Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1938)

Enthusiasm Highlights Meeting Of Famous Players in Toronto Dominion Visitor — Associated Screen Photo Victor Cockle, export manager of the Gaumont British Corp., of London, a recent visitor to Canada. Nathanson Reviews F-P on Anniversary Ottawa — The following is the message of greeting to all managers of Famous Players Canadian Corp. by President N. L. Nathanson on the occasion of his return to Canada from a lengthy business stay in England: “As we approach the 20th anniversary of the founding of our company, it is but natural that we should mentally review the past and wonder what the future has in store for us. “During the past 20 years we have had to face many difficulties but I feel that we may view these years with pride and thankfulness, for on the whole they have been years of progress and achievement. That this is so is largely due to the loyal and efficient service so freely given by executives, managers and all employes of the company and to these I wish to offer my grateful thanks. It is also my hope that the years during which we have been associated have been happy ones for you as they have been for me. “As to the future: We will have other difficulties to meet but I believe that these will be successfully met and overcome, as the past has taught me to have faith in our country, our company and in you. I look forward with confidence to the years ahead, strong in the knowledge that I may rely on your continued help and, I venture to hope, affection for the company that it is our privilege to serve.” Toronto — Highlights of the annual convention of theatre managers in eastern Canada of Famous Players Canadian Corp., held here late last week, were the enthusiasm and urge to achieve greater things imparted by the leading speakers; the fact that N. L. Nathanson, president and founder of the company, who, en route back from Europe was able to reach Toronto in time to address the convention assembly on the third day at an impressive gathering held in the Crystal Ballroom of the King Edward Hotel; the fact that it was the 20th anniversary jubilee of Famous Players Canadian and the 22nd anniversary of the entrance of N. L. Nathanson into the motion picture industry. 75 Managers Attend It also is believed this year’s convention, with those attending including 75 theatre managers from points in the four eastern Canadian provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, was the most largely attended of any yet held. Its delegates came here from points as far distant as North Bay in northern Ontario, to Glace Bay, which is situated on Cape Breton Island on the Atlantic coast, off Nova Scotia. The biggest moment of the convention was the speech made by N. L. Nathanson, who looking in the pink of good health after his trip abroad, was accorded an ovation by the convention gathering. The keynote of Nathanson ’s address was the supreme faith he expressed in the outstanding importance of the motion picture industry and in its being easily able to maintain its pace among the really great industries of the world whether times be good or bad. The motion picture industry, said Nathanson, has nothing to fear because of changing business conditions. It is one of the foremost industries in the world today. All it needs is good pictures and good entertainment. Discounts Depressive Cries In his 22 years of association with the film industry on this continent, Nathanson pointed out, he had seen depressions come and the prediction made “everything was going to go to the devil,” but in process of time he had seen these depressions go and the prophecies that “business was going to the dogs” had each time failed to come true. So he said he wanted to impress upon the convention his belief “the motion picture business was still the greatest business in the world.” Though he had been away from this continent during the period when arrangements had been made by the film industry for the “Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment” campaign, he had been informed about it and the arrangements made for Canada and the United States to participate in a joint drive. It was his opinion the drive would prove to be a great business builder. The prediction also was made by Nathanson that a year from now it was altogether probable the film industry of North America would stage a similar drive but on an even larger scale. At this, the largest general session of the convention, the chairman was Clarence Robson, divisional manager for eastern Canada. Those speaking were J. J. Fitzgibbons, vice-president and director of theatre operations for Canada; Morris Stein and Robert S. Roddick, who are district managers for the Toronto and eastern districts, respectively; and A-Mike Vogel, of the M. P. Herald. Robson, who emphasized the zest and interest taken in the convention proceedings by all the delegates, said the annual meetings had been the most successful yet held and the group conferences had achieved more progress than any that had been held since they had been inaugurated and he himself had attended them every year. Fitzgibbons complimented the upwards of a hundred theatre managers of Famous Players’ houses present upon the keenness they had evidenced in appreciation of the high quality of the product immediately to be released for showing at their theatres and the opportunity to do bigger business because of the industry’s forthcoming campaign. Guests at Luncheon Attending this meeting and the luncheon gathering at the hotel, which followed, and in which the convention delegates all participated, the principal guests including N. L. Nathanson, J. J. Fitzgibbons, R. W. Bolstead, comptroller; Paul Nathanson, vice-president of Empire-Universal Films; Clarence Robson, T. J. Bragg, secretarytreasurer of Famous Players; B. Geldsaler, of Famous Players’ booking department; Morris Stein, Robert S. Roddick, Oscar S. Hanson, president of Empire-Universal; A. W. Perry, general manager, EmpireUniversal; Archie Laurie, assistant general manager, Empire-Universal; Sam Brint, sales manager, Empire-Universal; and Dewey D. Bloom, exploiteer for M-G-M here, who is chairman of the newspaper publicity committee of the Canadian national business drive committee. On the opening day of the convention, held in the Blue Room of the hotel, the delegates were welcomed by Robson, eastern divisional manager, and addresses also were made by Paul Nathanson, son of N. L. Nathanson, who spoke instead of his father, who then was still on an Atlantic liner homeward-bound; J. J. Fitzgibbons, R. W. Bolstead, and T. J. Bragg, who are officers of the company, and M. Stein, R. D. Roddick, Ben Geldsaler, J. R. Nairn, B. Cronk, J. A. Troyer, W. (Continued on page 90) BOXOFFICE :: September 3, 1938 K 87