Exhibitors Herald (Jan-Mar 1920)

EXHIBITORS HERALD Famous Players-Lasky Executives Assembled in Chicago Convention Adolph'Zukor Issues Emphatic Denial of Rumor He Had Resigned From Company— Says "Wall Street" Has No Voice in Affairs Trade Review Sold To Press Syndicate Eastern Film Publication is Added to Class Journal Publications, Inc. Exhibitors Trade Review of New York City has been purchased by the United Publishers association which is the holding company for the Class Journal Publications, Inc., which owns and operates among others the following trade papers: Iron Age, Motor Age, Motor World, Commercial Vehicle, Tire Rate Book, Motor Boat, Distributing and Warehousing, Hardware Age, Dry Goods Economist, Dry Goods Reporter, Boot and Shoe Recorder and Allied Publications of Boston, Root Newspaper Association of St. Louis and Automotive Indicator. Swetland Heads Organization The head of the publishing concern which is regarded as the world's largest trade paper publishing organization is A. B. Swetland. The company controls nine trade publications in the automobile field and is similarly entrenched in other important fields. No announcement of policy relative to Exhibitors Trade Review has as yet been been announced. Founded by Lee A. Ochs Exhibitors Trade Review was started by Lee A. Ochs as an organ of the Motion Picture Exhibitors League of America, which organization was given one-third of the Exhibitors Trade Review, Inc. Louis F. Blumenthal, wellknown Eastern exhibitor was the financial backer of the enterprise. Mr. Ochs eventually resigned from the publication and the stock which was given to the League was retrieved by Mr. Blumenthal. Magnet Exchange is Threatened by Fire; Water Causes Loss NEW YORK, Jan. 20.— The Magnet Film Exchange of 729 Seventh Avenue, New York, caught fire on Saturday and while only a few thousand feet of film burned, the damage from the water pumped in by the fire department caused a heavy loss. The Magnet Exchange .is located on the eighth floor and the water ran down the stairways and through the floors, flooding the offices of the Tyrad Film Company and others on the seventh floor and also into the Selznick advertising offices on the sixth floor. No accurate estimate of the damage can be given at this time. The fire caused great excitement as 729 Seventh Avenue is probably the largest building devoted entirely to films in the country and perhaps in the world, the possibilities of a terrific conflagration were feared both by the fire department and the tenants of the building. Hurt in Film Explosion , BALTIMORE, MD.— J. Alex Barry, motion picture director and actor in charge of the Lewy Studios in this city, sustained severe burns while experimenting with films. An important conference of chief executives and executives of the field force of the Famous Players-Lasky corporation is in progress this week at the Hotel LaSalle, Chicago. The delegation from the home office includes Adolph Zukor, president; Al Litchman, general manager, department of distribution; S. R. Kent, sales manager; John C. Flinn, director of advertising and publicity, and Jerome Beatty, advertising manager. Executives Are Assembled District managers, branch managers and exploitation representatives at the various exchanges are assembled for the conference. According to program the meeting was to be in session throughout the week. There was to be presented to the representatives of the organization an outline of a sales and exploitation campaign to be undertaken immediately. The aim is to co-ordinate the promotional activities of the various offices in such a way that the entire organization will operate as a unit. ZUKOR NAILS RUMOR Adolph Zukor, president of the Famous Players-Lasky corporation, in an interview last week declared there is no truth in the rumor that he is to resign from the Famous Players organization. Mr. Zukor recited at considerable length a story of the present internal structure of the company, declaring that "Wall Street" has no voice in the affairs of the company. Mr. Zukor referred to the issue of $10,000,000 of preferred stock which was underwritten by Kuhn-Loeb and Company, the New York banking firm, saying that the relation of the banking firm to Famous Players is simply that of a purchaser of securities. Still Controls Company The president of Famous Players announced that the control of the company rests with himself and his associates who have been active in the company since its organization. Mr. Zukor stated that the proceeds of the sale of the $10,000,000 issue of preferred stock would be used for general expansions and also for carrying forward the announced plan of cooperation with exhibitors in "key" cities. Report "Big Five" Will Build Studio LOS ANGELES, Jan. 20— The Associated Producers are reported to be planning the erection of a mammoth studio in Glendale. Details are not as yet divulged. Woman to Open Theatre PEKIN, ILL.— Mrs. A. B. Fluekel will open a motion picture theatre in the Empire Block. Goldwyn Buys Half Interest in Aschers' Chicago Theatre Chain An arrangement has been entered into between the Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Ascher Brothers, leading theatre operators of Chicago, whereby Goldwyn obtains a fifty per cent interest in the fourteen Ascher theatres in Chicago. No information has been disclosed as to whether Ascher theatres located in other points are included in the arrangement. The deal was consummated in New York last week with Samuel Goldwyn, president of the Goldwyn Pictures Corporation, representing Goldwyn and Nathan and Harry Ascher representing the* Ascher interests. The deal as yet has not received official confirmation, but information at hand indicate the authenticity of the report. The Ascher theatres are representative leading theatres of the Middle West and as the first large unit of theatres to be taken over by the Goldwyn would give this company an exceptionally strong position in the Chicago territory. Ascher Brothers in association with Balaban and Katz are owners of the First National franchise in Illinois. It is stated that the Goldwyn deal will have no effect upon Ascher Brothers' relations with the First National Circuit. 45