Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

With Paramounteers on Convention — In the upper left corner are William Rosenow, Buffalo hooking manager; K. G. Robinson, Buffalo branch manager; M. Simon and F. H. Myers, salesmen. Left to right, directly below, in a between-dance tcte-a-tete are Gladys Shepherd, member of the studio publicity department, and Ted Aber, New York salesman. On top, on the right, from left to right, are Lloyd Nolan of the acting roster; Henry Randel, Brooklyn branch manager; Olympe Bradna, and Earle W. Sweigert, Philadelphia exchange manager. In the middle row, are the delegates from Washington, D. C.: Jack Bryan, salesman; Richard Doyle, ad sales manager; Bob Grace, booking manager; H. C. Thompson, Harley Davidson and Weldon Waters, salesmen. On the bottom row are the men from Buffalo: Fred H. Myers, salesman; Mike Simon, salesman; Kenneth Robinson, branch manager; Ed Walter, ad sales manager; William Rosenow, booking manager. Paramount Features Are Allotted More Hollywood — Although Paramount’s new production budget continues the same as for the current season — $30,000,000 — and the number of features remain without change over the two seasons, paradoxically enough the amount of money to be spent on the 58 for 1939-40 will be greater than for the identical number for the current season. This is explained by the fact 13 single reel shorts are being lopped off the new schedule and the money heretofore allocated to this group of brevities now is tacked on to the feature lineup. All of the present season’s output will be delivered as scheduled, Barney Balaban repeated here to delegates. He has indicated this from time to time and again assured the sales staffs this would be done. New York, Hollywood and London again will contribute features to the schedule, with the local production hub, as usual, delivering the bulk of the 58. William LeBaron, managing director of production, promises a maximum of action and minimum of dialogue on the new program. Max Fleischer is concentrating his short subject production on 12 Popeyes in addition to “Gulliver’s Travels,’’ cartoon comedy feature being animated in Miami. Harry Sherman is down as producer of two specials, “The Double Eyed Doctor” and “The Ne’er Do Well,” aside from his regular program of six Hopalong Cassidys, two of which will be “Range War” and “Riders of the Panamint,” with William Boyd starred. “The Royal Canadian Mounted” will be Cecil B. DeMille’s special on the new setup, done in Technicolor and produced on a scale comparable with “Union Pacific.” Of the 58 to be made, Paramount comes through with 52 titles, a record insofar as major company announcements go for 1939-40. Four of the missing titles will be westerns from Sherman, which boils down to only two important story acquisitions or announcements to come, barring replacements by new material as the season advances. There are several remakes listed, among those being “Beau Geste,” “The Cat and the Canary,” “The Way of All Flesh,” “Casey Jones,” “The Light That Failed,” “The Ne’er Do Well,” and “Light of the Western Stars.” The last-named picture was released by the company on two separate occasions and the new version will be the second remake. First release was Sept. 26, 1925, followed by one on Mar. 30, 1930. “The Light That Failed” was originally distributed by Pathe, Nov. 2, 1916, then remade by Paramount for release, Dec. 2, 1923. “Beau Geste” was made by the company in 1926 and released August 15 of that year. It is the lead-off picture on the new program for release September 2. “The Cat and the Canary” was one of the big Universal chillers when it was released May 15, 1927. “The Way of All Flesh” was another Paramount release in 1927, specifically July 3. “Casey Jones” was produced by Real Art and released Feb. 12, 1928. Engraved Watches to Trio In Vitaphone Decathlon New York — Engraved watches were won by Warner district and branch managers, Robert Smeltzer, Harry Seed and Bill Mansell, who tied for first place in the eastern division, and Hall Walsh of St. Louis, who was first in the western division, in the first annual Vitaphone Decathlon. BOXOFFICE :: June 17, 1939 E 30-A