The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

EDITORIAL THE NATIONAL [ Trade-mark Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. Vol 17, No. 2 Nov. 23, 193* A Jay Emanuel Publication. Circulating in Maryland, District of Columbia, Delaware, Virginia, Eastern West Virginia. Covering the film territory served out of Washington, D. C. Published weekly by Jay Emanuel Publications, Incorporated. Publishing office: 219 North Broad Street, Philadelphia. Branches at Washington, D. C.; 1600 Broadway, New York City. West Coast Office: 1119 Poinsettia Drive, Hollywood, California. Jay Emanuel, publisher; Paul J. Grcenhalgh, advertising manager; Herbert M. Miller, managing editor. Subscription rates: $2 for one year; $5 for three years. Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Publisher also of The Philadelphia Exhibitor and The New York State Exhibitor. Address all communications to the Philadelphia office. Just in Passing CONGRATULATIONS DEPARTMENT To the Schine brothers, J. Myer and Louis M., of Gloversville, New York, who will be feted at a dinner in Albany, New York, December 19 on the occasion of their 20th anniversary in the business. Recently, these publications celebrated their 20th anniversary, also. We congratulate the Schines and look forward to 1968 when we will both enjoy our 50th. To Grad Sears, Warners sales chief, selected for the third year as the executive honored by the annual Warner big push, the drive for sales. Distribution drives are no novelty, but the choice of the executive honored often is the reason why a drive becomes a success. In this case, with the Sears name on the label, it looks like a walkaway. NO CREDIT DEPARTMENT To the individuals and contemporaries who have been filling the air and columns with "observers close to the situation hear that the following points are being discussed in the industry parley,” etc. It was our impression that only official releases would come from those participating in the parley. Spreading varied reports only complicates the situation and confuses the industry. THANKS DEPARTMENT To George Weeks, Sam Galanty and Harry J. Friedman. It’s good to know that you feel that way — and you can depend on us to keep improving. They Can9t Take It This Should be in the record. We Would Like very much to call to the attention of (1) the reformers who claim that this industry of ours is detrimental to the best interests of the nation (2) the sociologists who declare that the influence of the motion picture on small children results in gangsters, etc. (3) the smart set who assert that movies are for morons (4) the miscellaneous elements who love to rap this business ( 5 ) the editors who find front page space for divorce actions involving movie stars and never a line for meritorious industry developments, that within the last fortnight, a group of workers were enriched to the tune of $2 50,000 by a manufacturer because he had seen a motion picture called "You Can’t Take It with You.” It Happened in Mount Vernon, New York, where a printing company owner saw the feature, then decided to give his employees $2 50,000 because, as he said, "I could have gone and rolled up a couple of million dollars more but what is the use.” Just As Another Angle: This story was hidden inside the same newspapers which a few days later gave front page headlines to a girl who killed herself after she had witnessed a depressing picture while in a depressed mood. Perhaps, as has been suggested, this industry definitely does need a press contact bureau between the industry and the newspapers in order that the good that our business does might be given the proper attention. At Any Rate, here are the facts of two pictures, what happened to two people who saw them and how the newspapers treated the stories. They speak their own moral.