Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1930)

October 4, 1930 EXHIBITORS HERALD -WORLD 25 Know Your Exchange —Managers The exchange manager is the direct contact between exhibitor and distributor, and therefore it is to their mutual advantage to know each other. The Herald-World presents a series of brief sketches of exchange managers and their outstanding activities in the motion picture field. F. F. Coodrow F'ROM Warner to other distributors and back to Warner is the epitome of the news of the stewardship of F. F. Goodrow, New Orleans branch manager now. He entered the business as salesman for the old Warner Feature Company, handling such pictures as "Mystery of the Glass Coffin," "Accusing Skeleton," "Clue of the Broken Fingers" and many other three-reel attractions. Next he went with Electric Picture Company, thence to Mutual, handling the serials and Mutual Master Pictures. Leaving Mutual, he started an exchange of his own and maintained it until Select Pictures Corporation came into existence. A AS district manager at Detroit M G M has J. E. Flynn, who entered the industry in 1914 as assistant manager of the Mutual Film Company at Omaha, which then also served Omaha. Seven months later he identified himself with General Film Company at Omaha, again as assistant manager. Fred Aiken, at that time western sales manager for General at Chicago, made Flynn special representative, and next he became manager with headquarters at Cleveland. When Goldwyn was J. E. Flyn formed he joined it and went to Australia as managing director, returning to the Detroit territory. A FOR fourteen years B. B. Reingold has been in the film business, with much of that time in the employ of the Goldwyn organization. Ten years of the fourteen have been under the jurisdiction of James R. Grainger. While with Goldwyn he had charge of the Milwaukee office for one year, Chicago two years, Omaha three and Des Moines two. After Goldwyn's merger with Metro, Reingold was sent to Cincinnati. His next connection was with Fox six years ago. He has had charge succes Protests Move Ohio Censors To Lift Ban on "The Big House" Board Does an About Face After Announcing 10 Days Ago It Postively Would Not— M P T 0 Official Given Much of Credit — Exhibitors Ready for Big B. 0. (Special to the Herald-World) COLUMBUS, Oct. 2. — Succumbing to a wave of public protest that has surged in upon the Ohio board of censors ever since it banned M G M's picture, "The Big House," from showing in the state three months ago, the film court has practically been forced to reverse its decision and permit exhibition of the picture. The official verdict to drop the bars came September 20. Ten days earlier it was announced, just as officially, that the ban positively would not be removed. Many credit P. J. Wood, business manager of the Ohio M P T O, with a large part in the movement that resulted in a reversal of decision. He made a sort of political issue of the affair in Columbus. The Democratic party subsequently took it up as a state issue in the governor's race. Said It Affected Morals The censors have heretofore steadfastly maintained that "The Big House" depicted too strongly the menace of over-crowded prisons, and that it cast an unfavorable light upon state officials. The opinion was also advanced that it was detrimental to the morals of Ohio youth. In passing the picture, Dr. J. L. Clifton, state director of education, under whose jurisdiction the censor board functions, gave out the following statement : " 'The Big House' was presented to the Ohio film censor board for censoring several months ago. It was held up at that time because a doubt existed in the minds of the board members as to the merits of the picture. "Although that doubt still exists to a certain extent, the board has now come to the conclusion that, on account of what seems to be a state-wide demand for his picture which has arisen, it should take into consideration the will of the people and release the picture for showing. This is in keeping with the action of other states. Therefore the board of film censors has reconsidered its action and has today approved 'The Big House.' " Exhibitors Expect Big Business Exhibitors throughout the state are now making preparations to show the film at advanced prices, and it is predicted that all bouses will do capacity business. Several years ago an identical occurrence took place in connection with "The Birth of a Nation." The picture was first suppressed and later re leased, with tremendous results at the box office. So it appears that the suppression action, rather than harm the exhibitors, will prove a large financial benefit. It has been a big exploitation campaign at no cost whatever to the showman. The first Ohio showing of "The Big House" will be in Akron October 4. On October 11, it will open at Loew houses in Columbus, Cleveland, Dayton and Canton. Film Made Evidence in Jersey City Injury Suit (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 2.— A novel use of the motion picture was illustrated in a court room in Jersey City recently. Suit had been brought on behalf of a boy injured by an automobile. The short film, showing the boy at play on two occasions since the accident, was exhibited by the defense, "for purposes of illustration." Despite the motion picture evidence, however, the jury awarded $15,000 damages to the boy. National Screen Films Trailer for Hollowe'en (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 2.— -In connection with the special Hallowe'en matinees and evening performances planned by many exhibitors, National Screen Service has prepared a special trailer. A pictorial Hallowe'en art background is featured, with four types of exploitation copy available. Clark Silvernail, Actor And Director, Passes On (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 2.— Clark Silvernail, "stormy petrel" of the Equity-Producers battle last year, died here after several months illness. He was a writer, actor and director. Ben B. Reingold sively of the branches at Omaha, Des Moines and St. Louis. Radio to Make All Release Prints on Coast at a New Million Dollar Plant (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 2. — A million dollar addition to Southern California's industry was announced yesterday by RKO. Within thirty days ground will be broken for a Aim laboratory which will be one of the most modern plants in the world. Announcement was made by Joseph I. Schnitzer, president of Radio Pictures, on his arrival here. Schnitzer and William LeBaron, vice president in charge of production, are inspecting six sites near the company's studios and will select one. LeBaron said that Frank Garbutt, widely known laboratory expert, will supervise the building and take charge of operation of the laboratory. Employment will be given to 150 to 175. Most significant is the revelation that all R K O release prints will be made on the West Coast. Virtually all such prints of all producing companies are now made in New York. The laboratory will have a normal capacity of sixty million feet of film a year. It is expected that the laboratory will care for some of the 34 features on this year's program.