- - It is much regret on my part, that Local 81 Stagehands, as a number went our of existence, as of January 1st, 1954 but on the other hand it is a pleasure to have the members of Local 81 as part of Local 175.
On January 1st, 1954 Local 175 became a mixed Local. The word mixed, according to Webster, means for two separate matters or substances, to be thoroughly joined so as they become one. This is the sprit in which Local 175 and Local 81 decided to join.
Astoria, Oregon, Local 446--By Frank Dundon - - At the January 6th meeting of this local the following men were installed as officers: Tony Christensen, President; Dutch McCroskey, Vice President; Chet Lamont, Business Agent and Frank Dunson, Secretary Treasurer.
Among the many accomplishments of our B.A. Chet Lamont is that of being a Ham Radio Operator. He has a mobile unit in his car and recently received state-wide publicity as one of the few men approved by the state legislature to have a car license plates matching his call leters, W7ALM. This gives him authority to pass into a restricted area during times of emergency. Chet has been a Ham for 38 years.
Portland, Oregon, Local 28--By Don Dumas - - The following article from the Oregon Journal, by Dorothy Lois Smith, a feature writer of the paper, who gave us permission to have it published in the District Bulletin. It is of an interview with Brother "Butch" Freid, who has been a member of Local 28 since 1901, and a member of Local 33 before then. He is now retired.
Theatre audiences spellbound by a make-believe world across the footlights miss the drama and impromptu "monkeyshines" that rival the play scripts for interest. You can take this from Louis (Butch) Fried, 7205 S.W. Virginia Avenue, who spent 62 years "behind the curtain" in legitimate theatres in Portland and California.
Fred, now 82 found his backstage memories considerably stirred by the news that the Mayfair Theatre (Portland, Oregon formerly the Heilig) is being reconstructed from a combination motion picture stage playhouse into a new CinemaScope theatre, the Fox. The veteran "prop" man and stage manager spent 25 of his theatre years in the employ of Cal Heilig.
FRIED STATRED his theatre work in 1884, the days when gas lighted the auditorium and there were no boiler and heating plants in the theatres. Before winter performances, the stage crew would carry a large portable stoves called a "salamder," out into the alley. They built a roaring fire in the salamander and piled in coke. When the coke pipes through the handles and carried the heater to the center of the auditorium. Theatregoers with first floor center seats were warm enough, but those on the "fringes" and balcony were not.
During the big flood of 1894. Fried was working at the Trocadero Theatre, where the Multnomah hotel now stands. The theatre remained open for business until flood waters came one foot below the footlights. Patrons arrived in rowboats and saw the show from the balcony.
FREID PREDICTS that the entertainment cycle will soon swing back to legitimate stage. "Motion pictures killed the legitimate theatre and radio and TV are hurting the movies. After a time, people will tire of staying at home and watching their entertainment in a box." the veteran stage manager predicts. "When they demand a change, they'll go the whole way and want their entertainers in person, across the footlights of a stage."
STRIKE VOTE WINS
Vancouver, B.C. projectionists approved a strike to take place on March 6th by 104 to 4 votes this week. The vote followed unsuccessful efforts to reach a compromise whereby circuits offered a 15 cents an hour increase while operators wanted 25 cents an hour. Present scales are $2.47 per hour for situations which have two men in the booth and $3.50 per hour where there is but one man.
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June 1954 Bulletin
SPECIAL DEPARTMENT CONVENTION
IN SEATTLE
Saturday, June 5th, with 4th Vice President O.M. Jacobson presiding, the Special Department locals of District One convened in the city of Seattle, to elect their delegates to the forthcoming I.A. Concention to be held in Cincinnatti, Ohio. Of the 14 locals in the District, only one was absent. Attending the convention was: R.J. Hayter, B-17, Vancouver, B.C.; R.G. Douglas, B-178, Spokane; Frank Carlson, B-177, Tacoma; George Ackerman, B-20; Russ Phelan, B-20; Earl Teaford, F-19; A.B. Walker, B-20 and Earl Taylor, B-19, all from Portland. Thomas Watters, B-22, Seattle; Jack Braverton, F-21, Vancouver, B.C.; Brother Ball, Victoria, B.C.; Juanita Osburn, B-174, Great Fall; Rita Hume, B-70, Victoria, B.C.; Frank Bristow and Bob Foster all of B-72, Vancouver, B.c.; James McNabb, B-22; Mrs Thomas Watters and Marie Reynolds, F-21, Seattle; Eddie Briggs and Emil Wingard, both of B-21, Seattle; Laura Zimmerman, F-21, Seattle.
The Theatre Employees chose Bob Foster, Local B-72, Vancouver, B.C. as their Delegate and Film Exchange locals chose Emil Wingard of Local F-21, Seattle.
The Convention went on record as endorsing the present administration.
Portland, Oregon, Local 159--By C.W. Christenson - - Local 159 won the Sellwood Theatre case. Sone time back, with the assistance of Vice President Jacobson, we received a raise at the Sellwood Theatre. His help in obtaining the raise, along with his testimony at the trial, helped immensely. The dispute arose three months later when they cut our scale back to the original. They sued us for $100.00 a day damages, beginnin the day we started picketing, August 3rd, 1953, and an injuction to stop us picketing. Witnesses for the union were Vice President Jacobson, Brother Hickey, Beier and James. The theatre owners claimed it was a family operation, and operators supplied from Local 159 were not needed. Judge Dodson pointed out that the dispute was over how much the union operator should be paid, not weather he was needed.
Seattle, Washington, Local 154--By Ash Bridgham - - James McNabb, our business representative, attended the I.A. General Executive Board meeting at New Orleans in March and spent two weeks there discussing the various problems confronting the alliance.
Our Health and Welfare plan grows apace with an agreement with the drive-in theatres for 12 months coverage for the men in the booth.
The Orpheum theatre will be closed for an indefinite period of time beginning May 22.
The Paramount theatre has now installed cinemascope and the first presentation was on May 4th.Bill Freeman, chief, can not relax for a couple of minutes. He refers to it as "cinemastroke." Could be right, too.
Pocatello, Idaho, Local 463--By Edward MacGarvey - - Just a few days ago the "Crest Theatre" finished installing CinemaScope opening with "Knights of the Round Table." This makes two theatres in Pocatello equipped with large screen for regular pictures; CinemaScope and three dimension. In the next few days as soon as delivery is possible the Sunset Drive in will have CinemaScope lense but will have only the optical sound tract.
I have been elected delegate to the Convention this year and I am looking forward to meeting the other delegates form District No. One.
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September 1954
Highlights-30th District Convention
District No. One 30th Convention was held at Cincinnati, Ohio. The call to order was made by District Secretary, William J. May, August 7th, 1954 at 10:30 A.M. in Parlor 6, Sheraton-Gibson Hotel. After a short greeting to the District Delegates, District Secretary May presented Fourth Vice President Jacobson, who was assigned Chairman by the General Office. Vice President Jacobson expressed deep regret with having to fill the Chairmanship vacancy left by the untimely passing of so great a union leader, gentleman and friens as the late William P. Raoul, retired General Secretary Treasurer, who passed away just before this Convention. Brother Raoul had served as Chairman of District No. One for eighteen years.
Next order of business was reading of credentials, called for by Chairman Jacobson, and roll call. All present except Local 864, Hood River, Oregon.
Delegate List
DELEGATES TO THE 1954
DISTRICT NO. ONE CONVENTION
Delegate Name
|
Local # |
City & State |
Cam Lafleur |
15 |
Seattle, Washington |
Don DuMas |
28 |
Portland, Oregon |
George Murphy |
91 |
Boise, Idaho |
Kim Devereaux |
93 |
Spokane, Washington |
William J. May |
93 |
Spokane, Washington |
Sam Spiegel |
94 |
Butte, Montana |
Earl Southern |
117 |
Bellingham, Washington |
W. Fraser |
118 |
Vancouver B.C., Canada |
Fred Jiencke |
154 |
Seattle, Washington |
James McNabb |
154 |
Seattle, Washington |
C.W. Christenson |
159 |
Portland, Oregon |
James W. Hickey |
159 |
Portland, Oregon |
Vic Henn |
168 |
Vicoria, B.C. |
Frank Carlson |
175 |
Tacoma, Washington |
Frank Murtough |
175 |
Tacoma, Washington |
Lloyd Stoddard |
180 |
Everett, Washington |
A.C. Eggert |
213 |
Great Falls, Montana |
Paul Shelly |
234 |
Walla Walla, Washington |
L.S. Smith |
240 |
Billings, Montana |
Leonard B. Hinds |
254 |
Yakima, Washington |
Gene Sherman |
255 |
Helena, Montana |
Carl Watson |
339 |
Missoula, Montana |
G.K. Porterfield |
344 |
Olympia, Washington |
George Thrift |
348 |
Vancouver, B.C. |
Frank Smith |
348 |
Vancouver, B.C. |
Les Walker |
348 |
Vancouver, B.C. |
J.A. Fiamengo |
351 |
Anacortes, Washington |
Lowell Wheeler |
401 |
Centralia, Washington |
J.E. Newell |
429 |
Aberdeen, Washington |
Carl Halverson |
445 |
Bremerton, Washington |
Chet Lamont |
446 |
Astoria, Oregon |
Edward Mac Garvey |
463 |
Pocatello, Idaho |
J.M. Kemper |
613 |
Salem, Oregon |
Alden Hill |
629 |
Idaho Falls, Idaho |
G.H. (Jack) Schubert |
651 |
Wenatchee, Washington |
Hobert Burns |
663 |
Lewiston, Idaho |
W.M. Myers |
672 |
Klamath-Medford, Oregon |
B.E. Daoust |
675 |
Eugene, Oregon |
Carmello Amato, Jr. |
742 |
Wallace-Kellogg, Idaho |
George Kalhust |
745 |
Anaconda, Montana |
Walter Hall |
760 |
Livingston, Montana |
A.E. McDuffie |
785 |
Coos Bay, Oregon |
J.R. Foster |
B-72 |
Vancouver, B.C. |
Emil Wingard |
Film |
Seattle, Washington |
Report of the District Secretary was made by District Secretary, William J. May.
Chairman and members of both the Advisory and Legislative Committees gave their reports. There were two resolutions: voting machines and floral offerings. These were referred to the resolution Committee by Chairman Jacobson. Part of the State of Trade reports were read before a motion was made to recess for lunch and give various committees a chance to meet.
Afternoon session reconvened at 3:10 P.M. Brother Brewer was granted the floor for a short talk. Reading of the State of Trade reports were finished. Brother Sam Spiegel reported for the Resolution Committee. Resolution No. 1 Voting Machines. That they be adopted if practical and efficient and not too costly, preferably for next Convention. Resolution No. 2, pertaining to flowers. The Committee recommended concurrence. They also recommended concurrence in off year conventions, but recommended that the Secretary ascertain the cost and turn over to the Advisory Board and Locals to vote on. Next came Insurance Committee report and Election of Officers.
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Wrapping text on right side
NEW DISTRICT SECRETARY C.W. CHRISTENSON
C.W. Christenson was elected District No. One Secretary. Advisory Board: Fred Jiencke, Local 154, Seattle, Washington, Chairman; L. Walker, Local 348, Vancouver, B.C.; Chet Lamont, Local 446, Astoria, Oregon; Sam Spiegel, Local 94, Butte, Montana and H.D. Burns, Local 663, Lewiston, Idaho. A motion was made by Brother Frank Murtough and seconded by Brother Fred Jiencke, that Brother Bill May be given a vote of thanks for his fine services as District Secretary. Carried.