20th Century-Fox Dynamo (April 18, 1953)

STREAMLINED TORONTO HOLDS HOOSE WARMING CANADIAN DIVISION’S HEADQUARTERS CELEBRATES A MILESTONE Representatives of the Canadian film industry turned out en masse recently at a house-warming of the stream- lined Toronto office that also serves as national headquar- ters for our Dominion sales organization presided over by Peter Myers (right). Toronto newspapers devoted much space to the proceedings that were of a strictly social nature. Accompanied by Mr. Myers, Toronto Manager Phil Sherman and other members of the branch personnel, guests were taken on an inspection of the-new premises. Eastern and Canadian Sales Manager Arthur Silver- stone (left) represented the Home office at the house- warming. He and Mr. Myers are pictured with Ray Lewis, editor and publisher of Canada’s No. 1 film weekly. Can- adian Motion Picture Digest. Mrs. Lewis was also present at the opening of our Toronto office’s two previous buildings. Space in the renovated structure has virtually doubled as has the Canadian business of our sales organization there. Clarence A. Hill, manager of branch operations, was deluged with congratulations by members of the Toronto staff and exhibitors, for it was he who outlined plans for the new Canadian headquarters building. Left to right above: Mr. Myers; Nat Taylor, president of Twinex Theatres; Mr. Hill, and David Griesdorf, general manager of Odeon Hieatres of Canada, Ltd. Representatives of U.S. and Canadian distributors operating out of Toronto joined exhibitors in congratulating Mr. Myers (seated at his desk) on developing this company’s Dominion revenue to a level where much larger quarters were im- perative. The Canadian organization has annually been increasing its revenue since Arthur Silverstone assumed its general management. When Mr. Silverstone was promoted to Eastern and Canadian Sales Manager and moved to the Home Office, Mr. Myers was elevated from Toronto branch manager to Dominion general manager. Under Mr. Myers’ supervision Canada’s progress has continued. In fact, at the end of the first quarter of this year his six offices had accumulated an amount that was 15% greater than that earned during its record January-February- March period of 1952. Pictured with Mr. Myers above are: Nat Taylor, President, Twinex Theatres Ltd.; Harold Pfaff, Independent Theatre Services; Harry Mandell, Twinex Thea- tres; Larry Bearg, Western Supervisor of Canadian Famous Players Corporation; Herb Allen, Premier Theatres; Mr. Silverstone; Abe Cass, manager of Toronto branch of Columbia Pictures; Guy Upjohn, assistant head booker of Odeon Thea- tres; Gerston Allen, Premier Theatres, and Harvey Hunt, head buyer of Odeon Theatres. Canada releases annually more features than U.S. offices. In the first 14 weeks of this year, the six Canadian offices had played off 16.99% more feature bookings than they did in the same period of 1952. Gerry Chernoff’s Montreal led and was 28.06% ahead of 1952 feature bookings. Beattie’s Calgary was 23.24% ahead. Here are the percentages of all branches on feature bookings ab- sorbed in the first 14 weeks of this year ABOVE the comparable period’s 1952 playoff: Huber’s Winnipeg 15.95%, Patterson’s Vancouver 15.57%, Sherman’s Toronto 12.85% and March’s St. John 3.74%. A more handsome group of branch employees you will find at none of our offices. This group represents the womanpower of our Totonto branch and Can- adian divisional headquarters. They served as hostesses at the house-warm- ing. Left to right, stand: Lillian Taylor, June Heacock, Gwenn Brooke, Eileen Rosen, Jean Coneybeare and Joan Parsons; seated, Norma Bilstein, Nancy Solway, Henrietta Davidson, Emily Barrett, Marilyn Stone and Annette Pollack. Page 23