The Exhibitor (Jun-Oct 1939)

8 THE NATIONAL MIRROR Number 31 of a Series: JOHN F. ROGERS Manager WILMER & VINCENT STATE THEATRE Harrisburg. Pennsylvania "THE EXHIBITOR is a valu¬ able aid to me for two reasons in particular. I am benefited greatly by the feature on newspaper ads, a service which has enormous possibili¬ ties, and also by the release chart. Every showman should appreciate the criticism offered on the advertisements.” Nearly every Exhibitor reads THE EXHIBITOR! AN INVITATION Throughout 1 93 9, expressions of praise, comment, criticism or sug¬ gestion from our many Exhibitor Friends will be carried in similar form in every issue. W.e welcome the expression of every reader and will use them in the order in which they are. received. Roxy Get 20th-Fox First Darryl F. Zanuck, vice-president of production at 20th Century-Fox studios in Hollywood, completed arrangements this week to hold the world premiere showings of all the major releases in New York at the Roxy, New York City, during the "World s Fair season. Zanuck’s plan has been so devised that the New York World’s Fair visitors will be first to see the screen productions released by 20th Century-Fox during the present season. This special arrangement will make it possible for the Roxy to show first many outstanding screen fea¬ tures, most of them several weeks prior to their regular release schedules. Universal Employees Insured Nearly 1000 employees in the New York offices of Universal, and in its ex¬ changes throughout the country are now protected by group accident and sick¬ ness insurance, according to an announce¬ ment made last week by S. Machnovitch, treasurer. Cost of the insurance, which is provided through an arrangement with the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, will be shared by the company and the insured employees. During disability resulting from nonoccupational accident or sickness, in¬ sured employees will receive payments to a maximum of $40 a week, in accordance with their earnings. Bootleg Film Ring Smashed It was revealed this week that the Copyright Protection Bureau has broken up a bootleg film ring, when Jack H. Levin, director, announced that a special investigation into bootlegging of films was smashed. More than 100 illegitimate prints were seized by Federal men, with R. E. Gregg, who operates the PanAmerican lab in Chicago, facing a jail term or fine or both as the result of his pleading guilty to a charge of distribut¬ ing unauthorized duped copies of films. The investigation took one year. Levy Sets Convention Dates General Sales Manager Jules Levy, RKO Radio, last week announced that the company’s 1939 International Sales Convention will be held at the West¬ chester Country Club, Rye, New York, June 19-22. Gathering will mark the first oppor¬ tunity the distribution staff has had to meet President George J. Schaefer, who joined the organization in mid-winter. RKO Net $388,822 Estimate of $3 88,822 net profit for the first quarter of 1939 for RKO was made last week in the report of Irving Trust Company as trustees of the com¬ pany to the Federal Court. “Young Mr. Lincoln’’ Premiere Big Event 20th Century-Fox Invites Critics to Springfield, III. It was announced this week that 20th Century-Fox has invited 119 newspaper critics, syndicate writers and photog¬ raphers and trade press representatives to attend the world premiere of "Young Mr. Lincoln” in Springfield, Illinois, on the night of Memorial Day. Newspaper¬ men will go from 22 cities throughout the country. A special train will carry the eastern visitors from New York to Lincoln’s heme town and special railroad accom¬ modations have been arranged for thos; going from middle western cities. Visitors will arrive in Springfield on the morning of May 3 0. They will be guests at a luncheon given by civic or¬ ganizations of the city and will be taken on a tour of the historical spots of the city, including the famous Lincoln Me¬ morial. Premiere of the picture will be held at 8 o’clock and the opening part of the program, which will include a group of songs by Marian Anderson, famous Negro contralto, with Lowell Thomas in¬ troducing other celebrities, will go on the air over a coast-to-coast network of the Mutual Broadcasting System. Following the screening the guests will be taken to one of the hotels for a mid¬ night supper and entertainment. Special train will leave Springfield the following morning, arriving back in New York City June 1. Newspaper writers from the following cities will attend: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D. C., Pitts¬ burgh, Chicago, Albany, Syracuse, Cleve¬ land, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Kansas City, Detroit, Milwaukee, Buffalo, Des Moines, Minneapolis, Omaha, At¬ lanta, Baltimore, Louisville. Mexico Union Tiff Affects Exhibs With the Federation of Mexican Work¬ ers placing Universal and Metro pictures on the banned list of the union’s trouble wtih a large Mexican circuit, American distributors faced trouble in that coun¬ try this week. The Federation wants recognition from the Rodrigues circuit, which engaged employees for a new house in Monterey from a union not affiliated with it. The distribs take the position that they can¬ not break contracts with their exhibitor accounts merely because the union so de¬ sires. Most of the American distributors ser¬ vice the circuit in question and they all face the same problem. May 17, 19)9