Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

Trade Leaders Commend Memorial Service Plan New York — Wide endorsement by industry executives in New York and Hollywood has been given the proposal for annual memorial services for the departed in the industry. Many Figures Active The great majority of those responding to an invitation to aid in sponsoring the memorial have consented to serve actively on the committees. Others, because of time limitations, have declared their willingness to cooperate in other ways. Commendation of the plan followed publication in Boxoffice recently of a story outlining its purpose, which is an appropriate, dignified tribute on the part of the industry as a whole to those of its members who have passed on. To Be Held in Fall It is the consensus among a number of prominent New York executives who are serving on the committee that because this is the season of the year when motion picture companies are holding or about to hold their sales conventions and because of the approach of summer, that the services be postponed until the fall. Accordingly, plans for the memorial will proceed along definite lines after Labor Day. Memorial Services Committee The following New York executives have consented to serve on the committees or otherwise assist; Neil Agnew, vice-pres.. Paramount Pictures, Inc.; Jack Alicoate, publisher. The Film Daily; Edward L. Alperson, pres.. Grand National Films, Inc.; Barney Balaban, pres.. Paramount Pictures, Inc.; Harry Brandt, Brandt Theatres; president, ITOA; J. E. Brulatour, Brulatour, Inc.; H. D. Buckley, vice-pres., United Artists Corp.; Lowell V. Calvert, Selznick International Pictures; John D. Clark, vice-pres., 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. George F. Dembow, National Screen Service; Ned E. Depinet, vice-pres., RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.; Howard Dietz, adv. & pub. dir., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures; Oscar A. Doob, adv. & pub. dir., Loew’s Theatres; A1 Finestone, associate editor, Boxoffice; Y. Frank Freeman, vice-pres.. Paramount Pictures, Inc.; Robert Gillham, adv. & pub. dir.. Paramount Pictures, Inc.; James R. Grainger, general manager of distribution. Universal Film Exchanges, Inc.; E. B. Hatrick, exec, vicepres., Cosmopolitan Corp.; Gabriel L. Hess, general attorney, MPPDA. W. Ray Johnston, president. Monogram Pictures Corp.; E. L. Kuykendall, president. Motion Picture Theatres Owners of America; Arthur L. Mayer, Rialto Theatre; Carl E. Milliken, secretary, MPPDA; Com. Paul Moss, department of licenses. New York City; James A. Mulvey, vice-pres. Samuel Goldwyn, Inc.; Louis Nizer, attorney; David Palfreyman, MPPDA; C. C. Petti john general counsel, MPPDA; Terry Ramsaye, editor. Motion Picture Herald; Walter Reade, Walter Reade Theatres; Ben Roman, former New York exhibitor who suggested the plan for memorial services; Sol A. Rosenblatt, attorney; Nicholas M. Schenck, pres., Loew’s, Inc.; E. A. Schiller, vice-pres., Loew’s, Inc. Ben Shlyen, publisher, Boxoffice; Louis K. Sidney, managing director, WHN Radio Station; Courtland Smith, president, Pathe News, Inc.; Amedee J. Van Beuren, pres.. The Van Beuren Corp.; W. G. Van Schmus, managing director. Radio City Music Hall; Walter Vincent, Wilmer & Vincent Corp.; George W. Weeks, general sales manager, Gaumont British Pictures Corp.; Herbert J. Yates sr., pres.. Consolidated Films Industries, Inc. Acceptances have also been received from the following in Hollywood; S. J. Briskin, vice-pres., RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.; Sol Lesser, Principal Productions, Inc.; Nat Levine; David L. Loew, David L. Loew Productions, Inc.; Tom S. Pettey, MPPDA; Chas. R. Rogers, exec, vice-pres. in charge of production. Universal Pictures Co.; Kenneth Thomson, secretary, Screen Actors’ Guild; Walter F. Wanger, Walter Wanger Productions, Inc.; W. R. Wilkerson, publisher, Hollywood Reporter; Darryl F. Zanuck, vice-pres., 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. BUYING IS SLOWER, ALLIED CONTENTION Washington — Cocking a weather eye at the shortening foreshadow of the Allied national convention May 26 in Milwaukee, that organization’s leaders announced here last week that exhibitors are making haste slowly in signing for new product. “Preliminary tabulations of 375 forms covering upwards of 400 theatres located in 29 exchange centers,” said the report, indicates “that not more than 22 have bought anything like their requirements for the ensuing year; 38 have bought two or three products . . . and 34 have bought only one line of product, leaving 281 who have signed no contracts whatever.” The results of the survey will be revealed at the convention, and Allied says that “the final report will reveal interesting facts regarding the buying habits of the exhibitors in different parts of the country.” UA "Lips" Premiere New York — The American premiere of UA’s “Dreaming Lips” will be held at the Rivoli Theatre May 19. Elisabeth Bergner, Raymond Massey and Romney Brent are cast in the picture’s feature roles. In addition, academy award-winning Walt Disney shorts for the past five years will be presented. ALL OF PARAIVIOUNT'S BRANCHES TOP QUOTA New York — For the first time in the history of Paramount sales drives, each exchange topped its 100 per cent quota in the recent Zukor Silver Jubilee drive, announced Neil F. Agnew, vice-president in charge of distribution, prior to leaving for a vacation in Hawaii. William Erbb, district manager of Boston, New Haven and Maine, won the first prize of $650 in his division and Milton Kusell, district manager of New York, Brooklyn, Jersey, Albany and Buffalo, drew the second prize of $450. Myron Battler of New York won $600 in the branch managers’ division and Irwin Lesser, also of New York, received $500 in the salesmens’ division. Other Winners Other winners and prizes in the branch managers’ divisions were: A1 Kane, Boston, $400; Edward Bell, Jersey, $300; Edward Ruff, New Haven, $225; A. M. Clark, Columbus, $125. In the salesmen’s group: H. Kaufman, Jersey, $450; H. W'irthwein, Chicago, $400; J. Gubbins, Boston, $350; B. Brooks, New York, $300; H. Germaine, New Haven, $250; J. Gardner, Columbus, $200; O. Elmo. Pittsburgh, $150; M. Segal, Seattle, $100; J. Harris, Boston, $50. G. DeWaide headed the ad sales managers group and won first place of $200, followed by William Rau, San Antonio. $150; Selby Carr, Minneapolis, $100; J. Spiegle, Pittsburgh, $75, and L. Beecher, Albany, $50. The results of the bookers’ prizes were, consecutively, New York, Boston, Jersey, New Haven, Columbus, Seattle, Maine, Chicago, Pittsburgh, San Antonio. Employes of the first five exchanges, exclusive of branch managers, salesmen, bookers and ad sales managers received the following salary bonuses; New York, two weeks’ salary; Boston, one and a half week’s salary; Jersey, one week’s salary; New Haven and Columbus, one-half week’s salary. Sponsor’s wrist watches were awarded to the following: J. Gubbins, Boston; I, Lesser, New York; II. Rubin, Philadelphia; J. Gardner, Columbus; H. Wirthwein, Chicago; E. I. Rubin, Omaha; K. Chalman, Atlanta; C. Duerr, Denver; M. Segal, Seattle; F. Anderson, Minneapolis; G. Gaughan, San Antonio; H. Pfaff, Toronto. • REVIEW FLASHES • A NIGHT OF MYSTERY (Para)— To say this murder melodrama is little better than mediocre is to treat it kindly, its sole redeeming feature being capital performances by Grant Richards and that old reliable comic, Roscoe Kams. Grant Richards, Helen Burgess, Roscoe Karns. MOUNTAIN JUSTICE (FN)— Unfolded with unnecessary brutality, this picture's already restricted appeal is even further curtailed by the limitations of its story structure. Produced with a shocking grimness that leaves it with but a slim chance to pay its way. George Brent, Josephine Hutchinson. SLIM (WB) — A drama that will delight, amuse and touch at the hearts of those who see it. Pat O'Brien, Henry Fonda, Margaret Lind-^ say. COMPLETE REVIEWS on the above pictures will appear in an early issue of BOXOFFICE. 8 BOXOFnCE :: May 15, 1937.