Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

Harry J. Bailey, Toronto, and Verne M. Skorey, Calgary. * Los Angeles branch manager, John N. Dillon, did a “Corrigan” in getting to the convention. He arrived with the eastern delegation from New York. John was in the east on his annual vacation, but returned with his sales crew. k Morris Kinzler of Kayton-Spiero which handles the 20th-Fox advertising account was very much in evidence throughout all sessions. * Due to the projectionists’ strike in New York, nine members of the New York and New Jersey staff did not join the conventioneers’ regular special train. Included in this group were Harry H. Buxbaum, Joe Lee, Morris Sanders, Abe Blumstein, William Schutzer, Moe Kurtz, George Blinderman, Dick Gledhill and Seymour Floron. ■k Lee Balsly, ad sales manager, says he experienced no trouble in accessories’ shipments from the New York exchange during the projectionists’ strike. Eddie Hollander dittoed the remarks. * Eddie Arnold arrived here from New York, en route back to the coast, on the first section of the 20th Century. The eastern crowd arrived on the second section which was called the 20th CenturyFox 20th Century, Ltd. * Jim P. O’Loghlin has covered more than 50,000 miles on the last two sales drives for S. R. Kent. And he’s still going strong. * Sam Gross, Philadelphia branch manager, returned just in time from a vacation in Hot Springs. Edgar B. Moss, district manager, did plenty of heckling on the way out from New York. All in the spirit of good fun. * Ted Shaw got a mysterious phone call in his office just before he left for the Century. The operator said it was the tax department. But the boys at the home office were behind the mysterious call and it had Teddie worried for a bit, anyhow. ★ Clarence D. Hill and Martin Moskowitz, home office blue bloods to the hilt, haven’t had vacations for at least ten years. So they say. Which means they are in for some kind of a medal. k Paul Terry will let you have California and Long Island for production, but he’ll take New Rochelle where he’s been producing his shorts for the past five years. Steve Fitzgibbon, Movietone News studio manager, and Walter J. Hutchinson, director of foreign distribution. He was accompanied by Harvey Day, sales manager, and William Weiss, treasurer of Terrytoons. Ten of the 26 shorts Terry will make are to be in Technicolor, he says. ★ It was the first convention for all the Cosmopolitan Productions’ boys, who just changed from the Warner to the 20th Cen tury distribution banner. * Plans had been made some weeks ago for an elaborate cornerstone-laying ceremony at the Chicago exchange’s new building being erected here. But the contractor got ahead of schedule and the place where the cornerstone would have been was filled in about three weeks ago. V^iiliam J. Clark, short subjects sales; Sussynan, and Hill. Bill Ornstein of Boxoffice; Paul Terry, producer of Terrytoons; Harvey Day sr„ Terry toon sales representative, and William Weiss. Terry toon treasurer. — Photos by Cosmo-Sileo Felix A. Jenkins, general counsel of 20 th-Fox; Edgar Moss, district mayiager in Philadelphia; Lew Lehr of Fox Movietone fame, and a man unidentified. Solid Boxoffice Hit San Francisco (At the Golden Gate Exposition's Treasure Island) — First and last, 20th Century-Fox's "The Story of Alexander Graham Bell" must be acclaimed as a solid boxoffice hit, including as it does every known ingredient for financial success. Then comes the unstinting credit it earns for the magnificent manner in which it is mounted, its inspired and brilliant cast and its flawless screenplay and direction. Here is that rare combination — A prestige picture which attains the highest brackets in entertainment values. It elevates Don Ameche in the title role to the uppermost pinnacles of Thespic excellence, his performance being closely pressed for honors by that of Loretta Young. Kenneth Macgowan produced; Irving Cummings directed. — SPEAR. BOXOFFICE :: April 1, 1939 32-E