Photograph was edited for publication purposes. In February 1945, Herbert Sorrell lead a six-month strike that originated with a dispute between two unions, the CSU (Conference of Studio Unions) and the IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine Operators of the United States and Canada) over which one of them had union authority over seventy-seven set decorators. An independent arbitrator appointed by the War Labor Board found that the CSU had jurisdiction over the set decorators. When Hollywood producers refused to acknowledge that decision, the strike began. Around 10,000 CSU workers went on strike, picketing all of the studios. Many members of IATSE refused to cross the picket lines or do work normally filled by members of the CSU. The studios, however, had films already completed and were able to handle the strike better than the workers. By October, resources were running low and on October 5, 1945, picketers and replacement workers were involved in a bloody battle that became known as Hollywood Black Friday. Police and sheriffs from several departments were called in to handle the melee. Over 40 people were injured and property was destroyed. The strike was settled for a time. Another strike was called in September, 1946, after the studios replaced CSU workers and locked them out. After more fighting, the Screen Actors Guild voted to cross picket lines, a blow to the strikers. The CSU finally voted to permit impoverished members and supporters to cross the picket lines and return to work. These events led to the enactment of the Taft-Hartley Act, a federal bill that restricts the activities and power of labor unions. Herbert K. Sorrell was born on April 18, 1897. He was active in unions and became a Hollywood union organizer and leader. He headed the Conference of Studio Unions in the late 1940s, and was the business manager of the Motion Picture Painters union until the 1950s. He died on May 1973. Joseph Arthur Padway was a labor lawyer and politician. Photograph caption dated May 15, 1945 reads "Herbert H. Sorrell, left, president of the Conference of Studio Unions, and Joseph Padway, general counsel of the A. F. L., are shown when they met at the Ambassador today and discussed plans for settlement of Hollywood's stalemated film strike." They are standing in a lobby and Sorrell is looking at Padway handing something to a bellhop. The Ambassador Hotel was located at 3400 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles.
Type
Image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;26 x 21 cm. Photographic prints
Sorrell, Herbert Knott,--1897-1974 Ambassador Hotel American Federation of Labor Conference of Studio Unions--Presidents Labor leaders--United States Lawyers--California--Los Angeles Strikes and lockouts--Motion picture industry--California--Los Angeles Hotel lobbies--California--Los Angeles Hotels--California--Los Angeles Bellhops--California--Los Angeles Motion picture industry--California--Los Angeles Men--California--Los Angeles Lost architecture--California--Los Angeles Los Angeles Evening Herald and Express photographs Herald-Examiner Collection photographs
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
