound the managers
of the theaters to keep certain quota
of the unions membership in constant
employment In local theaters. With
the coming of sound pictures and re-
corded orcheStration, the theater man.
ayers, although making what they con-
sidered an unnecessary outlay Of ex-
pense, lived UP to the contract. It had
been determined, however, months prior
to its expiration, not to renew it.
The action Of the operators in serv-
ing notice upon the managers of all
Washington theaters that unless agree
ment is reached with the musicians
before August 81 they will go on strike,
Is the result of a triple alliance Of pro-
Jectionists, stage hands and musicians.
Under union rules, this alliance calls
fer all three branches to walk out If
any one of them is aggrieved. The To-
cal union received instructions from its
national headquarters to serve notice
on the managers that after August 81
the services of all organized union the
atrical employees would be "regretfully
declined" in the event of non-settle-
ment OF the orchestra dispute.