The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

12 THE NATIONAL MIRROR Number 4 of a Series: ELMORE D. HEINS General Manager of the four NATIONAL THEATRE CORPORATION theatres in Roanoke, Va. '’I just want to drop you a few lines to tell you how much we appreciate THE NATIONAL EXHIBITOR. The anticipation of receiving this breezy publication in itself means a great deal to us. Your magazine is fresh, nicely printed and full of interesting information. Your magazine very definitely reflects the very pleasant personality of your entire organization, and we look for each issue hungrily. "Sincerely extending to you cordial good wishes.” Nearly every Exhibitor reads THE~~EXHIBITOR ! AN INVITATION Throughout 1939, expressions of praise, comment, criticism or suggestion from our many Exhibitor Friends will be carried in similar form in every issue. W,e welcome the expression of every reader and will use them in the order in which they are received. NSS-Fox West Coast Complete New Agreement Charles Skouras Praises Company’s Trailers The Fox Theatres Circuit announced last week the consummation of another yearly agreement with National Screen Service for the exclusive use of that company’s pre-vue product in all of their houses — thereby continuing their record of uninterrupted service with the company. First group of theatres signed under this general agreement was 19 5 theatres of the West Coast division, under the supervision of Charles Skouras. Before embarking on a European trip Skouras stated that while it is true that he may have been experimenting with trailers of varying lengths in a few of his houses, for general effectiveness he found National Screen Service’s current product of sufficient diversification to meet the requirements of any and all of his theatres. During the seven years of his responsibility as executive head of Fox West Coast, he has never been without the service of National Screen, whose current product, he stated, shows a steadily progressive and intelligent tendency to keep up with the tempo of the times in presenting news of coming attractions to their patrons. Golden Not Optimistic Over 1939 Foreign View Commerce Official Releases His 193 8 Report Government restrictions abroad threaten foreign markets of American motion picture producers, Nathan Golden, head of the Commerce Department’s film division, announced last week. Golden said 1939 may be the industry’s most critical year in international competition. In 193 8, foreign revenues dropped approximately eight percent, Golden said, and this year may decline even more. He said quota laws, high taxation and state film monopolies in Europe, coupled with the effects of German territorial gains, may leave only Latin American markets. The cession by Czecho-Slovakia of portions of its domain to Germany, Poland and Hungary resulted in a loss of about 5 00 theatre outlets. Exports to Italy ceased after December 3 1 because American distributors would not submit to a State monopoly. Monogram Meets March 1 Monogram stockholders will meet in annual session March 1, it was announced last week by president W. Ray Johnston. Pathe Plan Approval Up To Stockholders February 1 6 Set As Deadline for Voting A new Pathe Film Corporation plan was filed with the SEC last fortnight, with date for stockholders’ approval by voting set for February 16. The plan proposes formation of a new company to be known as Pathe Laboratories, Inc., to which certain assets will be transferred, and direct distribution of the dividends from DuPont Film Manufacturing stock held by Pathe to the stockholders. It is also proposed to declare a dividend of 50 per cent of the stock in the new company to Pathe Film Corporation stockholders within 60 days after consummation of the plan. A vote of 66 2/3 percent of the outstanding common stock will be necessary to ratify the plan. The new corporation will be authorized to issue 25,000 shares of common stock without par value of which 1 1,600 shares will be issued to Pathe Film Corporation. Stock dividend to stockholders will be on the ratio of one share of the new stock to each 50 shares of Pathe common stock. Assets to be transferred are as follows: 65,866 2/3 shares of Monogram common stock, past due notes in the face amount of $248,000 of RKO and the film processing laboratories owned by the company at Bound Brook, and in New York, as well as other assets shown on the company’s balance sheet. In addition, Pathe will transfer the sum of $200,000 in cash to the new company to be borrowed by Pathe upon the security of the DuPont stock. “MPfiY” Campaign Ends Jan. 31 Exhibitor campaigns on Motion Pictures’ Greatest Year in competition for the cash awards for the best theatre campaign coming in at the Bureau Headquarters, 1270 Sixth Avenue, New York, will be received until January 31 when the contest ends, it was announced this week. There will be three sets of prizes awarded in each of three classifications, namely, (1) situations of 100,000 population or over; (2) situations of 1 5,000 to 100,000; (3) situations of less than 1 5,000 population. The prize in each classification will be: First prize $500; second prize $100; third prize $50; fourth prize $2 5; fifth prize $2 5. Historians Aid WB Patriotic Films One hundred prominent American educators, historians, writers, editors have been invited by Warner Brothers Pictures to form a committee that will select episodes in the history of the United States to be made into a series of patriotic films, it was announced last week. First acceptance already has been received from Dr. Henry James Forman, noted author and editor. At the outset, the committee will b? asked to determine the 10 most significant events in American history, but the series of films may be extended beyond these. / an miry 25, 19)9