The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

14 THE NATIONAL MIRROR COLUMBIA MEN MEET IN CONVENTION. And highlighting the Atlantic City session of the eastern sales force, headed by the home office execs, were, in the usual left to right, top to bottom, order: Jack Cohn, A. Montague, A. Schneider, Rube Jackter, Louis Astor, Max Weisfeldt, Louis Weinberg, Maurice A. Bergman, Joseph A. McConville. Columbia Eastern Men Meet in Atlantic City Forty Features, 15 Westerns On Program Men of Columbia assembled in Atlantic City’s Ritz Hotel May 8-May 1 1 for the first of a series of three sales meetings which will take place in Atlantic City, Chicago, Los Angeles, with A. Montague, general sales manager presiding. Jack Cohn headed the home office executives who attended the Atlantic City gathering. Among them were A. Schneider, R. Jackter, J. McConville, L. Astor, L. Weinberg, M. Weisfeldt, L. Jaffe, H. C. Kaufman, M. Bergman, M. Grad, G. Josephs, M. Hannock, A. Seligman, W. Brennan, F. McGrann, Al Sherman, B. E. Zeeman, C. Roberts, A. Picker, V. Borrelli, I. Moross, S. Liggett, J. Freiberg, S. Raisler, T. McCue, Irving Sherman, H. Takiff, R. Bach, and foreign representatives, C. Mason, Australia; F. Knocke, Puerto Rico; E. Smith, Cuba; S. Kusiel, Mexico. Following exchanges were present at this sales meeting: Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Memphis, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Washington, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Albany, Boston, Buffalo, New Haven, New York, Philadelphia. Jack Cohn opened the session welcoming the delegates and then turned meeting over to A Montague, general sales manager. Montague’s opening address included general discussions on the currently released product as well as on the features. Addresses by other sales and home office executives followed. Rube Jackter, assistant sales manager, spoke on the importance of the company’s manpower followed by an address by Maurice Bergman, director of advertising, publicity and exploitation. Other pertinent addresses were made by Joseph McConville, foreign sales manager, on the foreign situation; Lou Weinberg, Louis Astor on circuit sales; Max Weisfeldt on short subjects; Al Seligman on accessories; Sam Liggett on the nontheatrical field; Maurice Grad on sales promotion. What was expected to be of particular interest to exhibitors before the convention opened was to be an expression from Columbia, through sales chief A. Montague, of its stand on the trade practice parley and code. Montague not only clarified the company’s position on this matter but also stated the organization’s position in the matter of twin bills. In addition, another highlight was the outlne of the new product program for the 1939-1940 season. A highlight of this was the Frank Capra production, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” now in production. Columbia will live up to "every word, comma and period” of the planned Code of Fair Practice, A. Montague, general sales manager announced. Said Montague: "I want to convey to everyone that if the code is accepted by the government and by exhibitors individually and in groups, we definitely intend, I repeat, to live up to the very letter of the agreement. "Our sales organization happens to be ideally geared to put this into effect. Because of our decentralization policy, which has been in force for many years, and the responsibility it has placed on local branches and salesmen, our sales force is in a fine position to handle individually any code problems which may arise in their respective territories. "We have a definite situation to face which I believe, as does the company, will bring about a finer understanding, a better business set-up throughout the entire industry. "We have been a rapidly-growing industry; at times we have suffered from what may be called ’growing pains.’ If by an 'across-thetable’ conference, those pains can be eliminated or, at least, alleviated, we believe, as I am sure a vast majority of the exhibitors in this country believe, that they can be better treated than by a Neely bill or any other form of governmental supervision.” Exhibitors are best able to decide their own exhibition policies, whether single or double feature, and producer distributors should devote themselves to the production and distribution of motion pictures that will prove box-office attractions for both classes, it was stated by Montague. He continued: "Because of the question asked so many times as to Columbia’s stand on the single and double feature situation, we want to go on record that Columbia has been successful under both policies — in single bill territories as well as double feature territories. "It is not Columbia’s policy to tell exhibitors how to operate theatres, because we believe no one knows better how to run them than those who have their investment in exhibition. "If it is the exhibitor’s policy to run single features, we will co-operate with that individual to see that he makes a success of that policy. And if he prefers double features, again we will co-operate to assure his success. We believe that single features may be successful where such a policy is accepted and wanted and that is equally true for double feature bills. We offer our heartiest co-operation, our services and our money for publicity when called upon by fair-minded exhibitors. "I say, don’t ask others to do what you fear to do yourself. Don’t let us preach: Don’t do as I do but do as I say!’ Action speaks louder than words — and I believe in plenty of action, when it is constructive, good showmanship and good box office for the industry as a whole.” At the convention, the Columbians heard that 40 features, 15 westerns, four serials, 26 tworeelers and 96 one-reelers would be made during 1939-1940. The tentative feature line-up for the year follows: "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” adapted from Sidney Buchman’s novel "A Gentleman from Montana,” is now in production, with Frank May 10, 1919