Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

Conventioneers Hear Good News at UA Sales Meet Naming of two new vice-presidents; assurance by Murray Silverstone, chief executive in charge of world-wide operations, that no further changes in the company’s executive and distribution personnel are contemplated; announcement of a $3,000,000 advertising appropriation for the 193940 season, and amplification of the product lineup as published in Boxoffice last week, highlighted the 20th anniversary sales convention of United Artists. Appointed to vice-presidencies were Harry Gold, eastern general sales manager, and L. J. (Jack) Schlaifer, western general sales chief. Both will continue in charge of their respective distribution territories as well as being elevated to the higher executive status. In his opening address to the convention, Silverstone went to some length to quash rumors regarding possible further changes, assuring the delegates that no one is going to be brought into the organization and stressing the fact that his contract provides he has sole word as to the distribution and sales setups of the corporation. Lynn Farnol, advertising-publicity director, amplified the announcement concerning a $3,000,000 advertising budget by declaring the record allotment will be expended on individual campaigns for the pictures to be distributed by UA during the coming year, each to receive an outlay of from $60,000 to $100,000. On certain selected pictures, Farnol explained, extended use of national weekly magazines in addition to newspapers and the trade publications will be made. Among the pictures to be so treated are Alexander Korda’s “Four Feathers,” Walter Wanger’s “Winter Carnival,” and two David O. Selznick productions, “Intermezzo” and “Rebecca.” The MPPDA already is cooperating in a nationwide campaign to draw organized support to “Music School,” a Samuel Goldwyn production. Eleven Producers Report The major share of the convention time was devoted to amplification of the production program, with UA producers or their representatives appearing on the rostrum to give full details concerning each Final Columbia Meet Will Open May 20 Los Angeles— The third and last of Columbia’s regional sales meetings opens at the Ambassador Hotel here May 20 for three days. Previous sessions were held in Atlantic City and Chicago. Abe Montague, general sales manager, will preside at the meeting here. Also from the home office will be Rube Jackter and D. E. Pratt, with Jerome Safron, western division manager, leading the personnel of six exchanges. picture contemplated. Charles Chaplin could not appear, but was represented by A1 Reeves, who spoke briefly on Chaplin’s plans for filming “The Dictators.” In his welcoming address, Silverstone sketched UA’s history from the time the organization was conceived by four people 20 years ago, declaring that then, as now, the company was predicated on the idea that each producer can work out his own destiny from the time his picture is conceived until the last dollar in revenue has been collected therefrom. He reviewed the corporate structure of UA, explaining in detail the functioning of the company’s producers’ fund. Silverstone paid tribute to the sales organization for its record during the season now drawing to a close and predicted a happy future for the company. He gave assurance that UA’s policy “will continue to provide for the distribution of the best pictures from all parts of the world,” in addition to those made by the American producers, declaring that while most foreign product will continue to come from Alexander Korda, other English, as well as French and Spanish, pictures will be distributed “if considered up to UA’s standards.” Silverstone outlined the status of the contracts now held by UA with its 11 producers. He declared that although Mary Pickford has no present plans for production, her contract is in effect until 1945, and provides that any pictures she may make must be released through UA. He said Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and Samuel Goldwyn have similar agreements, in which connection Silverstone stated that Fairbanks definitely will make a picture for the coming season. He explained that UA’s pact with David O. Selznick is for a short term, which he considers regrettable, as he paid tribute to the chief of the Selznick International organization for the consistently high quality of his pictures. Salesmen were told, in this connection, that Selznick’s future destiny as a UA producer is in their hands. Walter Wanger, Hal Roach and Edward Small will all continue as UA producers until 1945, Silverstone continued in am These will be present: Denver — R. C. Hill, Denver-Salt Lake City supervisor; B. M. Shooker and S. Dare. Los Angeles — W. C. Ball, branch manager; H. W. Wineberg, S. Fisher, H. M. Lentz and M. L. Meyer. Portland — J. R. Beale, branch manager; C. E. Tillman, W. J. Withers and L. Metzelaar. Salt Lake City — W. G. Seib, branch manager; K. Lloyd, H. Green, L. E. Kennedy and W. Sterzer. San Francisco — L. E. Tillman, branch manager; C. Scott, P. Weinstein, E. Roberts and M. Klein. Seattle — L. N. Walton, branch manager; R. A. Ackles, W. G. Beckwith and W. Kostenbader. plification. Ernst Lubitsch will move over to UA after doing two pictures for M-G-M. Sol Lesser will be associated with Lubitsch. David Loew, heading another new UA unit, drew praise from the UA chieftain for his production integrity and reputation. Believes Neely Bill Wrong Commenting on the industry generally, Silverstone voiced the opinion that the Neely bill is a step on the wrong track toward solving its problems. The elimination of poor pictures, he stated, would automatically remove the need for legislation of this type, as it would the evil of dual-billing. Television, according to the UA chieftain, will not harm motion pictures if the industry properly arms itself through the making of better pictures and through the elimination of double bills. He detailed reasons why UA could not become a party or observe the exhibitor-distributor trade-practice agreement. A $25,000,000 figure was Silverstone’s estimate of the amount to be spent on the approximately 32 pictures to be made by UA’s 11 producers for 1939-40 distribution. Since the date of the inception of UA, he said, more than $400,000,000 worth of pictures have been delivered to the organization by various producers without one cent of guarantee, which situation he cited as a striking example of producers’ confidence in the distributing company. Having attained 100 per cent records in selling during the current season, 15 UA salesmen were presented bonus checks of $250 each, plus an emblematic button. Jack Schlaifer made the presentation to the following: James Hendel, Cleveland, and Earl Collins, Denver, leaders in the eastern and western territories, respectively; Harry Rees, Pittsburgh; F. M. Higgins, Seattle; Mark Silver, Washington; Nat Nathanson, Chicago; E. V. Donnelly, Indianapolis; A. H. Klepper, Seattle; F. P. Murphy, New Orleans; E. A. Ashkins and Ray Wylie, St. Louis; Richard Harrity, Washington; Guy Gunderson, Los Angeles; J. H. Nash, Pittsburgh, and Morton Magill, Philadelphia. Collins has been made manager of the Denver branch. High spots in the social side of the convention were the lawn and cocktail party given at Pickfair by Mary Pickford, and attended by producers, stars, directors and others as well as the conventioneers; a dinner-dance at Earl Carroll’s theatrerestaurant Tuesday night and a farewell cocktail party given Wednesday night by the Selznick International organization. Gold and Schlaifer, the new vice-presidents, were honored by the sales force at a special luncheon in observance of their promotions. Most of the out-of-town visitors trained out Wednesday night for San Francisco, to visit the World’s Fair there as guests of the company, en route back to their respective territories. Wellman Unit Moves The William A. Wellman production unit has moved into new and more spacious quarters at Paramount, inheriting the suite vacated by Wesley Ruggles. Wellman’s next production will be “The Light That Failed.” 26 BOXOFFICE :: May 13, 1939