Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1938)

CONCERTED BUYING MOVE TAKING SHAPE; MOST OF THE DEALS ARE WITH CIRCUITS CAM^IG^COMMITTEE MO'ITOM PICTURES' GREATEST YEAR Inc. THEATRES PRODUCERS DISTRIBUTORS 1270-6th AVE., NEW YORK Circle 7-5292 Sept. 29th, 1938 Mr. "Red" Kann Boxofflce 9 Rockefeller Plaza New York, N.Y# Dear Red: Even at the risk of becoming repetitious, I find myself thanking you again for your matchless coverage. rely. PAUL GULICK. Coordinator PG:ct Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment Sales Executives Into Field To Negotiate Film Contracts New York — Sales managers, division, district and branch managers of the major companies are head over heels in film deals, a concerted move having developed by buyers all over the country to consummate negotiations for product which have been under way for some time. During the past several weeks, sales executives of virtually every company have been making trips to the field, some going on extended tours of the territory while others limiting visits to one or two days on deals requiring immediate attention. Mostly Circuit Deals Most of the contracts now being signed are with partners of the major circuits and the circuits themselves. RKO, Loew’s and National Theatres have almost completed all their deals and the few remaining products are expected to be cleaned up in, the next few weeks. It has also been noted that, in a number of instances, district and branch managers have been in New York working on deals, usually when theatre operating heads in their territory are here. Republic has closed more contracts with important circuits than ever before. It leads the independent field by a wide margin principally due to James R. Grainger’s visits to the territory and directly contacting buyers. In the past week, Columbia signed up the Martin circuit with 55 houses in Georgia, Alabama and Florida. Harry Gold recently worked out arrangements for UA product in a number of RKO houses and is virtually set on a Loew deal. Many other negotiations are in the wind and expected to be sealed shortly. Talks continue between National Theatres’ executives with United Artists and Paramount. Spyros Skouras returned from the coast this week after conferring with his brother, Charles, and E. C. Rhoden M-G-M Buttons Up Chief Accounts New York — All major and important independent accounts have been closed by M-G-M for the new season's product, a sales executive states. Although some of the deals include franchises, the provision is included that clearance and protection are negotiated annually, in every given situation. of Fox Midwest and Rick Ricketson of Fox Intermountain have been in town on film matters in addition to policy discussions. Oscar Morgan, Atlanta district manager for Paramount, was around for about a week for palavers with J. J. Unger. William F. Rodgers, general sales manager of M-G-M, and Thomas J. Connors, eastern and Canadian sales head, were in Canada for a meeting with N. L. Nathanson and J. J. Fitzgibbons. E. M. Saunders, western division sales manager, recently returned from a month’s tour of the country. Within the past week every 20th Century-Fox division has been in the field and assisting local branch managers in signing up important accounts. Walter Branson, midwest RKO district manager, and several other men such as Nat Levy, district manager with headquarters in Detroit, were in town conferring with Jules Levy not so long ago. A number of Paramount partners from every corner of the country met in New York about three weeks ago and now Y. Frank Freeman is going to spend the next few weeks visiting Atlanta and Dallas. Universal in Two-Year Deal With Nat'l Theatres New York — William A. Scully, general sales manager of Universal, has completed a two-year deal with Spyros Skouras for the distributor’s lineup in all National Theatres. Negotiations had been under way for some months and were finally consummated this week. This marks the first important deal for Universal since the new administration took over. Two Republic Deals New York — Republic has closed new season deals with Warner theatres in New Jersey and upper New York and with Si Fabian’s first runs in Brooklyn. BOXOFFICE : : October 8, 1938 9