The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-05-08

(UP) District councils and loca!
unions Of the international Union
Of Film Painters, Scenic Artists
and Makeup Men last night were
asked to picket theatres showing
motion pictures produced by COM
panieS involved in the Hollywood
strike of film studio craftsmen.
HOLLYWOOD, May :. up
Overwhelming sentiment for Il
strike of motion picture stars
and lesser players unless prOduc-
erS grant them a guild tuniOn)
shop by Sunday was reported last
night by officials of the Screen
Actors guild.
Aubrey Blair, business agent
for the guild, announced that Il
secret vote of The Senior guild
membership is being taken. The
vote. he said, shows % per cent
of the voters favoring a walkOut
unless the guild is recognized as
the sole bargaining agency for
players, stars and minor perform
crS alike.
A IS per cent majority of the
300 Senior guild members is
required TO authorize a strike.
Blair declined 10 disclose how
many players already have vot-
cd.
The United Press learned from
responsible source, however,
that of 1877 actors and actresses
who cast ballots at the home Of
James Cagncy Thursday night,
l79 favored strike if their guild
shop demand is rejected by pro-
ducCrS.
Blair emphasized that the Sc
cret vote did not mean that ne
gotiations with producers for an
amiablc settlement had collapsed.
lie said the guild WAS merely TAX
ing the vote in advance of its an
nual meeting Sunday night SO
that the results Of both confer
cnceS and balloting could be open
until the Sunday night meeting.
The meeting at Cagney'S holoc
Thursday night was attended by
many of the top-ranking stars of
Hollywood.
Among those present were Rob
crt Montgomery, guild president;
Eddie Cantor, Joan Crawford,
Franchot Tone and Jean Muir.
The United Press informant said
both Cantor and Montgomery
spoke in defense of the guild
shop.
Guests dropped their votes into
ballot box as they left the meet
ing.
Similar meetings have been
held at other homes, it was re-
ported.
Blair'S announcement was re-
ceived jubilantly by studio craft
unioniStS who had been on strike
exactly week. The strikers, who
walked out when producers re-
fused them a closed union shop,
had been disappointed when the
Actors guild at meeting last
Sunday night deferred action on
a strike vote for a week.
Whether an actual player walk
out will take place was consider
ed dubious. Many observers be-
lieved producers, rather than be
forced to shut down all studio OPP
erations, would capitulatc on the
guild shop point.
Just prior 10 Blair's statement,
Joseph NJ. Schenck, chairman of
the Producers Negotiating COM
mittee, limited there was no insur-
mountable barrier in the way of Il
guild accord.
81 can say positively" Schenck
said, "that | can see no really
formidable obstacles in the path
of a harmonious and just settle
ment of the entire question.
"On most of the important
points raised by the actors rep
resentatives, there is full accord
among the producers; practically
al remaining items under discus
sion can, in my opinion, be IRON
ed out to the satisfaction of both
sides.
The statement was issued after
Schenck and his committee men,
bers had conferred with the en-
tire producer group.
The guild, it was understood,
has stressed two main points in
it's conferences with Schenck's
committee-guild shop and inn
proved working conditions and
pay for extras and lesser players.
In connection with the second de-
mand, the guild seems to outlaw
the $500 daily wage paid the
most lowly extras and to guaran-
-. ~ La ,>layarS (tboca uuho