The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

EDITORIAL THE NATIONAL Trade-mark Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. Vol. 17, No. 12 Feb. 1, 193 9 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: 1225 Vine Street, Philadelphia. New York City office: 1600 Broadway. West Coast office: 1119 Poinsettia Drive, Hollywood, California. Jay Emanuel, publisher; Paul J. Greenhalgh, 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 LOEW’S VICTORY Not only the individual executives of Loew’s, Inc., but the industry generally won a victory when the recent decision in the suit brought by stockholders turned out to be a win for the organization’s heads. The Loew’s, Inc., system has been clicking for the past several years and this year is no exception. Any interruption in the workings of such a 16 cylinder model would be unfortunate. Men like Nicholas M. Schenck and his cohorts must be encouraged. ON ITS FEET United Artists is on its feet squarely and surely following the stockholders’ meeting in Hollywood. Plenty of pictures, and plenty of good pictures, should be on tap for exhibitors according to the signs pointing in one direction — production values. This business will be in much better shape, too, when a few of the other companies which have been feeling their way get going. There should be some reason for optimism. FURTHER POSTPONEMENT So now, it appears, Allied is rewriting the trade memorandum with an eye to an eventual meeting of minds. We suggest that the trade be patient because it appears the boys are really sincere in their desire to work out a suitable plan. Besides, the news from Washington during the past fortnight hasn’t been any too encouraging for the producers. COMING: THE 1939 GRAND SHORTS AWARDS There Are No Signs of Spring in the air but one of the big events associated with the Spring season is beginning to shape up. The fourth annual balloting conducted by these publications, the 1939 Grand Shorts Awards, will soon be the reason for much scurrying and hurrying on the part of the editorial department. The End, too, will be written to an undertaking by the editorial department — the sponsorship of a $500 contest for the best short subject campaigns submitted by theatremen of the territory served by the Jay Emanuel Publications. Of the Grand Shorts Awards, it might be written that this should be the biggest ever, in voting, producer interest, individual interest, and in glory for the winner. Begun in 1936, the Grand Shorts Award idea has gained strength in all branches of the business which have an interest in shorts. The 1939 balloting should see a record number of votes when the tabulating begins. In the $500 Contest, the entries have been coming in, but more could be used. True, there are still several weeks to the deadline, but the principle of the early bird getting the worm holds true here as elsewhere. There is still plenty of time in which to submit more entries. We suggest that circuit heads bring the campaign to the attention of their men and that everyone who has been selling shorts whip up a campaign and compete. Editorial Discussion of the progress of shorts is reserved, of course, for the issue containing the winners of the 1939 Grand Shorts Awards, but it might be well at this time to give preliminary praise ( 1 ) to Vitaphone for the historical series it brought to the industry (2) to Fredric Ullman, Jr., and Frank Donovan, of RKO-Pathe, whose shorts prove that other able shorts makers have been found. Let this not be intended as a desire to prejudice the voting. It should not be taken in such light. But the progress made in these two classes was worth mentioning long ago. So, let the voting begin; let the campaigns continue to pour in. The shorts makers need all the friends they can get; they deserve all the praise they merit. There is still nothing like a good balanced program. Say now, with your votes, who shall win. NAT