Exhibitor's Trade Review (May-Aug 1925)

Page 40 Exhibitors Trade Review HOUSTON Pat Osborne who has recently taken over the Houston territory for Vitagraph comes from New Orleans where he served in the capacity as Manager for the same company. * * * Smiling Ed. Blumenthal, salesman for F. B. O., just closed a big contract with the Majestic Circuit who are going to continue running through the summer months with pictures and vaudeville. The contract netted Ed. the weekly prize of $35.00. !fc * * L. B. Brauer, salesman for Universal, just returned to Houston from Dallas where he attended a special meeting supervised by Mr. Troug, personal representative of Carl Laemmle. Brauer is all hopped up over the new selling plan Universal has and claims it is a life saver for the small town exhibitor. * * * Sam Abrams and Lou Weiner, joint owners of the Rialto Theatre, are planning on a 1,400 seat second run house in Houston. Universal has had five pictures in the Rialto Theatre in the past five weeks. They have been 100% Universal during Laemmle Jubilee Period. * * * Mr. W. Horwitz Jr., is in Milwaukee attending the National Theatre Owners Convention representing six Houston Theatres which Mr. Horwitz has formed into a booking combine. % % ♦ The World's Advertising Convention not only brought about 10,000 visitors to Houston but stimulated business in all the local theatres. * * * Mr. A. Martini's Dixie Theatre in Galveston which recently was destroyed by fire is nearing completion and will be opened for business on or about the 1st of Julv. * * * Mr. R. C. Mcllhearn, Manager for Universal, is in Chicago attend ng the Universal Sales Convention. The entire force is anxiously awaiting his return to get busy selling the new product. BUFFALO Harry Dixon, Buffalo F. B. O. manager, as usual, opened the straw hat season along film row when he came forth on May IS resplendent in latest style panama kelly. Harry is soon to introduce also some new shirts that are sure to knock his colleagues for a row of film cases. * * * George E. Williams, Paramount exploiteer in the Buffalo territory, assisted by his brother, Ernie Williams, manager of the accessory department, put over a fine campaign on "The Thundering Herd," which opens at the Eastman, May 24. In addition to the usual advertising the Eastman put out 10,000 heralds and 10,000 rotogravure sections, on the back of which the Messrs. Williams placed enough local ads to pay for ihe order. * # * Sid Horen has been assigned to the Rochester territory as Fox representative. Manager Bill Rowell reports much interest among exhibitors in the new product announced by the company. He anticipates a busy season at the Fox office. • * * * Earl Kramer, Universal branch manager, has returned from the company's convention, all pepped up over the new White List. The Buffalo "U" office is going "on high !" * + ♦ ALBANY M. N. Wolf, manager of the Metro-Goldwyn exchange in Albany, N. Y., was the principal speaker last week at the banquet given by the Exchange Club of Little Falls, N. Y., with about ISO in attendance. Mr. Wolf gave a thirty minute talk on the motion picture industry and made the h't of the evening. The Sales Manager By M. CASPER General Sales Manager, Harcoe M. P. Industries, Inc., New Orleans Yes, I got an answer to my letter, all right. I knew I would get it but I could not have guessed the contents, if my life had depended on it. My man had asked me for suggestions on approaching a film prospect, and I was ready to give advice as a man always is who has had road experience. I gave mine, whole-heartedly and unreservedly. I gave my' experiences : the many "hard nuts" I have had to crack. "Fatherly advice" I gave, such as is given by a Dutch Uncle and the man "who has been to see." But you know aovice is never taken because it is given away. It is too cheap. Experience, which costs dearly, is always accepted because of the price one has to pay. But we will learn in no other school. No, not fools only, for wise men learn only from experience, as well. To get back to "our bacon," the letter from my salesman told me that I was "hard boiled" and that I was giving advice that could not be followed. As the whole he showed me that he d d not desire my advice as much as he did my silence. The point? Well, the point is that children always know more than their parents and that salesman always know more than their managers. But experience shows them that there is only one right way to sell goods and that is on its merit, and they eventually learn this sound fact. The hard knocks could be avoided if they would only listen to advice from those who have been over the thorny roads. Statistics show that one out of every ninety-six who enter the sales field become managers ; the rest either drag along or drop out all together because they want to show they know more than the man "who knows" or because they have not enough "stick-toitive-ness" to make a success. Are you a salesman ? Are you a Manager? If not— Why? ? ? * * * ACTION AND SENTIMENT ESSENTIAL IN FILMS Action and sentiment are the most essential elements in successful photoplays, according to reports submitted by F. B. O.'s western division branch manager at their recent convention at the Film Booking Offices studios in Hollywood. That sentiment properly developed was more responsible for the success of many outstanding productions of the past on the stage and screen, was the opinion of all the visiting branch managers as well as the home office representatives who included Vice President J. I. Schnitzer, General Manager of Sales Harry M. Berman, District Manager Art Schmidt and others. Such plays as "Lightnin' " and "Humoresque" were specified in this connection. "What we require in this industry now are stories built on clean sentiment or heart interest" commented Mr. Schnitzer. "We have run the gamut of thrills and sex. Now we need fine, wholesome sentiment, which is really a reflection of the heart and soul of America." It was also announced that the majority of F. B. O.'s productions would include these essential elements of box-office success. "Drusilla with a Million" the Associated Arts Corporation production, the release date of which has been put back until autumn, is based on sentiment for the most part. Sentiment also is a vital factor in the new series of H. C. Witwer two-reel featurettes. "The Pacemakers," in which mother and son love is made a source of strong heart interest. CHICAGO Will Baker, Universal suburban salesman of the Chicago office, has sold the "Fighting Ranger" to the Dicke Theatre, Downers Grove, Illinois. This is the first serial that the Dicke Theatre has run in two years. *' * L. W. Alexander, manager of the Chicago Exchange, believes in doing things in a big way. This is shown when he sold the Ascher Brothers Universal's last six serials for their chain of houses. This is the first time the Ascher Houses have ever run serials, and this clearly reflects on Roy's splendid salesmanship. Ben Eisenberg accomplished a hard task when he sold the Francis Theatre, Chicago. "The Great Circus Mystery," and did such a thorough job in salesmanship that he succeeded in not only selling them "The Great Circus Mystery," but six more serials. DETROIT Al Rupert, who was salesman for the Michigan Film Company, has taken over the management of the Broadway Theatre, Flint, Michigan. Abe Goldner, who used to travel the state for Paramount and Warners, is now in charge of publicity for the Frank C. Nicholson Productions of Hollywood, according to word just received. Joe Friedman, Universal manager, attended the Universal Sales Convention at the Drake Hotel, Chicago, last Saturday and Sunday. Al Kaufman, Metro-Goldwyn exploitation man, was a visitor last week. J. E. Storey, general sales manager for Palhe, was a visitor last week. Art Elliott, branch manager for F. B. O., attended the convention in Milwaukee with other F. B. O. managers. Chas. Danke, city salesman for Fox, has resigned. He has not announced his new connection. It is rumored that James Allen of Warner Brothers will fill his shoes. Jack Young, Vitagraph manager, is on the Coast attending a sales convention. Herbert Foster is again traveling the eastern part of the state for Producers, after being out of the business for a while. DENVER Mr. Harry Lustig, Western Division Manager for Metro-Goldwyn Distributing Corporation, has just left for Los Angeles after holding a Sales Conference in Denver at the Shirley Savoy Hotel. The following were among those present : Robert J. Garland, C. D. Beale, Ed Gold, C. E. Pace, Harry Levey, George Wygant. * * * Harry Helmar will manager the Rourke Theatre at La Junta, Colorado, for the K. &. F. Amusement Company. * * * All the Paramount Salesmen are now in their respective territories since returning from their convention at Los Angeles. C. J. Duer, F. P. L. Representative in Nebraska, has left Denver for his territory in a "brand new" Studebaker. CLEVELAND Milton Simon, well known State Right Salesman, has joined the sales staff of W. Ray Johnston's Rayart Pictures as Central States Representative. Mr. Simon left on a tour this week covering his territory which will take in Cleveland, Detroit, Louisville, Chicago, Milwaukee, Omaha, St. Louis, Kansas City and Minneapolis.