The story of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation (1919)

Foreign distribution THE phenomenal growth in the distribution and exploitation of Paramount-Artcraft pictures in the United States in the last two years has been more than duplicated in the foreign department of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation which is seeing to it that the tens of millions of motion picture lovers in all parts of the world are supplied with their favorite pictures, which means Paramount-Artcraft. So great has been the expansion of the export business of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, that there is not a civilized nation on the globe in which Paramount-Artcraft pictures are not known and shown regularly. This world-wide demand for Paramount-Artcraft pictures has shown a wonderful increase, despite the fact that the war and its restrictions upon commerce have closed a number of countries to American commerce or have seriously curtailed shipping space for the exporta- tion of film. The export business of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation was increased by a very wide margin in 1918, and has shown such wonderful growth in the first six months of 1919 as to indicate that the exportation of Paramount-Artcraft pictures abroad during 1919 will be double or treble that of the year 1918. Under the direction of Mr. Emil E. Shauer, assistant treasurer, arrangements have been concluded for the distribution of Paramount-Artcraft Pictures in all corners of the world. The world-wide supremacy of Paramount-Artcraft pictures is indicated by the great increase in the demand for Famous Players-Lasky productions in the Latin-American countries, notably Argentine, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Cuba, and in Canada, England, France, Spain, the Scandinavian countries, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China and the other nations of the world with which trade relations were maintained during the war. The coming of peace will mark the re-opening of the Central European nations to Ameri- can commerce, and there is every indication that Paramount-Artcraft pictures will resume their world leadership in these countries. Contracts have been closed for the dis- tribution of Paramount-Artcraft pictures in the Ukraine, Jugo-Slovakia, Roumania and Czecho-Slovakia, and inquiries received from the other new nations of Europe indicate that they will speedily join the Paramount-Artcraft world family. As the first of a series of important moves to increase the prestige and standing of Paramount-Artcraft pictures abroad, the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation has announced the formation in London of the Famous Players-Lasky British Producers, Ltd., a $3,000,000 corporation which will produce Paramount-Artcraft pictures on European locations. A number of prominent English financiers became interested in the possibilities for the production of Paramount-Artcraft pictures in the beautiful lake and mountain regions of England, and broached the subject to Mr. Adolph Zukor, president of the Famous Players- Lasky Corporation. Negotiations were quickly begun, and the final arrangements for the establishment of the new producing organization were completed by Mr. Shauer, while on a business trip to England and France. Mr. J. C. Graham, general foreign representative, will be the directing head of the Famous Players-Lasky British Producers, Ltd., while Mr. Jesse L. Lasky, first vice-president, will direct the production activities abroad. A competent production staff has been sent to England to take charge of the production work there. The wonderful efficiency with which the Foreign Department has served the world-wide demand for Paramount-Artcraft pictures is illustrated by the fact that millions of feet of film were shipped abroad during the war period without the loss of a single foot of film. This record is remarkable when one considers that it was accomplished despite the destructive [ +7 ]