Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1938)

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WHOOPS IT DP FOR CAMPAIGN; OREGON PLEDGES ITS SDPPORT Portland Meeting Launches Pacific Northwest Participation By DOUGLAS POLIVKA Portland, Ore. — Oregon’s participation in the million-dollar nationwide Motion Pictures’ Greatest Year campaign began here with a luncheon in the Multnomah Hotel attended by more than 100 local and state exhibitors, exchange men and regional industry heads. Ted R. Gamble, J. J. Parker’s general manager and chairman of the Oregon drive, announced following the three-hour meeting that more than 50 per cent of the Oregon exhibitors had pledged their support to the campaign. Every exhibitor present at the luncheon signed a pledge slip. Speakers included John Danz of Seattle, operator of a theatre circuit in Washington and northwest regional representative of the drive; A1 Finkelstein, general manager of the Hamrick-Evergreen theatres here and vice-chairman for Oregon; Bob White, vice-chairman for Oregon; George Hickey, M-G-M western division manager; Eddie Saunders, M-G-M western sales manager; Bill Ripley, Longview, Wash.; William Graeper of the Egyptian Theatre here and president of the MPTO of Oregon, and Mark Corey, RKO exchange manager in charge of distribution of campaign accessories in Oregon. Gamble stated that his circuit has spent at least $1,000 each year as long as he can remember to launch the new season’s product and that the present campaign marks the first time he’s known that everyone has joined to put over such a drive. Gamble emphasized the fact that in Oregon ten of the 94 pictures included in the nationwide contest have already been shown in first-run houses, giving the subsequent run theatres a chance to cash in on 12 per cent of the contest pictures immediately. Danz, who had just recently returned from the major campaign meeting in New York, told the assembled group that it marked the first time in the history of the industry that all branches had participated. He outlined contest plans of the campaign. “Response at present assures the success of this undertaking,” he said. “As one delegate at the New York meeting said, ‘this contest is really a legalized Bank Night.’ The boxoffice returns from the contest alone will warrant every exhibitor lending a hand to this campaign.” A1 Finkelstein, who had just returned from Los Angeles, told the group that Southern California had sighed 100 per cent and that he could see no reason why Oregon could not do the same thing. “We, the subsequent run theatres, have gone through the worst business conditions ever known in Portland,” stated Bob White. “This is our chance to sell motion pictures to the public. I’m all for the campaign.” Bob Ripley of Longview came here from the Washington meeting and urged everyone to “get on the band wagon.” Eddie Saunders said: “This is the greatest thing that has ever happened to the industry. This is an opportunity to get your business back on its feet. We’ve been failing to merchandise our product and this is a chance to make the public picture-minded.” Telegrams were read by Gamble from George Hunt of Medford and from George Schaefer of New York. Gamble assured all those present that the Oregon territory would be signed solid by the end of the week. Fire at Phoenix Phoenix — The projection room of the Romona here was destroyed by fire. Independent and Major Theatre Interests in United Front By PHIL STONE San Francisco — The motion picture industry of northern California lined up alongside New York and Los Angeles in unanimous pledges of 100 per cent participation in the 18-week’s million dollar Motion Pictures’ Greatest Year drive. Fullest participation, both moral and financial, was the promise made by approximately 150 theatre men, representing the territory’s more than 300 theatres, at a three-hour meeting in the Palace Hotel here at which A. M. Bowles, northern California division manager for Fox West Coast, presided. The meeting was called by Independent Theatre Owners of Northern California, of which Rotus Harvey, president of Harvey Amusements Co., is president. Spyros Skouras, president of National (Continued on page 42A) Pledge n Drive 77 Support Unanimous support of the “ Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment” drive is hereby pledged by three National Theatres-Fox West Coast circuit executives during one of the sessions of the chain’s recent regional convention in Los Angeles. Charles P. Skouras, left, president of FWC; Arch M. Bowles, Northern California division manager, and Spyros Skouras, vicepresident of NT, are shown here discussing the drive. BOXOFFICE :: August 27, 1938 H 39