The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

10 THE EXHIBITOR UA Domestic Sales Running Ahead, Report Silverstone Optimistic at Stockholders’ Meeting New York City — Revealing that United Artists domestic sales were running more than $7,000,000 ahead of the same period last year, Murray Silverstone last week declared that an increased program is planned for the 1940-41 season. All owners were represented at the directors’ and stockholders meeting by proxy; all directors were re-elected, with Herbert Maas replacing Theodore Caruso as director for Mary Pickford. Silverstone said that he plans to leave for the Coast soon, and that the company has 14 or 15 pictures lined up for release by the end of the season. He revealed that David O. Selznick has signed a contract for produce for the company next season, that what Alexander Korda does is up to Korda, that despite the war UA would make ambitious plans for next year. He did not discuss the Samuel Goldwyn situation, but asserted that all producers for UA have ironclad contracts prohibiting them from making pictures for any other distributors until 1945. Oscar Doob Feted New York City — The press of New York City played host November 14 to Oscar A. Doob in celebration of his 10th anniversary as publicity and ad head for Loew’s theatres. More than 50 prominent motion picture representatives and members of various metropolitan publications attended the surprise dinner party Among those who wined and dined were J. W. Eagan and Art Darmstader, advertising executives The Mirror; Ben Crisler, The Times; John Balaban, Balaban and Katz ; Lynn Farnol, Monroe Greenthal, United Artists ; Rodney Bush, Twentieth Century-Fox ; Bob Gillham, A1 Wilkie, Alec Moss, Paramount; Mitchell Woodbury, motion picture editor, Toledo Blade ; Robert Coleman, dramatic editor, The Mirror; Wanda Hale, Kate Cameron, Dorothy Masters, The Daily News ; Jack Smith, motion picture editor, Journal-American ; H. B. Fairchild, Neil Kingsley, advertising heads, New York Sun ; Frank Farrell, Allen Smith, World-Telegram ; Irene Thirer, The New York Post; Bill, John, Marcus Griffin, The Enquirer; Ben Berkowich, Capitol; A. Mike Vogel and Art Schmidt. Anne Ellmer, Ernie Emerling, Gene Murphy and Ed Dowden, Loew office. An onyx humidor and ash tray bearing the engraved signatures of all attending was presented to Doob. New Camera Tested Princeton, New Jersey — A new threedimensional camera which may revolutionize the motion-picture industry was tested last week on the Princeton football field by its inventor, Fred Waller, former newsreel trick photographer. Waller, who filmed the Princeton team in action, said the new camera requires a specially curved screen for projection and is designed to show action in the proper perspective.” Allied Regional in Wash. Washington — Allied’s next eastern regional will be held in Washington in January, in conjunction with the national directors’ meeting, it was announced last week. ''Gulliver” Glimpse NEW YORK CITY— Paramount unwound about 1500 feet of “Gulliver’s Travels,” the Max Fleischer feature cartoon in Technicolor, last week-end, and it turned out to be an eyeful. Depicting the sequence where the little people find Gulliver on the beach and transport him to their kingdom, it proves that Fleischer and Paramount have something. Devoid of sound and dialogue, becase this portion was shot north from Miami for screening purposes, it still was a very entertaining 18m. Allied Eastern Heads In Five Hour Regional Suspect Distrib Concessions Only Appeasement Philadelphia — With Boston Alliedman Francis Lydon in charge, vice-presidents of the Allied New England, Connecticut, New Jersey, District of Columbia, Maryland, Eastern Pennsylvania and Western Pennsylvania units attended a regular regional meeting here November 13. A statement following the meeting follows: “The directors spent five hours in session covering the phases of organization usually discussed at regionals. There were no sensational developments, but a lot of constructive discussion developed regarding concessions. Some directors voiced a suspicion that the present concessions were merely articles of appeasement to be used by the distributors in an effort to defeat the Neely Bill and other Allied aims, and it was generally agreed that the existing printed concessions have not been effective long enough to determine their value. “The directors were advised by vicepresident Frank Lydon, Massachusetts, that service to members in local organizations must not be neglected through a concentration of effort on legislation and litigation.” English Business Near Normal New York City — Picture business in England is at or very near normal, but the problem of how to get the money out of Britain is ever present, according to Phil Reisman, RKO-Radio’s foreign general manager, last week. Reisman, who leaves shortly for a business trip to Mexico and Panama, was enthusiastic about RKO’s product lineup being strong enough to bring in extra returns from the Pan-American markets. Gulliver in Macy Parade New York City — Paramount Pictures last week completed arrangements with R. H. Macy whereby one of the highlights of this year’s Macy Thanksgiving Day parade will be a huge 30-foot figure of Gulliver, star of Paramount’s forthcoming Max Fleischer Technicolor feature-length cartoon, “Gulliver’s Travels.” “ ‘Mr. Smith’ Being Sold Individually,” Montague Clarifies Company’s Position In Controversy New York City — Because of the controversial issues which have arisen with the release of “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” A Montague, Columbia’s general sales manager, made the following statement last week: "There need be no misunderstanding as to how Frank Copra’s picture ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington’ is sold by Columbia Pictures. Much propaganda has gone forth in an effort to convince members of congress that the Neely Bill is a necessity because exhibitors have purchased this outstanding picture as a part of Columbia’s program for 1939-40. Frank Capra’s ‘Mr. Smith Goes t oWashington’ has been and is being sold as an individual picture, under an individual picture contract. It has been and is the desire of the distributor to show this picture in advance to any exhibitor in the United States who desires to see it. “For the last three years all of Frank Capra’s pictures have been sold separate and apart from the regular Columbia program. “Our regular established customers have, of course, had the first opportunity to negotiate for ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.’ That is and always has been our policy with our regular customers. “Many of our regular customers licensed this particular Capra picture at the time they contracted for our 1939-40 program because in each instance these exhibitors insisted upon completing negotiations for ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,’ clearly indicating that they wanted to be assured that they would get this particular feature. “Thousands of exhibitors have already purchased this picture on separate contracts and there has not been a single request from any exhibitor in the United States to cancel or relieve him of his contract on ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.’ “Despite the fact that no such request has been presented, we are perfectly willing to discuss with any exhibitor who has contracted for the Capra picture any difficulty that has grown out of his having made such a contract. I want to stress, however, that this in no wise differs from our general policy. We are at all times willing to discuss with exhibitors particular situations where they have contracted for our pictures and where special circumstances arise that have to do with the playing of any particular picture.” Washington — Sidney Lust was scheduled to open his new Hyattsville, Hyattsville, November 21, with a gala program. Goldwyn Reported Moving HOLLYWOOD — Samuel Goldwyn was reported last week dickering with both Paramount and RKO on a distribution deal, following alleged advice by his attorney. Max D. Steuer, that his present contract with United Artist is worthless. November 22, 1939