The Exhibitor (Jun-Nov 1940)

10 THE EXHIBITOR Harry M. Warner Fights “Fifth Column” Moves Speaks to 6 5 00 Employees Hollywood — Harry M. Warner last week urged a group of 6,500 Warner employees and their wives to war against “Fifth Column” activities and to report any sub¬ versive elements to the local FBI office. In a talk at the studio, Warner emphasized the mistake the world had made in per¬ mitting Germany to persecute a minority faith, and told his listeners not to let anyone say anything against another’s faith. He cited instances of finding subversive literature in his car and in the studio, and pointed out that it was everyone’s duty to help the government in coping with “Fifth Column” activities. He told the conclave that Warners had made “Juarez” as a patriotic document to stamp out growing Nazism and Commun¬ ism in Mexico, and revealed that, although $25,000 to $30,000 was customarily lost on the company’s patriotic shorts, they con¬ sidered this a small price for what they were doing, and in view of the fact that all would be lost if Americanism was over¬ thrown. Warner said “We do not want anyone working for us who belongs to any Bund or is a Communist or Fascist,.” He gave figures to show the regularity of employ¬ ment at the studio. Robert Schless, Warners’ European man¬ ager, commented on “Fifth Column” activ¬ ities in France and urged that America take heed. Jack L. Warner presided at the so-called “family assembly.” PPS in Premium Suit New York City — Premium Promotion Syndicate, Inc., which claims to be origin¬ ators of “Encyclopedia Night,” have taken injunction action against Jacob Price and Price Premiums Corporation, it was an¬ nounced last week end by Joseph L. Morse, PPS president. Plaintiff charges Price with lifting their whole original promotion. Further complaints include use of the phrase, “Encyclopedia Night,” of which plaintiff claims ownership. PPS alleges Price used parts of the PPS trailer, and further alleges that the Price advertising campaign was practically the same as theirs, even to the printing of PPS theatre accounts as their own. Law firm of Brown and Jones is representing Premium Promotion Syndi¬ cate. N. J. Allied Sets Date New York City— Annual convention of Jersey Allied will be held September 2527 in Atlantic City, it was announced last week at a meeting of the body in New Brunswick, N. J. Ludwig Resigns New York City— Irving H. Ludwig last week resigned as manager of Rugoff’s Eighth Street Playhouse. Eastern Production Note LOUISVILLE, KY.— That the plan to bring a portion of the film industry to New York City has not been given up by Mayor La Guardia was revealed last week at a pre-IATSE-convention meeting of the 10th district of the group, which embraces the New York union locals. S. J. Scoppa, business agent for the New York studio mechanics, quoted La Guardia as saying: “They think we're not doing anything and let’s keep them thinking that way.” Columbia Sales Folk In Eastern Regional AC Gets Four-Day Sessions Atlantic City — Columbia started the second of its two sales meetings yesterday (June 11) at the Hotel Ritz Carlton. More than 100 delegates including New York home office executives and members of the sales staffs of 16 branch offices from the Mid-east, southern and eastern divisions are present at the four-day convention which will remain in session through June 14. Home office contingent is headed by Jack Cohn, vice-president, and A. Mon¬ tague, general sales manager. Among the home office executives at¬ tending the meeting are R. Jackter, A. Schneider, N. B. Spingold, J. McConville, L. Astor, L. Weinberg, M. Weisfeldt, M. A. Bergman, L. Jaffe, H. C. Kaufman, M. Grad, M. Wormser, G. Josephs, W. Bren¬ nan, V. Borrelli, J. Freiberg, S. Raisler, T. McCue, I. Sherman, L. Malamed, A. Seligman, F. McGrann, A. Sherman, J. Segal, C. Roberts, A. Picker, and foreign representatives Joseph Friedman, manag¬ ing director of England, A. M. Noye, Brazil, H. Prosdocimi, Panama. ( Continued on page 12) THE EXHIBITOR Volume 24, Number 5 June 12, 1940 Better Management 19 Editorial Page 3 Hints on Newspaper Advertising 20 In the Spotlight 8 Late News Highlights 9, 10 National Mirror 11, 12, 13, 16, 17 National Mirror Picture Page 6 National Release Date Guide Inside Back Cover News of the Territory 21, et seq. Brief Glimpses of Production Happenings 18 Reviews (The Exhibitor Servisection) SS-l-SS-10 Territorial Highlights 7 Warren Stokes Hollywood Newsreel 18 Material contained in the Late News Highlights section often represents new developments in stories to be found on other pages of this issue. If the reader will bear this in mind it will avoid possible confusion. This section of THE EXHIBI¬ TOR goes to press last, with latest developments within the industry, where available. Spyros Skouras Asks Higher Admission Scale Grad Sears Endorses Idea New York City — Higher admissions and elimination of duals as the chief weapons with which to combat falling grosses key¬ noted the address of National Theatres’ chief Spyros Skouras before more than 100 persons attending last week’s meeting of AMPA at Jack Dempsey’s Restaurant. Other depressions cure suggestions made by Skouras were another campaign simi¬ lar to “Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment” and inter-company co¬ operation in exploiting worthwhile pic¬ tures.” “Increase admissions by 25 per cent,” he said, "and the industry will be able to offset the current war loss. No indus¬ try sells merchandise today as cheaply as movie houses sell entertainment.” “Although I am as guilty as the next man when it comes to showing double bills,” Skouras asserted, “I abhor double features, “Bank Nights,” giveaways, and all that sort of stuff. However, they be¬ come a necessity because the studios do not supply us sufficient box-office attrac¬ tions. Stageshows would eliminate the second picture, but unions jumped the costs up as high as 150 percent.” Pointing to the success of the “Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment” campaign of two years ago, Skouras asked that something similar be organized to counteract apathy among moviegoers. Continuing in another vein, Skouras asked “Why are some pictures of ex¬ tremely good quality and entertainment value flops when they get to the theatres?” He named several big pictures of the past two years which died at the box office and then suggested that one publicity di¬ rector facing a dead end on a certain pic¬ ture should contact the publicity chief of another company and swap ideas. “We’re not fighting each other anymore — greater problems are facing us,” he stated. He asked the trade press to be “more careful in printing discouraging stories” and to emphasize the brighter side of the business. “Publicity and advertising made the motion picture what it is today,” Skouras claimed citing the campaigns on “Alex¬ ander” and “GWTW.” “Local pre-releases should be encouraged because it brings the movies right to the people. But those campaigns should only be on pictures of importance.” Charles Coburn, Metro, RKO star, spoke a few words on the importance of devel¬ oping and training youthful players for stage and screen. Leon Bamberger, AMPA president, de¬ nied a report which said AMPA was plan¬ ning to merge with the Motion Picture Associates. Bamberger claimed he ap¬ pointed Paul Lazarus, Jr., to confer with MPA leaders on possibility of co-oper¬ ating on relief projects only. He also denied a report that AMPA had recog¬ nized the Screen Publicists and Advertis¬ ers’ Guild, but admitted that a resolution ( Continued on page 16) June 12, 1940