Guilty

of harboring delicious sugary treats

Japanese Bambi Playing Cards

On a recent dig through my drawers in search of the circle cutter, this deck of cards was uncovered.

They're produced by Nintendo Playing Card Company of Japan (I wonder if this evolved into the gaming giant -probably, is my guess) and they do have an official Walt Disney Company copyright.

Bambi here looks like a photographed model which was then heavily retouched.

It may have been done this way to aid in the lenticular box cover.

Lenticular doesn't photograph well.

The faces of the cards are fairly uninteresting.

Except for the Jiminy Cricket joker.  That would put the production of these some time after 1953.

The set even comes with an instruction booklet for card games.  In Japanese, but with a familiar face on the cover.

Mickey of the Rising Sun.

6 Cents for Postage

These pressboard plates have mailing labels on the back which call for 6 cents postage.

They're fancy postcards.

If they fit into the 2 ounce first class postage rate (I didn't weigh them), that would put them before 1958.  That's a three year window after the opening of Disney Land.

That feels about right stylistically.  The artwork is loose but still "appealing".  Moreso, in my opinion than the animated versions of these characters.

The brush line makes them feel more like Carl Barks' great drawings than the tight motion picture draughting.

Even how the Goof lays out interrupting the frame line is a nice design touch.

I got this exacerbated Donald for Christina.  Seemed appropriate.

Mickey Wishes You Happy Birthday

Here's a little (to big) gem from the 1930s.

Everybody's pal, Mickey Mouse, in greeting card form.

It folds open.

And keeps opening.

And finally opens "wide" enough to say

Happy birthday.

This was priced at $95.  But the kind proprietor of Skingle Antiques in Moorestown, NJ let me unfold it for free!  Interested buyers should click the name to email him.

Love From Minnie

These are camera phone photos, Valentine Card from the Disney Corporation.

They're printed in the USA.  No visible date.  I'd guess mid-70s.

Minnie looks like she's not responsible for her actions here, making a late night drunk dial.  Good thing this predates smart phones.

Donald: All Quaky over you.

Once and Future Junk

I'll admit, I'm not 100% up on the details of Disney films, but I think there's something a little off about this doll.

I guess she grows into her fins.

If baby Little Mermaid or toddler Little Mermaid don't float your boat, there's the teen four pack.

And if the infantilization of cartoon characters isn't your bag, take a step back in time.

If all else fails, you can get some merchandise from the Fleischer Studio.

Top Cel Vol 1, #15: 7/28/44. German Mortar and Artillery Strike Terror

TEXT OF WLB RULING ON FAMOUS STUDIOS CASE

INTERIM RULING

National War Labor Board

Second Region

220 East 42nd Street

New York 17, NY

July 19, 1944

Famous Studios

25 W. 45th Street

New York, NY

In reply refer to:

Re: Case No: 2-32572-D-4

Date of application: 3/31/44

Effective Date of Ruling: 3/13/44

Gentlemen:

The new mnima [sic... "minima" maybe, the Latinate plural for minimum] set forth in the above-number case are hereby approved.

The approval is based on the statements of fact submitted in the application and is made under Executive Order 9328 dated April 8, 1943, and the policy Directive of the Director of Economic Stabilization dated May 12, 1943.

Ruling on the severance pay proposals and your incentive plan will follow at a subsequent date.

Very truly yours,

National War Labor Board

Second Region

LATE BULLETIN:

Severance pay provision in Famous contract was approved retroactive to March 13. 1944.  Provision follows:

"Severance pay shall be given on termination of employment.  After six months, one half week's pay; after one year, one week's pay; after two years, one and a half week's pay; after two years or more, two week's pay.  No severance pay shall be paid to any employee who resigns or is discharged for misconduct."

 All members who believe they have grievances that rise out of this ruling based on classifications, retroactive pay, or any other problem, should see their department stewards or the union attorney, Mr. Cristenfeld.

The Terrytoon contract will be taken up by the WLB in about two weeks.

All persons working in the Famous Studios prior to the date of the ruling (July 19, 1944) should pay the amount of their first week's raise to John Gentilella and Joe Deneroff have been designated to accept payment of dues at Famous Studios.

A LETTER FROM THE UNITED STATES EMPLOYMENT SERVICE (USES)

Dear Mr. Cristenfeld:

The animation cartooning industry is not considered an essential industry.  Therefore the employees may change from plant to plant within the industry without release, but within the boundary of the New July 1st regulations.  That would mean that all men between the ages of 18 and 45 would have to get clearance through the United States Employment Services before accepting any new employment.

Yours very truly,
S. A. King
Emp. Interviewer

SAVE THIS ISSUE OF TOP CEL FOR THE SCRAP PAPER DRIVE!

************

Walter Lantz will increase shorts in his "Woody Woodpecker" series from four to seven for the coming year.

EDITOR'S COLUMN:

Now that the raises have come

through at Famous there is good reason for rejoicing in a job well done.  The raising of the wage scales, the two week vacation, sick leave clauses, etc.  are the results of years of effort, and they are only the beginning of what a good union can accomplish for its members.

Terrytoons, too, should have its contract approved soon, and it will then be fine to consider methods of working out a closer relationship between the two shops.  Every attempt should also be made to work out plans coordinating the union on the coast with local 1461.

The approval of the local's first contracts should go far in encouraging the smaller plants located in New York to join forces with us.  Together we can accomplish much.

A LETTER FROM A SOLDIER:

"Dear Jim:

Received your V-mail.  Am okay -lucky I guess.  Even as I write this the German shells are falling near us.  Things are like an awful dream out here.  I just can't describe some of the things we have to endure.  Never can relax for a minute -always under tension.  The German mortar and artillery barrages really strike terror.  I don't mind attacking machine guns, cuz you know where the bullets will fly, but you're helpless under a barrage.  It's worse than hell out here.  You see your friends killed and wounded all over.  A dead German makes us happy -means one less Jerry to shoot at us.  Only consolation is -we are beating the Jerries back.  Jim, everyone prays out here -there is nowhere else to look for help.  Sorry for this dismal letter.  Promise I'll do better next time.  I'll be seeing you pal."

This letter is as good an argument as it is possible to give why our union should combat racial discrimination within our midst.  It was sent by an American soldier of Japanese extraction.

FLIPPINGS

Joe Oriolo busy with his new home at Bergenfield, New Jersey...  There's been a new spurt in requests for service men's ballots... Harry Hershfield gave the Little Lulu series a swell plug last week in the NY Mirror... Jean Greb -now an inbetweener.  Jeanne Kearse replacing Jean Greb in paint lab.. Blossom Fanning left Famous.. Mina Morrissey left Famous to find a capable person to care for her child during the day.

CARTOONISTS ASK WLB TO MAKE DISNEY PAY FOR HOLIDAYS:

Screen Cartoonists Local 852 has asked War Labor Board to enforce immediate compliance by Walt Disney studio with recent decision giving 391 members approximately $10,000 for work done last Christmas and New Year's days.  Cartoonists assert Disney has refused to make payment for holiday time on grounds it would not be legal under wartime salary restrictions.

Wire from Cartoonists was sent to Thomas Fair Neblett, chairman of the 10th Regional War Labor Board, San Francisco, and signed by MW Pomerance, business representative.  Pomerance met Saturday with Anthony O'Rourke, director of labor relations for Disney, and charges latter both declined to make payments without authorization from government or to accompany SCG representative to WLB offices for okay.

Decision directing Disney to pay straight time for work performed by cartoonists on Christmas, 1943, and New Years, 1944, was given by Spencer Pollard, arbitrator, June 26, settling dispute covering interpretation of labor contract between union and studio.

Decision held that workers were entitled to the holiday pay despite the fact that the holiday fell on Saturdays, for which employees receive time and a half.

Top Cel Vol 1, #11: 6/9/44. Educational Films

More interesting stuff from The Top Cel.

The last entry here is an announcement for "Swing Street" which would go on to become Disney's "Make Mine Music".

STATE OF THE UNION

Our second elections are here and a review of the development of our Local will not be amiss.

One year ago, we were brand new, inexperienced and born at a time when it was necessary to play second viola to the war effort.  In addition our behavior was under critical scrutiny of both management and labor.  So, in retrospect, we think Local 1461 has grown up very satisfactorily under its handicaps, and our we feel that orchids are due ourselves and our leadership.  Especially, do we wish to commend the Terrytoons group for the most remarkable endurance in a bad situation, and, in particular, our first President, Bob McKee, who has shown both push and endurance at a personal risk.

Specifically, we report that the contract at Terrytoons is about to be signed; that the WLB has approved all provisions of the contract of the Famous Unit with the exception of salaries and the Bonus plan.  (To be discussed at the next meeting.)  And those should be approved very soon.

The general machinery of our Local is clicking.  We have an office and a paid Business Agent and Lawyer to keep it clicking.

On Monday, June 12th the stewards will give the General Membership ballots, on the bottom of which will be stubs.  Each individual will receipt his ballot by signing its stubs and returning it to the steward in charge.  Ballots will be placed in boxes on Tuesday, June 13.  It's very important that we all vote and vote wisely.  Our leadership must continue to be strong and well informed.  THINK BEFORE YOU VOTE!

TRADE NEWS

Only 11 Disney shorts will be released this years, due to pressure of production for various government agencies... The Screen Publicists Guild (Hollywood) has voted 234 to 30 in favor of applying to the Brotherhood of Painters for a Local charter.. Another member in our family...... The Disney publicity boys tell the press that Walt has installed recording and playback machine outside the studio theater to preserve reactions of his picture previews.  Three mikes have been placed to hear all the workers have to say... Acting on a request from Washington, Hugh Harman Studio last week began preparing scripts and story boards for two special comedy subjects in technicolor, to be rushed to forces now fighting in Italy.  One print of each film is to be made with Italian narration.   Robert Allen is handling direction... George Pal's shorts for Paramount, hereafter will be billed as "puppetoons", instead of "Madcap Models".... Disney is planning to have simultaneous openings of "The Three Caballeros" in New York, Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro....

The negotiations in the coast: after nixing the 20% cut in reissues, Mr. O'Rourke, representing Lantz and Disney, counterproposed to renew their present agreement for next TWO years.... Leon Schlsinger proposed the same.  Metro and Screen Gems, took similar position.  At Pal the negotiations were broken and resumed.  Finally at Disney, the Conciliation Div. of the US Department of Labor was called, trying to adjust the differences (like we did with out Terry contract).  Local 852 claims

that not only the counterproposal don't offer anything new, but they actually offer to bring about a weakening of several of their classifications, such as Story, Layout and Background.  Disney is offering an incentive Bonus Plan... the Guild is set against it...

EDUCATIONAL PICTURES

"Movies are a half-century old and educators tried feebly to make teaching tools of them decades ago.  Even now they are mere educational sideshow.  But recently the University of Chicago gave signs of leading a movement into the main tent.  Its President accepted as a gift, Eastman Classroom Films, Inc., a $1,000,000 outfit.  Eastman now becomes part of the University's Encyclopedia Britannica Films, Inc/ which has also acquired from Western Electric the $3,000,000 ERPI Classroom Films.  All told, Britannica can distribute about 500 films, graded from primary schools to teachers' colleges.  This makes Britannica the biggest thing in the field.  And it agreed with film men who think it is small potatoes compared to post war possibilities.

Film enthusiasts point to the US Armed Forces wartime record.  Many a military trainer facing a problem has appealed to Washington: "Let's make a movie."  The Signal Corps has made 1,000 films, the Navy 700 for training flyers alone.  Today there are 15,000 16-millimeter projectors available in US schools.  New schools with projection facilities in every classroom are being planned by many communities.  In addition to Chicago, institutions active in producing or distributing educational films, include Vassar, NYU, Indiana, California, Georgia, The Rockefeller Foundation-backed American Film Center has been working in the field.  If such producers can overcome the hurdle of distribution problems, which defeated man earlier educational-film projects, they may lead in postwar developments."  (Time, April 24/44)

FLIPPINGS

S/Sgt. George Baker finishing a book... Tony Loeb's been passing cut cigars according to the old tradition.... The Fannings, changing domicile again (a few doors away 'the).... Bob, Grant and a few others of Culver City tried to get out of the Army Air force.  The answer was NO.... Al Geiss working at Terry for the past three months. ....The Sid Pihlets leaving the East Coast... Mat Salzinger substituting for Warren Welch who says he hasn't been fired.... "C-L" Hartman weeding last week was quite an affair.  Congratulations! ....some of the Waves at the Anacostia Unit were  allowed to move off the Base and are they happy...  Muriel Batherman no longer at Famous... Howard Baldwin have received a commendation for the Commanding General of the Second Air Force.  he is doing safe-flying propaganda... New at Famous, Ken Licht, Sara Tsuruoka, Gloria Beckerman... Jim Carmichael has been yanked up to the Combat Intelligence Section at Air Force HQ.  "First time I've been behind a drawing board since I've been in this G-I suit". ....

FOR SERVICE MEN ONLY

Ruling announced by Selective Service Headquarters on reemployment procedure:

"A returning veteran is entitled to reinstatement or one of like seniority, status reinstatment necessitates the discharge of a non-veteran with greater seniority.

"Seniority rights accumulate during the veteran's period of active service in the armed forces in the same manner as they would have accumulated had he remained continuously at work in his civilian occupation.

A veteran, in order to claim reinstatement in a position must  be qualified to perform the duties and functions of that position.  If unable to qualify for an upgraded job, he is, nevertheless, entitled to a position equal in seniority, status and pay to the one which he left.

A veteran is entitled to his former position or one of like senority, status and pay, and may refuse another, even though the pay is greater and offer other advantages.

ITEM

Walt Disney will make a feature representing a saga of music from modern to classic to boogie, woogie, which is tentatively titled "Swing Street".   Benny Goodman has been signed to do the hepcat portion.  This picture will be all cartoon and will include "Peter and the Wolf", "Martins and the Coys" "Clare de Lune" and two silhouettes written by Disney composers.

Other People's Junk #4

This first image isn't technically "junk".  It's being used at a restaurant in Park Slope.

Burt and Harry Piels clinking glasses.  It's being used as some sort of straw holder.  I guess that's it's intent.

These coasters are not in use (maybe they're pieces of a long broken set).

Pull his string and this Bugs Bunny pleads "Take me with you" in a decidedly un-Mel Blanc voice.

Puzzling Mickey Mouse.

And who you gonna call?  Robot? Star Wars figurines?  Pluto?

Robot, I guess.

Quotas - Top Cel Vol 1, #4

Interesting discussion of the Disney pay system below

REPORT ON LAST MEETING

The Famous Unit of Local 1461 met at the Commodore Hotel last Wednesday to accept or reject the current proposed contract in part or total.

the votes were taken after separating the two main issues into:

a) the minimum salary acceptable in individual departments, and

b) the acceptance of the incentive bonus system.

the vote was so taken for convenience, it being understood that one issue influenced the other.

(Ed. Note: Several large and influential unions have favored the incentive  bonus plan as a fair plan which will benefit employer getting increased production and increased profits with the same overhead and the employee an increase in money he takes home though his base salary (this in itself should be fair) remains the same.  This would be the happy result of productive interdepartment teamwork.  To be frowned upon would be "dog eat dog" competition whereby an impossible quota might be set a future date.  Standards for production in the cartoon field, such as an individual quota, whether by footage or drawings, can be more harmful than helpful.  It is well known that footage count and drawing count can easily lie about the individual's ability.  As an example, the "Animator" currently discusses quotas as follows:

As long ago as September, 1942 when the Guild was negotiating the Disney contract with Mr. O'Rourke, we discussed footage, which is the heart of this issue. At that time, Mr. O'Rourke stated that the method followed by certain employers of computing production by animators and their assistants on a straight footage basis was senseless. He compared this situation to the Garment Industry, with which he is very familiar, where, according to Mr. O'Rourke, the problem was met by setting different prices for each different garment, depending on the complexity of the operations required to make that garment. He said that if workers were called upon to perform more arduous and more involved specific tasks, their piece rates were evaluated upwards and settled accordingly: and that the union and the employers participated jointly in each such settlement. It was then agreed by the Guild and Mr. O'Rourke that computing production in this industry on a straight time footage basis was incorrect because it overlooked the many qualitative differences between the content of each scene, and made no greater allowance for the complex than for the simple scene. At the Disney Studio this situation had long been recognized, and there, at one time in computing an animator's work credit was given at the rate of anywhere from 1/2 to 2 1/2 time screen credit, and this was done by a committee which reviewed the particular animator's specific contribution; he

was accordingly credited on the basis of the content, the complexity and the the involved character of each scene, and not on any simple footage theory. As a result, greater credit was given for example, for the creation the "Seven Dwarfs Dance with Snow White" scene than for the depiction of puffs of smoke coming from some toy engine.

It would be inadvisable to experiment here on something that has been rejected by the majority of the industry.)

Acceptable salaries were voted upon. Various departments wished additional conditions re: the bonus plan, such as correction effects, grouping of apprentices and experienced workers. Strong sentiment was expressed for a union shop and also for a security clause being included in the contract. This would give the union the right to dispute questionable firings.

SHOP TALK

Entries for "Oscar"

SCREEN GEMS:       "Imagination"

METRO:                    "Yankee Doodle Mouse"

GEORGE PAL:          "The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins"

DISNEY:                    "Reason and Emotion"

LANTZ:                     "The Dizzy Acrobat"

SCHLESINGER:       "Greetings, Bait"

The only two studios that did not make entries were Famous and Terry. (For-r-r shame!)

The new permanent voice for "Andy Panda" as signed by Walt Lantz will be Walter Tetley.  You know Tetley as Leroy in the "Great Gildersleeve" on WFAF Sunday night.

Mexico will be the first to try out the visual education project which is designed to reduce illiteracy in the Western Hemisphere.  Disney's cartoons will be used to teach reading, writing, biology, physiology, etc.  These plans are being working on by representatives of the U. S. Government, Mexico and the Disney Studios.

FLIPPINGS

JOE DENEROFF has completed the cycle......back at Famous after four years....last stop was the 1st Motion Picture Unit of Culver City making pictures for the Army Air Force.....GORDON SHEEHAN now directing at a commercial studio....HOWARD POST is making his debut at in-betweening.....GEORGETTE SORENSON, one of Famous' new inbetweeners to be is now Mrs. Johnny Clark.....seems that RUTH GORMAN and RHODA GRAPEK have been secretly depositing at the Blood Bank.....DENNY CUNNINGHAM is doing all right at MGM....with sunshine too.....SAMMY TIMBERG is awaiting the arrival of a b-a-b-y......HERBIE FRANKEL now with the Publicity Dep't at MGM.  Also seen at the Blood Bank were ELI LEVITAN, OTTO FEUER and RUBE GROSSMAN.....wall sockets scare NORMA KORN who's afraid of "Transfusions".....who could say "Fresh from Schless"? (last issue of TOP CEL).

TOP CEL hopes to have flippings from the Terry  Unit in the next issue.

KNOWING OUR UNION

The Executive Board

A total of 14 people form the membership of the Executive Board.

The President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Financial Secretary (collects money), Treasurer (gives out money), Conductor (administers oaths) and Warder (Sgt. at Arms) plus three Trustees (check finances) and

two delegates from each unit.

(The Business Agent is not a member although he attends, makes reports and carries out instructions given him.)

The Board meets twice a month, the first and third Monday.  It brings reports and general recommendations to the Membership, administers small matters like paying bills, sending letters, etc., and also acts in the capacity of an advisory body.  For example, in the latter instance, the negotiations committee of the Famous Unit which is composed of three members, cannot very easily call a general membership meeting for each problem.  Here the Board represents the Membership.

Any union member is invited to be present at any executive meeting, although he does not possess a vote.

The General Membership acts as the last word in any union matter and has the power accept or reject any idea put forth by the board.

A well informed General Manager in a check and balance system with the Executive Board is vital to form a responsible and progressive union.

Other People's Junk #3

We've just wrapped on a segment for NOVA which explores the future of space suit design.

Mickey Mouse's helmet would not be enough to prevent his ears and arms from depressurizing and turning into ooze.  Unless this dungarees and shirt are fitted with cutting edge zero gravity design his whole body would quickly melt in space.

Not a pretty picture to put on your space thermos.

Best to stick with the standard Mickey Mouse dishwear if you want to be safe.

Or you can go with the classic black and white.

Burchfield, John and Mary

John Canemaker wrote a typically excellent piece on Charles Burchfield for Print.  On his recommendation, after being stopped in my tracks by the bus kiosk ad, I visited the Whitney for “Heat Waves in a Swamp: The Paintings of Charles Burchfield.”

It's an exhaustive exhibition, de rigueur for today's blockbuster art economy, that leads you from interest to apathy to excitement.

While Canemaker discusses Burchfield's relationship to animation his article stops short of going into animation's relationship to Burchfield.

John's affinity for the painter is clear.

(above) Bridgehampton by John Canemaker

(above) Untitled (Landscape with Trees and Birds), 1925.  

Currently on exhibit at the Alexandre Gallery, 41 E. 57th Street.

Burchfield's loose, almost abstract, landscapes are more of graphic recreation of a feeling than the fastidious landscapes of 19th Century.  This is a style which is very "animate-able".  It's visually appealing, quick to draw, and repeatable.

Traces of his work can be found in Mary Blair's work for Disney.

(above) By Mary Blair from Peter Pan  (linked from Michael Sporn, scanned 

from "The Colors of Mary Blair")

(above) "Fireflies and Lightening" by Burchfield, in the Whitney Exhibit.

I know it heretical in animation, but I've always found Mary Blair's work teetering on kitsch.  And this comparison helps explain that impulse.

Burchfield was one of America's best known artists in the first half of the century.  He was the star of the MoMA's first one man exhibit, he had a very successful line of Christmas cards and feature articles in "Fortune", "Life" and other national magazines.  It would be hard to believe that the Mary Blair wasn't aware of his work.

Many of the ideas in his paintings are evident in the Disney work.  The contrast of dark foreground with open skies.  Depth built through a chiaroscuro of color fading from saturation to white.  Natural forms indicated through shape.  The repeat of figures.

The Disney work polishes it until the shine is obvious.  Again, the comparison to Bridgehampton is telling.  Canemaker, like Burchfield, trusts the audience to commune with the artist.  The Mary Blair designs, one cog in a mechanical assembly, never take that leap.

The show at the Whitney runs eight galleries.  In the first, we're introduced to sketches.  Mostly nightmarish stuff with sinister titles.

This opens into a room containing the work shown in his 1930 MoMA exhibition (much from his 1918 of his annus mirabilis).  These are nice -some are particularly Mary Blair -but altogether not so impressive.  It's clear the artist isn't a master of his trade, there's a lot of "fix ups" in the watercolor and he either doesn't  trust negative space or can't control the pigment well enough to create it.  You get the impression of stumbling on some great yard sale find, not an American master.

The next few galleries (with the exception of his very cool work as a wallpaper designer) cement this opinion.

But then

Wow.

In his notes the artist writes how he abandoned a version of this (above) painting, The Coming of Spring, years earlier because he didn't have the tools to complete it.

After working up the masterpiece, he revisited the old in the style of his younger self.

The final gallery is full of paintings from this period from the 1950s through his death.

Walk quickly through the rest of the show to have the time and energy to spend here.  The promise shown in those WWI era watercolors fully blooms in the final two decades of the artist's life.  And, unfortunately there's very little animation like it.

Animator 1950

So this is really the last of the Screen Cartoonists Local 852 newsletters in our collection.

From here we'll be moving on to a full run of the East Coast Union's "Top Cel".

This is from May 1950.

The front page notified the members of a non-work action against Jerry Fairbanks Studio for a year old issue of severance and vacation.


A list of nominees for union offices appears.  Bill Scott is on the ballot to edit the newsletter.  I wonder if it suddenly became funny.

Page two is a letter from Bill Littlejohn (not only a great animator, but the guild Business Agent) address the possibility of a strike.

Finally from "Variety" May 18, 1950

"Disney in Black; 75G 6-Mo. Net ...In a report to stockholders, Paul L. Pease, treasurer, said the 'outlook for the fiscal year, ending Sept 30 1950 has been materially improved by the boxoffice showing of 'Cinderella'.  The prospect now is for modest net profit for 1950, compared with the net loss of $93,899 in 1949..."

Animator #85 - July 14, 1944. Holiday Issues

We have about seven of these newsletters left before we move on to the complete run of the New York based "Top Cel".

In order to get through them we'll probably be posting one every couple days.

Disney Studio

It has been the firm conviction of the leadership of the Guild that every effort should be made to try to find a basis for peace and harmony with the producers and particularly with our largest employer.  The following record is a perfect example of how far we have been willing to go in an attempt to bring about decent labor relations.

The following excerpt is take from a letter written to Mr. O'Rourke as Executive Secretary of the Association on December 29.

"On your return to this city I spoke with you in relation to the coming Xmas and New Years holiday. In our conversation you promised to take this matter to the Association and give me a reply.

"To date we have had no reply from you..."

On January 4 we received a reply as follows from Mr. O'Rourke:

"The matter was submitted to all of the members of the Film Producers Association and it was unanimously decided that the provision of the contract would be followed. The provision stipulates regarding holidays:

'If not worked, these holidays if they fall within the work week will be paid for at straight time.'

"Since Christmas and New Years did not fall within the work week they will not be paid for."

We quote our reply of January 10:

"you state cateqorically that, 'Since Christmas and New Year days did not fall within the work week they will not be paid for.' This, of course, creates an impasse which can only be solved by arbitration. You will recall that we pointed out to you that the intent of the contract contemplated six annual holidays and in so far as the Guild was concerned we would, in order to meet the producers half way, accept two other holidays in lieu of Christmas and New Years. We assume from your letter that this proposal was likewise rejected.

"Under the grievance and arbitration procedure of our existing contracts with the employer members of your organization, we suggest an immediate meeting to designate an Impartial Chairman. So that there may be no question we hereby offer to meet with you at anytime to designate such person to arbitrate this dispute..."

The remainder of the page is an escalating letter from the Guild's lawyer to Disney.

On page two we learn that -after a long struggle with Disney, the arbitrator found in favor of the Union.

It then goes on to explain that the company still refused to pay the two days wages under the pretense that the could "go to jail" for crossing the War Labor Board.  So they would wait for permission from the WLB.

It's no surprise that a company would spend so much effort to delay the inevitable payment of its obligations.

Page 3 lists newly elected board members including Chuck Jones from Warners.