20th Century-Fox Dynamo (September 2, 1939)

NEW DYNAMO 3 FIRST DRIVE SHOWDOWN DURIN G ZANUC K WEEK! Advance For Sept. 17-23 lumps High—Over-Quota Scores Already Neared In Many Quarters—Many Trailers Plan Coup For That Week—Managers See Great Result The first major test—showdown, some at the Home Office prefer to call it—in the seventh annual S. R. Kent Drive definitely faces the 37 branches in the United States and Canada in the Darryl F. Zanuck Week—Sept. 17-23—campaign. That it will be a test of earning power is a foregone conclusion, for all along the line there is activity to go as high over quota as possible during that important week. A press-time checkup of advance rentals anticipated for Zanuck Week show that the standings of branches, and districts, in both the National and International groups, will be subjected to a wholesale shakeup as the result of what is delivered during Sept. 17-23. The advance for that particular week jumped high. Information reaching New Dynamo at press-time indicated that the advance for that week would show a tremendous increase when the current lap’s figures are compiled by Home Office statisticians. Branch reports refllect an activity for Zanuck Week that is abnormal even for Drive campaigning. SCHEDULE OF DRIVE MEETINGS Sept. A.M. Sept. Sept. 5— St. Louis, 9 A.M. 6— Dallas, 10 A.M. 7— tNew Orleans, 9:30 8— §Atlanta, 9 A.M. 9— Indianapolis, 10 A.M. 11 — **Chicago, 9 A.M. 12— ttlles Moines, 9 A.M. 13— ^Minneapolis, 9 A.M. 14— Jewish holiday NOTES —$ Memphis at New Orleans. § Charlotte at Atlanta. at Des Moines, ft Calgary and Winnipeg at Minneapolis. §§ *** Albany, New Haven and St. John at Boston. 15— Jewish holiday 16— Detroit, 9 A.M. 18—Cincinnati, 9 A.M. 20— §§Buffalo, 9 A.M. 21— Pittsburgh, 9 A.M. 21— Washington, 3 P.M. 22— Philadelphia. 9 A.M. 25— ***Boston. 9 A.M. 26— New York, 9 A.M. ** Milwaukee at Chicago, ft Omaha [Toronto and Montreal at Bufl'alo. COAST SHUTTLE SHEETS CHALLENGE TO RIVALS Drive Leaders' Meetings Are Jubilant SALT LAKE CITY — The Coast district means to grab the 1939 Drive championship— and its territorial shut- tle sheets indicates they are prepared to back that program with action. Charles Walker’s Utah- ans, never stronger, believe they will be leading the International group shortly after the returns for Labor Week are in. But, it is apparent that every Coast office is out to deliver the highest possible over-quota reve- nue during Darryl F. Zanuck Week. Thursday Drive Leader M. A. j Levy held his second meeting j here. He and general Manager of Distribution Herman Wobber were the principal speakers. The report on the studio screen- ings brought from the Drive the prediction that “with the right contracts and playing time noth- ing can stop us from breaking Drive records for the pictures we saw are by far the greatest this or any other company ever has had available during a simi- lar 18-week period.” From the manager and sales- men and bookers, Levy received a pledge that this exchange will do its full part and that he can look ahead to an over-quota 18- week total from Salt Lake City. STATUS NOW BRANCHES DIVISIONS 1 West 3 East 2 Central THREE OFFICERS AT PORTLAND, ORE. PORTLAND, ORE. — Drive Leader Levy conducted an ex- tremely enthusiastic and inform- ative meeting here. In addition to the local dollar delivery crew, also present were the staffs of tbe Seattle and Van- couver exchanges. Managers Power, Edmond and Patterson re-assured Messrs. Wobber and Levy that they will soon be hitting at a weekly over- quota pace. All stated they are striving for a tremendous over-quota de- livery for Zanuck Week, Sept. 17-23. DENVER SEES BIG OPPORTUNITY DENVER—This has been dis- tinguished visitors’ week here. Western Division Sessions Wind Up Next Week First Western Division Manager W. J. Kupper arrived and passed on a flock of K-7 propositions awaiting his action. On Friday, Messrs. Wobber and Levy were expected here for the Drive shuttle sheet meetings. Manager R. J. Morrison was prepared to show those gentle- men figures that strongly sup- port his claim that “it will not be long before we will be on top” and, he added, “once we are there, we intend to stay there, for this Drive is the big oppor- tunity we have long been wait- ing for.” KANSAS CITY—Western Di- vision Manager W. J. Kupper arrived here from Denver on Wednesday. He planned staying here two days and then flying back to New York for the holi- day. Early next week he will join Drive Leader Levy on a swing through the Southern ex- changes. COAST SESSIONS ARE INFORMATIVE SAN FRANCISCO — Drive Leader Levy was very much elated with evidence he got here regarding the future of the cam- paign. Manager Ballentine and his staff believe this is the year they will be back in the prize money. Messrs. Wobber and Levy held their meeting at Dillon’s Los Angeles exchange on Saturday. That the production chief will be showered with the honors to which he is so rightly entitled is fact right now, judging from many managers’ statements. The division managers predict one of the biggest weeks in Drive history. Meantime, branches are booking “The Rains Came” prints to their limit. The proceeds from this production’s first-runs will be a major factor in Zanuck Week revenue. But, feeding into the pot will be income from smaller situa- tions on “Stanley and Livingstone,” “Elsa Maxwell’s Hotel for Women,” “Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” and others. Sales zooming further illuminated Zanuck Week prospects, for the nation’s ace houses were lining up for a full participation in the campaign. The response from exhibitors is especially inspiring, managers report. Every workable print is being booked solid, according to word from many bookers. However, while the advance figures of some offices are higher than others, at this time, all will be in there pitching over-quota scores, for no branch wants to be an embarrassed exception to the 100 per cent plus rule. All realize that not only the eyes of company officials, but of the studio and industry, as a whole, are focussed on the result of their efforts to honor the No. | 1 production executive. Another thing: every man- ager is aware that Mr. Wobber is counting on him and his of- fice to wade into a week out of which will come the stimulant that will mark the inception of the Drive’s unbroken over- quota delivery average. Branches in the trailing po- sitions in both National and In- ternational groups are espe- cially vibrantly enthusiastic over what will happen during Zanuck Week. Some are threat- ening “socks” that will knock some of the leaders out of their high berths. EASTERNERS VERY OPTIMISTIC The East is especially opti- mistic. Wheeler’s Washing- ton, for instance, expects to flabbergast its rivals with its delivery. Harry Buxbaum’s New Yorkers are promising “a sur- prise” and Division Manager Sussman is of the opinion that they will turn in the best week in several years for the production chief. Edgar Moss’ Atlantics are lining up with increased strength, with Ira Cohn’s Pittsburghers particularly powerful and planning to considerably boost their status in the Drive—and “go to town from there on to the championship,” as a letter from there put it. The Drive Leader’s own Prairie offices, Podoloff’s Minneapolis in particular, expect to chug their way to the top. September is building up enormously in Minneapolis, with substantial improve- Continued on Page 14 DARRYL F. ZANUCK j Mr. Wobber Back in New York Saturday from Drive Meetings j 0 SALT LAKE CITY—General Manager of Distribution I Herman Wobber planned flying to New York right after the | meeting at the Denver exchange Friday. This means he will j be at his office in the metropolis on Saturday morning. For the ! past week he has been presiding over Drive meetings with I Drive Leader M. A. Levy, making Los Angeles, San Fran- j cisco, Portland and here.