Exhibitor's Trade Review (Mar-May 1925)

April 4, 1925 Page 35 Changes and Promotions in Universal Sales Force Several important promotions and changes have been made by Carl Laemmle in the Universal Sales Organization during the last few weeks. The most outstanding of these is the acquisition by Universal of W. E. Truog, one of the most efficient sales executives in the film industry. He was a district manager for Goldwyn in the Middle West for a number of years. He has joined Universal as an Assistant Sales Director, for the territory including, the St. Louis, Omaha and Des Moines Exchanges. Another important change is that of Walter J. Price from the manager's chair in the Washington office to that in the Philadelphia office, in place of M. V. Landow, who resigned. Price started in the film business in Universal's .Atlanta office, fifteen years ago, and is very highly thought of. His place in Washington is taken by M. Epstein, just promoted to the managerial toga from the New York Exchange. Ely Epstein, no relation to M. Epstein, who has been in the Philadelphia office and in the Home Office, during recent years has been stepped up to be assistant to Price at Philadelphia. Lou Hess has been promoted from Manager of the Portland office to manager of the St. Louis office, to replace E. L. Alperson, who resigned. Hess is an old timer with Universal and holds a place high in the esteem of the entire sales organization. James Shea, of the St. Louis office, is the newly made assistant to Hess in that exchange. George E. Jackson takes Hess' place at the head of the Portland office. A brilliam record is predicted for him as manager. He is regarded as one of the best liked men on the West Coast. Julius Singer, the popular manager of the Albany office, who guided that exchange to top or near top place in several sales drives, has been called in to the Home Office for an important position in the Sales Promotion Department. His place at Albany has been taken by S. Wittman, formerly of Philadelphia. H. Harsha has taken over the managerial throne in the Sioux Falls office, while up in Canada, R. A. Scott, formerly manager of the Vancouver office, has been promoted to be Western manager for the Canadian territory. He will supervise the territory from Winnipeg to Vancouver. In Calgary, C. R. Dippie has taken over the reins of management. Two other new promotions have been made in the assistant manager's field. H. C. Borger, of Cleveland, is now assistant manager of that exchange, and Harold Weinberger of Pittsburgh, has taken over similar reins in the Pittsburgh office. Both of these men have enviable records for themselves. Borger served in the Home Office for a period and made many friends. All of the aforementioned Sales executives come under the direction of Universal's Sales Directorate — the triangular sales directorship by which the United States and Canada is supervised for Universal sale by Ned E. Depinet, Southern Sales Director ; Jules Levy, Eastern Sales Director, and Ned Marin, Western Sales Director. The announced changes were made upon their recommendations. Ben Simon, formerly with the Universal New Haven office, has just been assigned to the upstate territory where he is handling short product for the big U. S. Liggett. Short product sales manager for the U exchange has announced the appointment. Ben has made a name as one of the best short salesmen covering Connecticut and Massachusetts. Indianapolis Tony M. Klotz, formerly Short Subject Manager for Universal Indianapolis, is now covering the southern part of the state for Celebrated Piayers Film Corp. New York film celebrities are seen quite frequently in this city. Among those that were here last week are Herman Jans of Jans Production, and Joe Brandt of Columbia Pictures. Both called on John Servass of H. Lieber Co., and Louis B. Goulden of Celebrated Players. Frank Carter formerly with Progress Pictures Corp. has joined the ranks of the H. Lieber Sales force. Frank McDaniels,, who has been with Pathe Exchange for several years as booker has resigned. J. F. McCoy sold his Howard Theatre to the M. and G. Theatre Co. H. A., "Whitey," Wagner of Celebrated Players Film Corp. reports conditions in the Northern part of the State much better. Ben N. Judell, Chicago Manager of Celebrated Players, paid the Indianapolis office a visit. Independent Exchanges report business picking up and that the exhibitors are realizing that the Independents are making real Box Office Attractions, with stars that mean money to them. Oklahoma City Mr. Tony Ryan resigned as manager of Progress Film Exchange on March 14th to tie up with Fox Film Exchange as their Oklahoma City branch manager. The Rialto Theatre, formerly owned by E. O. Kirkland, changed hands March 16th, the new owners being Griffith Bros, who also operate the Oklahoma Specialty Film Exchange, handling Warner Bros, product and some independent subjects. Montreal Mr. Arthur Lapensee of Canadian Universal Film Co., Limited, until five or six weeks ago connected with the shipping department, has been promoted and is now one of the members of the sales force. Although on the road only a few weeks, Mr. Lapensee has already made a wonderful record for himself and has developed into a real live wire. Alexander In N. Y. Branch Manager L. W. Alexander of the Chicago Universal outfit blew in from the Windy City for three days to confer with the Universal sales directors. He returned to Chicago on the "Century" on Sunday. Believes in Santa Dan Stearns, who sells International newsreel out in Cleveland, O., recently dashed into the office humming "it isn't raining rain at all, its raining ■" but read for yourself what Dan wrote to Dick Anderson: Dear Mr. Anderson : Now I believe in Santa Claus ! Ten bucks (one quart) and I thought it only rained water! I'll get some more "certificates" for you, though I'm over my quota now. Glad you gave eighteen prizes. You're a good sport ! (Signed) Dan Stearns. All of which means that Dan was one of the prize winners in the recently ended International News sales contest. Equipment Convention Starts on May 12th Four Halls of Milwaukee Convention Building to House Newest Theatre Accessories The Milwaukee Auditorium, which will house the Convention of the Motion Picture Equipment Dealers of America, May 12th to May 16th, inclusive, is unique among buildings of its class in America. It is the only large building in this country containing eight separate halls under one roof, each hall contiguous to the others. The Auditorium occupies an entire square in the heart of Milwaukee's business section and is within easy reach from all parts of the city. Street car lines run all along two sides of the building and others are within one and two blocks of it. Entrance is available on four sides of the structure. The total exhibition space available is 104,952 square feet, the Arena affording 29,242 feet, Mechanics' Hall 46,800, Market 9,655 square feet, Juneau 5,400, Kilbourn 5,580, Engelmann 5,520, Walker 2,575. Plankinton Hall is the only one which contains fixed opera chairs. Four halls will be occupied by the Convention of the Association of Motion Picture Equipment Dealers of America, Inc. The exposition of the latest in motion picture equipment, which will be a feature of the convention, will be set forth in Milburn, Juneau and Walker Halls, all on the first floor. Engelmann Hall, on the second floor, will be used for the various business sessions and the forum on problems of the industry. While the regular sessions will not begin until May 14th, the exhibits will be on display May 12th, continuing throughout the five days. * * * Winning Branch in Eschmann Month Contest First National's San Francisco branch office, which won first prize for branches in the Eschmann Month sales contest, is making good use of the momentum attained in that drive, to hang up a record for contracts on the company's Leader group of pictures. A wire just received at the First National home office from E. A. Eschmann, general manager of distribution, who is now on the Pacific Coast, states that Charles H. Muehlman, manager of the San Francisco branch, and his first-prize-winning salesmen, have already closed forty-seven contracts on the Leader group. This is a splendid achievement, considering that it is nearly one-third of the possibilities for sales of the group in that territory, and that the record has been made in a comparatively short time. Mr. Muehlman states that within the next ten days the San Francisco branch will have closed more than 100 contracts for Leader group pictures. Added to the enthusiasm which their winning of first place among branches in the Eschmann Month contest has aroused in his sales force, Mr. Muehlman has found the great box-office power of First National's Leader pictures the main factor in the splendid record already attained and in the writing of another third of the possibilities in the next ten days.