20th Century-Fox Dynamo (July 8, 1939)

8 NEW DYNAMO 8 PROLOGUE TO Celebrating the 30 th Anniversary of Joseph M. Schenck in Motion Picture Industry by ROGER FERRI S EATTLE—With two meetings behind him Drive Leader M. A. Levy took the northern hop and by the time this edition is being read in the field, he will be well on his way East. In view of the fact that these meetings serve a double service, viz., (1) furnish Drive information and (2) dis- tribute sales material that should help speed up K-7 selling, the ses- sions are a trifle longerthan those to mark the first swing in past Drives. And this is as it should be, for considerable water has passed under the bridge since the Chicago convention. What is more, the studio has considerably enhanced the K-7 outlined at that get-together and the information available at these Drive meetings will not only stimulate, but help you make better sales. • G ENERAL Manager of Distri- bution Herman Wobber ac- companied the Drive leader and writer as far as San Francisco. He expects to return to New York July 5, meantime being slated to complete several important cir- cuit deals in the Golden Gate neighborhood. Also he was to complete certain discussions with Mr. Zanuck regarding post-Drive product, for the Drive output is either in the cutting rooms or be- fore the cameras. Getting the Production Lowdown at Movietone City Studios Vice-President in charge of production, Darryl F. Zanuck; his executive assistant, William Goetz, and Executive Producer Sol M. Wurtzel took out precious time from production to supply the Drive leader with a wealth of information regarding K-7 vehicles and to screen “rushes” of many future releases. At the left, General Manager of Distribution Herman Wobber, after introducing Drive Leader M. A. Levy, looks on smilingly with Bill Goetz, as the production chief recalls a particularly funny sequence from “Hollywood Cavalcade” as he greets the Big Push captain. At the right, the Drive leader and Roger Ferri are “caught” by the cameraman on the set of “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.” Seated at left is Director Al Werker. Standing, centre, is Basil Rathbone in character and at right, Nigel Bruce, who plays Dr. Watson. M R. WOBBER wrote branches concerning the excellence of Irving Berlin’s “Second Fiddle.” Many branches probably will have prints by the latter part of next week. Zanuck has turned out a musical that is as entertaining as was “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.” It is not the spectacle the first Berlin drama with music was, but “Second Fiddle” is tops in its particular class—and cer- tainly loaded with surefire hit tunes and great romantic mo- ments. It was previewed at Grau- man’s Chinese Theatre Wednes- day night—and what an audience reaction! The patrons’ comment cards were masterpieces in raves. If the audience reaction to “Sec- ond Fiddle” is any criterion of what is to come, this latest Zanuck triumph will be pushing grosses to the highest July level in history. • E verywhere we have gone, we have heard unusual praise for that Coast-to-Coast “Second Fiddle” broadcast. It was without precedent and our branch man- agers have wired that everywhere there were indications it has stirred up so much advance in- terest in the picture that there is no question about it getting off to an SRO start. We sat in studio with Zanuck, Director Sid Lan- field, Tyrone Power, Mary Healy, Lew Schreiber, Dell Goodman and others listening to the broadcast —and that three-way conversa- tion among Power in Hollywood, Vallee in New York and Sonja Henie in Oslo, Norway, positively swept the crowd off its feet. “It’s most remarkable,” commented Zanuck — and everyone agreed with him. An indescribable thrill overtook one as he sat there listening to Tyrone talking with Rudy and Sonja breaking in as if they were in the same room. It was a thrilling experience listen- ing to this broadcast as we did. • IN town for the meeting at Hern- ■ don Edmond’s exchange are Jim Patterson, manager, and Ed Teel, booker-salesman, from Vancou- ver. These two gentlemen see the greatest Drive ever for Vancou- ver—and that is most encourag- ing for the British Columbians have consistently been among the most active and profitable Drive campaigners. Both are the personification of perfect health. It Is regrettable, indeed, that the geographical location of Vancou- ver and press of time make im- Drive Leader Chats with Players mingling with the players on the “sets.” While at the studio, Levy had an opportunity to see some six K-7 productions before the cameras. These two photographs were taken on the “Frontier Mar- shal” set where Director Allan Dwan officiated. At left, the Drive leader is listening to Binnie Barnes, while at the right he is lighting John Carradine’s cigar. tential earning power than the releases of last year’s Drive. • T HE studio was looking forward to the return there late this week of Chairman of the Board Joseph M. Schenck. The latter has been in New York for three weeks. He remained over so he could confer with President S. R. Kent, who returned from the Latin American conventions, on Monday. Mr. Schenck was ex- pected to fly back to the studio Wednesday or Thursday. • M OST encouraging are the let- ters to reach this writer from district and branch managers, salesmen, bookers and others re- garding the coming Drive. These letters indicate a field that is prepared—and rarin’ to go. Most encouraging, however, is the in- creased speed with which sales- men are closing K-7 contracts. After all, it is imperative that a maximum volume of contracts be on record by the start of the Drive —if the latter is to get off to the anticipated, record-breaking start. • K ENT DRIVE letterheads, ban- ners and other promotional material will be in the branches next week. This Drive celebrates the 30th anniversary of Mr. Schenck in show business. Let’s make this a celebration that he will never forget. • T HE local Kent Drive leaders are on the job. We gather that from the hatch of letters we have received from most of them. We will give you complete details of the important part you will play in this Drive, Dr. Drive Leader, at the meeting at your branch. You will also get a manual out- lining ways and means of putting over a bang-up campaign—and later a bulletin that will be an ex- change of ideas. The third edition of the Drive publication will be dedicated to the local Drive lead- ers, so hurry in those photographs. We have all the other information we need, but we must have photo- graphs of ALL the local Drive leaders before we can go to press. So hurry them along—and thanks! • B ILL KUPPER’S assistant, Ed Collins, made a tour of the Continued on Next Page possible a visit to that exchange. However, Messrs. Patterson and Teel and the entire Vancouver staff will be happy to know that in the second swing around the branches, which Mr. Wobber will make with the Drive leader, a visit to and a meeting in that city is scheduled. • T HE second swing around the branches, which will feature an address by the sales chief, will start late in August, at least three weeks earlier than last year. Di- vision Managers Kupper, Gehring and Sussman will cover their re- spective divisions—West, Central and East—with Levy on the third swing. This will get under way the middle of October, according to the schedule approved by Mr. Wobber. • A WIRE from Chicago an- nounces that the gala testi- monial banquet exhibitors have planned in celebration of Clyde Eckhardt's silver jubilee will take place on Monday, July 24. That same day Chicago's new two-story exchange building will be official- ly dedicated—with exhibitors in- specting it. Mr. Wobber’s present plans are to be on hand at this important affair. Incidentally, this is Clyde Eckhardt Month in the Chicago territory—and it looms the biggest month of what has turned out to be the Chicagoans’ championship season. Congratu- lations and more power to you, Clyde. • D ell Goodman, Far East Representative, attended the meeting at Jack Dillon’s ex- change, where Mr. Wobber spoke on company expectations and of- ficially introduced Levy to his new job—and to the Los Angeles personnel. Dell was also on hand on the occasion when Jim O’Logh- lin held his first Drive meeting at the Los Angeles exchange. Dell was so enthused over the Drive message he had a copy made of it. We have also furnished him with a complete resume of the Drive campaign, etc., for use in the Far East. Goodman is very optimistic regarding world conditions, far more so than any foreign repre- sentative with whom we have talked in a year. In fact, when most folks on this side were wor- rying themselves into a nervous breakdown over what threatened to happen in the Far East, Dell kept his shirt on, viewed and ana- lyzed the situation calmly—and every prediction he made mate- rialized. And that included his prediction that Japan would be leading the Overseas department on the K-6 season’s delivery basis. Yes, Art Doyle’s Japan is at the top of the heap. • F ROM the Home Office this week to Mr. Wobber came word the division managers had set up the schedule of territorial K-7 deliv- ery quotas. By this time next week you will probably be offi- cially informed as to what your quota will be for next season— and that will include, of course, the Drive period. • J UDGING from the product we saw at the studio—“Elsa Max- well’s Hotel for Women,” “The Rains Came,” “Hollywood Caval- cade,” “Stanley and Livingston” and “rushes” on “Here I Am a Stranger” and “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes”—that goal Jim O’Loghlin had hoped would be reached last year—$1,000,000 per week—will be attained dur- ing the coming Big Push. Cer- tainly, the coming product is at least 100 per cent stronger in po- LIQUIDATE !!