Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

As They Headed for 20th-Fox Meeting New York — Here is presented pictorially the departure of the home office and eastern contingent for the 20th Century-Fox annual scries convention in Chicago. At the left, the event is keynoted by Charles E. McCarthy, director of advertising and publicity, who offers visual proof the gang is on the right train. His contention is supported by Arch Reeve, advertising manager. PHOTOS BY COSMO-SILEO Sir Gordon Craig, general manager of British Movietone News, and R. Sutton Dawes, managing director of sales in Great Britain. McCarthy , again; Clarence A. Hill, William Sussman, eastern division manager, and Red Kami of Boxoffice, have a look at Boxoffice Flashes which were distributed to departing conventioneers. William J. Kupper, western divisional sales manager , and John Dillon, Los Angeles manager. CONVENTION NOTES Charles McCarthy’s advertising-publicity-exploitation exhibit excited considerable comment among the delegates. The local branch salesmen were so proud of it they had exhibitors looking it over. ★ The boys were still talking about the Golden Gloves inter-city battle between New York and Chicago at the Coliseum. The entire delegation witnessed the exciting contests from the ringside. ★ General Counsel Felix A. Jenkins had more questions fired at him during the convention than any other man. Every body wanted to get the “lowdown” on the trade practice proposals. ★ Claimant to the distinction of being the employe with the longest years of service in the company is I. J. Schmertz, Cleveland branch manager, who could point to his start as an office boy in the New York exchange known then as Box Office Attractions, Inc. ★ Spyros Skouras headed the National Theatres delegation which included William T. Powers, Harold J. Fitzgerald and Jack Sullivan. It was “old home week” for Sullivan who used to be Los Angeles branch manager. ★ Milwaukee Manager Jack Lorentz could be heard telling the boys about the new exchange building his staff will occupy in May. * Probably the busiest man at the convention was Jack Sichelman, assistant to Wobber, who was in charge of the arrangements. The consensus of opinion was that he did a good job . . . Terry Novat, poster director, came in early to handle the decorations and to erect an advertising-publicity exhibit. ★ It was the first sales meeting at which Herman Wobber presided as general manager of distribution. He received a rising ovation from the delegates. ★ The annual challenges flew fast and thick as district managers Edgar Moss of Philadelphia and Tom Bailey of Boston got together. Anyhow, Tom says, Boston will finish higher than the A’s this year. In fact, Tom was bragging that the Red Sox will down the Yanks for the pennant. ★ The Minneapolis gang marched off with the “largest delegation” honors when Branch Manager Joe Podoloff stormed in with his group of salesmen, topping the New York force by two. ★ Canadian managers garnered the lion’s share of the prizes for their work in the 1938 Drive. Up to the rostrum for their checks stepped Winnipeg’s J. H. Huber, whose branch was first; Eddie English, Montreal; Reggie March, St. John’s; 20th-Fox Convention An "Open" One Chicago — The second major company (the other was M-G-M) to depart from established custom of closed convention sessions. 20th Century-Fox invited about 20 leading circuit and independent exhibitors to hear Herman Wobber, general sales manager, announce the company's 1939-40 production schedule. Among those who accepted were Walter Immerman, Jules Rubens, Jimmy Coston, Lou Reinheimer, Jack Rose, Sam Meyers and Jack Kirsch. 32-D BOXOFFICE April 1, 1939