Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1963)

Of People and Events Columbia Advances Manpower To Meet New Global Needs Columbia is one of the film companies that is moving aggressively and perceptively to meet the new and expanding problems of the business. In line with managements cognizance of the need for orientation of operations in the changing patterns of production and promotion on the global front, the firm announced two key promotions last week. Jonas Rosenfield, Jr., vice-president in charge of advertising, was named gen FERGUSON & ROSENFIELD eral executive officer of the company, and Robert S. Ferguson was advanced to the post of executive in charge of world-wide activities in advertising, publicity and exploitation. In announcing these changes to strengthen Columbia's manpower, executive vice-president Leo Jaffe declared: "The needs of our business today require the individual packaging and marketing of each picture on a world-wide basis, from the moment of acquisition, deep into its global release. This will be one of Rosenfield's new managerial responsibilities which he will carry out in constant consultation with our producer partners." The Columbia promotion department under the guidance of Rosenfield and Ferguson has an established reputation for vigorous showmanship that is credited with getting maximum boxoffice results from all types of releases, be they "gimmick" programmers or blockbusters of the "Lawrence of Arabia" calibre. Rosenfield, 47, entered the industry in 1936, and has had a broad experience in all phases of movie promotion. He joined Columbia in 1955 and was named a vice president of the company about a year ago. Ferguson, also 47, came to the film business from the newspaper field and has been with Columbia since 1940. KALMENSON Warner to Kalmenson: You're a helluva Man! An appreciative word from the boss is always good to get, and, as yet, nobody has found a way to make it taxable. It thus remains one of the few forms of recognition that can be received in as full a measure as it is given. Benjamin Kalmenson, Warner Bros, executive vice-president, was singled out for glowing praise by the president of the firm, Jack L. Warner. Referring to the increase in income of the company in the past year, Warner cited Kalmenson's enterprise as being "an extremely important factor in the profitable operation of our company. His accurate pulse-taking of the box-office and his courageous showmanship have helped to give the company the progressive outlook and solid economic position it holds today." Particularly to the distribution v.p.'s credit, and proof of his astute showmanship, boss J. L. declared, was his decision to make the deal for "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane", a picture that other companies had rejected. It was also due to his foresight that "Baby Jane" was chosen by the Theatre Owners of America for its first Hollywood Preview Engagement. Of Kalmenson, who in 36 years with Warner Bros, rose from booker of live talent for Warner Theatres to executive vp, Jack Warner said, "What he has done, and what he will continue to do for the future, cannot help but lift the economic and showmanship level of the industry." DFZ To Reactivate 20th-Fox Production Indications are that Darryl F. Zanuck has no intention of allowing the 20th Century-Fox studio to lie fallow much longer. He appears to be developing concrete plans for reactivation of the plant, which has been virtually shut down since he took command of the financially embarrassed firm last summer. In the meantime, 20th's chief executive has been engaged primarily in reorganizing the company's manpower, getting "The Longest Day" into release and putting the costliest film of all time, "Cleopatra", into final form for release late in the spring. Now he seems ready to move ahead. With an eye to the long-range needs of the company, Zanuck last week announced some down-to-brass-tacks planning for the resumption of production, the first step being a program for the development of story properties. He proposes to sponsor both established and undiscovered writers by underwriting "work in progress" to assure 20th of "a continuing flow of outstanding story material". Recalling to his success in the past in underwriting the completion of promising works, Zanuck said, "I believe we can render an important service by co-operating with writers at the inception of their work. "If we like a proposed idea, we would give the writer an advance payment to develop it, with further payments contingent on our approval of the work in progress." Administering the plan of advance payments towards the completion of work in progress is Richard D. Zanuck, head of production at the Westwood Studio, and Henry Klinger, head of the story department in New York. The company, in addition, will continue to scout material from legitimate theatre producers and publishers. Meanwhile, the personnel changes at 20th continue. William H. Schneider, former Donahue and Coe executive, takes on the newly-created post of creative advertising consultant, it was announced by Seymour Poe, vice presiident in charge of world distribution. He will work primarily with advertising director Abe Goodman and art director Harold Van Riel in the creation of ad campaigns. Morton Segal succeeds Nat Weiss as publicity manager, moving over from Paramount where he (Cotiinued on Page 17) ZANUCK Page 12 Film BULLETIN, January 7, 1943