Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

It Was Terrific , Even Colossal (Continued from page 19) were thousands of people jammed together from Dodge City and all towns nearby and, according to the register of the Hotel Lora Locke, visitors from places as far removed as Georgia. Mayor Arthur Nevins had issued an order instructing all localites who were capable of growing beards to do it, pioneer Dodge City style, and it was surprising to see how many of them obeyed the head man of town. A lot of the women dug into trunks for the dresses that were in vogue back in ’72 or thereabouts. Finally there they were, spread all over the place to witness an event their town had never seen before and probably won’t again unless Warner decides to remake "Dodge City” one of these years. From the time the Hollywood special with a freight car converted into a “Gay Lady” saloon got under way, the trek was about as close to a triumphal affair as it was perhaps possible to figure one. Train stops had been heralded in advance, local dignitaries — and newspaper men — were collected and introduced to stars and players, lots of people spoke through the public address system and the public turned out by the thousands to see what this was all about. For instance: Dodge City, population, 11,000; estimated turnout, including visitors, anywhere from 20,000 to 50,000. Somebody said 75,000, but he worked for Warner and naturally got very enthusiastic. Anyhow, there was a chuck wagon lunch at the Lora Locke, a street parade, a rodeo in the local stadium and a local marriage at which Errol Flynn and Ann Sheridan stood up for the bride and groom, an NBC blue and red network broadcast in the evening and another over Mutual the same night. Both national, too. Plenty of “Shooting” The press associations, the fan magazines and photographic lenshounds employed by national magazines like Life, Look, and Pic and film columnists and special correspondents saw and shot all and wrote plenty as Ted Curtis of Eastman Kodak, calculating the rate of film consumption, merely rubbed his hands in glee and Maestro Einfeld gradually lost his voice. This is a Fox Midwest town and that’s why Elmer C. Rhoden traveled in from Kansas City in a special that trailed The Chief and also carried President Edward J. Engels, president of the Santa Fe. Rhoden was all for the stunt and predicted it would do much for the picture. There was a lot of “firsts” for Dodge City, not excepting a simultaneous run for the attraction in the Dodge, Cozy and Crown where the stellar aggregation, in cowboy regalia, appeared to express thanks for the cordiality of the reception extended. The excitement was something tremendous. On Sunday morning, the coast special shoved off and the eastern group failed to fall asleep. The cowhands nabbed almost as many autographs as Humphrey Bogart. Ben Shlyen tried to pass himself off as W. C. Fields and failed completely. New York Allied Warns Of " Catch Phrases " (Continued from page 6) at the Malone with the assistance of the major companies. “Do not boycott the exchanges,” the men were further warned. “The film companies are not looking for trouble. Rather they will cooperate with us. But they are stymied from coming to the front because Schine is a large and important customer.” Harry G. Kosch, attorney for Allied, is said to have gathered certain information relative to the anti-trust suit he has been instructed to file. He is reported to have notified Albany branch managers of his intention. Ralph Pielow, M-G-M branch manager, has made several trips to Malone, before and after the annual sales convention in Chicago, in an effort to straighten out the differences. He has reported back to his superiors in New York and they, in turn, are reported to have gotten in touch with Kosch. However, the M-G-M angle is only a minor part of the suit planned, it is stated. Sources close to this distributor say there is no violation of contract by Schine. Despite this, Boumansour feels Schine should not be permitted unreasonable clearance over the Plaza when this house and the Malone charge identical admissions. The Malone case will definitely be filed, it is stated, and this will be the first in a series to “crack upstate clearances,” which, it is alleged, should have been remedied long ago, but neglected because of Schine’s buying power. Fifteen Exchanges Attend Universal Cincy Meet (Continued from page 15) H. Schiffrin, J. Smith, Hilton Frost and I. Weiner. Detroit — E. Heiber, manager; J. Stewart, A. Fischer, B. Tighe and J. R. Susane. Indianapolis — G. C. Craddock, manager; A. Kaufman, W. B. Grant and W. Sherman. Kansas City — Peter Dana, district manager; L. J. Miller, manager; R. M. Palmquist, L. Morrow, R. Thompson, I. Beiser and E. Selig. Milwaukee — F. Mantzke, manager; E. W. Gavin, R. J. Baset, J. M. Hickey and O. Petersen. Minneapolis — H. B. Johndon, manager; A. Zacherl, J. M. Fieldman, S. Leff, D. Gutman, M. Hollaran and V. L. Dickenson. Omaha — Otto Siegle, manager; R. J. Olson, L. Hensler, A. Hill and J. W. Harms. St. Louis — J. E. Garrison, manager; Harry Hynes, J. H. Sarfaty, S. H. Nesbit and Harry Hines jr. Third and final regional is to be held at the St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, April 22-24, at which will attend these delegates : Denver — Jack Langan, manager; A. W. O’Connell, E. Warner and T. McMahon. Los Angeles — A1 O’Keefe, district manager; C. J. Feldman, manager; A. Wog, L. Hoss, C. Wade and Eddie Cooke. Portland — R. O. Wilson, manager; F. M. Blake, J. Hommel and J. Harvey. Salt Lake City — M. Aparton, manager; L. J. McGinley, manager; C. L. Theuer Foreign Market Worry to Kent (Continued from page 10) major industry that has never been subsidized by the government. He said: “There will be a time when this great industry of ours will be fully appreciated.” Kent, too, reiterated to the men that, while shorts and news cannot be forced with features, nevertheless the men must put their utmost back of this division of the company’s product and get the largest number of sales possible in every territory. The importance of the South American market in the view of losses from the Central European territories as additional revenue possibilities was brought forcefully to the convention by Kent. Plans for an initial South American convention to be held in May to develop that territory were given the convention. Rio de Janeifo is to be the city, with sales representatives present from all over South America. A similar meeting will be held for Central American countries in Trinidad after the Rio gathering. “This is an important job,” said Kent, referring to the building up of Central and South America. “The motion picture business is the only salesman America has today covering a world-wide front. It has increased our country’s export business by creating demands for American goods shown in our films. It has opened new factories to meet this demand, and it has even forced foreign governments to teach English in their schools.” Silverstone Statement On Goldwyns Suit (Continued from page 18) tract, will be most seriously and vigorously resisted.” Schwartz said Goldwyn’s contract provides for no minimum obligation, meaning he does not have to deliver any pictures during the run of the agreement. Should such a situation eventuate, however, Goldwyn could not participate in the company’s profit-sharing plan. “But we would have to respect his rights as an equal partner,” Silverstone joined in. Schwartz said UA’s answer in the Goldwyn suit would be ready next week. The company will hold one sales meeting in Hollywood beginning May 8 and probably will extend it over a period of three days. The entire sales force will attend and will reach the coast a day earlier to attend a reception planned by Mary Pickford. Harold Boxall Production Manager Korda Company London — Alexander Korda has signed Harold Boxall as general manager for his production company. Boxall has been in a similar capacity with M-G-M here. kauf, M. J. Whitman and A. M. Kallen. San Francisco — Barney Rose, manager; King Trimble, A1 Oxtoby, C. E. Pace and C. F. McBride. 22 BOXOFFICE :: April 8, 1939