Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-19
80 0rganiSts Included in List
of Those to Be Dropped if
Agreement Fails.
UNION WILL CONSIDER
WAGE PLAN TOMORROW
Theatsr Owners Explain at Least
Two Houses Want to Retain
Their 0rchestras.

Although it was made clear on the
part of the employers that they were
willing to negotiate, the Musicians Pro-
tective Union and the Motion Picture
Theater owners Association of the Dis
trict had made no move today in the
matter of the expiration of contracts for
orchestras in local downtown theaters
August 81.
Julian Brylawski, president Of the
owners association, reiterated the posi-
ton taken by that body in refusing to
renew contracts for the more than 100
musicians involved, but at the same
time declared that ''the way still re-
mains open for negotiations"
Organists in all of Washington's thea
tiers who have been employed under the
blanket contract will also be included in
the lay-off August 81, if negotiations are
not satisfactorily completed. Mr.. Bry-
lawski said today that the organists in
downtown playhouses have received the
same salary as other musicians, but in
outlying sections salaries paid are as
low as $40 per week. Approximately
80 organiSts will be affected, it was said.
The chief objection on the part of
the employers is the demand of the
union that certain quota of must
clans be kept in constant employment.
Under the contract entered into in
1927, the theaterS were bound to keep
an orchestra of IS at the Fox Theater,
20 at the Palace, IS at the Columbia,
Is at the Metropolitan, Is at the
Earle and IL at Keiths. A slight
change that was mutually agreed to
was made some time ago when the
Metropolitan dispensed with its or
chestra, but the Is men were added to
the Earle ensemble.
Want to Keep Orchestras.
II was explained on the part Of the
theaters' management that at least
two of the leading playhouses desired
60 retain orchestraS.
A special board meeting Of the Mu-
sicians' Union, which had been called
for 10 o'clock this morning, was post
poned at the last minute until tonor-
row morning. 1t is understood that
letter addressed to. the union by the
Motion Picture Theater Owners Asso-
citation, in which the position of that
body was set forth and the proposal
made for strictly wage basis piece work,
will be taken up at this meeting.
Meanwhile, the prospect of canned"
music exclusively in all of the leading
theaterS remained inevitable IN the
event that no agreement can be reached
between the opposing factions. Two
the stage hands of the two theaters
that have featured vaudeville attrac-
tons, it being explained that in the
event that no agreement is reached
with the musicians, stage shows would
be dropped entirely.
Notice was served late last week on
the members of the leading orchestras,
which have been under group con-
tract through the Motion Picture The
0fokf I'D ho
clans Protective Union, Local No. 161,
which is a branch of the American
Federation of Musicians, that no new
contracts would be made.
sugar" Is Contention.
Sugar" or the additional pay or
chestra members receive under the
union contract for work done outside of
routine renditions, constitutes an out
troversy. It was explained that al
though a basic salary of SIS per week
is paid for work that never exceeds six
hours per day, union men have de-
manded and received special fees OF 81
to $40 for deviating work, such as
playing on the stage, donning costumes,
doubling" on various instruments and
soloing.
The position of the employers is that
they see no reason why musicians
should not be employed under the same
terms as other union employees. Stage
hands, motion picture operator, ETC., all
are hired on a strictly wage basis.
Heretofore two and three year con-
tracts have been made between the
Motion Picture Theater Owners Asso-
citation and the local union, under
which the association agreed to use a
certain number of musicians in the
theaters. Two-year contracts had pre-
vailed up to 1927, when three-year
contract was made out. The last three
years have seen so much revolutionary
development in the theatrical industry,
1t is explained, that the same terms of
this last contract could not be adj
hered to-