Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-10
Film Mdgndte
Says Payments
Stopped Strikes

NEW YORK. oct lo-Annual
tribute of $4,000 was eNactod
from each Of the four leading
movie companies by Willie Bioff
and George l. Browne. under
threats Of strikes that would ruin
the industry 10 was testified IN
Federal Court today by Nicholas
NJ. Schenck. president of .Loew' =.
Browne president of the Inter-
national Alliance OF Theatrical
stage Employees, ALL. and Biolf,
his West Coast representative. are
accused in a three count indict-
ment of eNtorting &o9OOQO from
IoewS. Paramount Warner Broth.
orS and Twentieth Ccntuy.FoX
Schcnck under examination by
United states Attorney Matthias
Correa. who obtained a conviction
of his brother Joseph Schenck, for
income tax evasion last Summer
said that in 1895. the lATSE
struck several large movie houses
10 show their power
DEMANDED 2 MILLION
On April IA. 1886. Browne and
Bioff came 10 him in New York,
demanding S2.0O0.000 from the in
dustry, later dropping the demand
10 81 600 600. and finally settling
for $4,000 a year from each con-
Germ. The movie man said he ac-
ceded because he knew that the
business would be destroyed other
wise.
Bioff, according TO testimony
aid 10 Schcnck az that time
II want to get this over as
quickly as possible, 1 want you
TO know 1 am boss. and 4 elected
Browne president for one pur-
pose, I've got 10 get 100000
out of the industry. Take two
days to think II over"
DRAGGED OF POWER
To Schenck's protest that he
was crazy. Bioff replied;
I'VE showed you what we can
do. You'lI have 90 come through
with Il. Now stop all this non
sense. You know you'll have Co
pay. Youth have 60 pay more In
the end II you don't pay now"
Two days later. Schenck con-
erred with Sidney Kent, presi-
ent Of Twentieth Century. and
.oT While Bioff talked, Browne
food by. The movie men kept
diing for a reduction in the pay
4. and on April Is, Bioff gave his
1hl figure - $4,000 from each
ee concern and $4,000 from
IN small one. Sehenek testified
5F said:
"Now look, don't want 10
waste any more time. want
ash. Maybe the larger amount
,ould get It's in trouble, but you
An help me in getting the 9TH
crs to come through"
Schenck refused, but by April
q. decided he and Kent were
convinced they would have 10 pay
tribute 10 save their business. On
April "a. he went TO the Waldorf
Astoria suite of Browne and Bioff
and tossed a $4,000 bundle on the
bed Kent did likewise with a
package of money.
BREAkFAsTED TOGETHER
Under croSs-examination by
George T. BreSlin of Los Angeles,
of counsel for Bioff. Schenck de-
MED that he had sent Christmas
cards 20 Bioff since 1886.
During 1886 and 1881 didn't
you have breakfast with BioH
in the Hollywood home Of your
brother, Joseph, where Biof
was a guest7' asked Breslin.
II don't remember that" re-
piled Schenck II waS there and
/ know that fjloH came In.
went about my business soon.
after"
Didn't you bring Edgar Man
nix, production chief Of Metro
Goldwyn-Mayef, and Bi0H TO-
gether in 1886 and didn't YOU
direct Mannix To see that BiofI
met public officials in Los
Angeles so that he wouldn't
have labor difficulties ?" asked
Mr.. Breslin.
The witness admitted that he
had introduced the two men.
Schenck denied that he had