The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

14 THE NATIONAL MIRROR Number 27 of a Series: NED KORNBUTE District Manager COMERFORD AMUSEMENT CORPORATION, Binghamton, N. Y. "I consider THE EXHIBITOR one of the best magazines in the Motion Picture Industry. I like the way this paper is classifying the news of each community. The Service Section of reviews on features and the National Release guide are extremely helpful to every exhibitor. "I notice that every one in our organization is always looking for suggestions and information in this magazine every week. "It surely is a great asset to every exhibitor and manager to have such a publication in their possession.” Nearly every Exhibitor reads THE EXHIBITOR! AN INVITATION Throughout 19} 9, 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. Goldwyn Files New Suit in Wilmington Court Bill Identical with First Argument Samuel Goldwyn, filing suit last week in U. S. District Court, Wilmington, Delaware, both as a corporation and individually, is seeking an end of pending agreements between himself, and his corporation and United Artists, Inc. His lawyer, William S. Potter, asks for a declaratory judgment to end the exclusive contracts. Agreements between UA and London Film Productions, Ltd., and Alexander Korda, famous producer and director, Goldwyn charges, conflict with contracts of UA for distribution of his pictures. The bill filed is identical with that filed in New York courts. Goldwyn’s exclusive contract with UA which runs until 1946 calls for the production of two features annually and other pictures elsewhere if he so desires. Goldwyn charges that he opposed the resolution adopted at the January 16, 1939 stockholders meeting at Hollywood, providing for agreements between UA and Korda and Douglas Fairbanks, consenting to the organization of separate producing concerns and supplemental agreements between himself and his corporation and other interests, including Korda and London Films. Goldwyn contended such action would constitute an amendment or modification of his contract and also a waiver. He further contended that at the directors meetings in New York in February, James Roosevelt, a director of the defendant concern, backed him up in his stand and asked reconsideration of the resolution, but that the board refused. Para Plugging New Faces The Golden Anniversary of motion pictures which takes place October 6 is a golden date for a group of Paramount newcomers, it was announced last week at the studio. Viewing the golden anniversary of Thomas A. Edison’s development of the kinetoscope — forebearer of the modern movie projector — as an auspicious period for the birth of a new generation of stars, Paramount has announced a golden circle of new faces behind whom all the resources of the studio are to be mobilized. The lucky 14 whose destiny will be guided by high company officials are — Joseph Allen, Muriel Angelus, Judith Barrett, Louise Campbell, Ellen Drew, Betty Field, Susan Hayward, William Henry, William Holden, Evelyn Keyes, Janice Logan, Joyce Mathews, Patricia Morison, Robert Preston. Paramount After South American Market Balaban Explains Position of Company An aggressive policy of overcoming much of the possible market shrinkage in strife-torn Central Europe by producing pictures with a special appeal for Latin America, the English speaking peoples and other countries outside the warthreatened areas, was announced last week by Barney Balaban, president, Paramount Pictures, Inc. He said: "We feel now that by paying some special attention to the entertainment wants and interests of our neighbors of Latin America and the British Empire we can compensate for possible shrinkage in market resulting from international troubles in Europe. With such plans in view Paramount will not reduce the activities of its Hollywood studio. The company expects to make approximately same number of pictures we produced during the past year, thus maintaining thousands of workers on heavy payrolls here. "In order to hold the American business gains of the past year and to make new advances during the coming season we intend to continue our policy of extensive newspaper advertising in this country. The advertising campaign on "Union Pacific” is typical of this policy.” “Union Pacific” Day and Date Immediately following the gala premiere of Paramount’s "Union Pacific,” set for three downtown theatres simultaneously in Omaha, Nebraska, April 2 8, Paramount will have this attraction playing 260 engagements in key cities throughout the nation within a month from the date of the premiere, a weekend check-up on bookings revealed this week. Of the 260 day and date engagements, 5 3 dates consist of pre-release runs, scheduled on or before the national release date of the picture, which is May 5. Will Rogers Week Opens With the Will Rogers Week opening April 20, reports from all parts of the territory were encouraging this week. Co-operation of the theatres of the country, independent and affiliated, indicates that the annual drive should exceed last year’s total. Detroit Leads in Schaefer Drive At the halfway mark in the George Schaefer Drive the Detroit exchange, headed by J. Sharkey, held first position, it was announced last week. The New York branch office, Bob Wolff, manager, was in second place, and Los Angeles pulled into the third bracket. Eastern division, E. L. McEvoy, sales manager, tops the western division. April 19, 19)9