Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Jan-Mar 1928)

30 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD Mart h 3, 1928 KNOW YOUR SALES LEADERS NED E. DEPINET, general manager of distribution and vice-president of First National Pictures, Inc., though only 37 years old has rounded out more than twenty years of experience in the motion picture business. And during all of these twenty years he has been directly associated with sales. DORN in Erie, Pa., Sept. 9, 1890, Depinet attended the schools of that city. After being graduated from high school, he found his first job as booker and salesman with the Imported Film and Supply Company of New Orleans. Literally, it may be said that he has NED E. DEPINET Fox Deal for Control of Stanley Held Underway; Involves 635 Theatres (Continued from page 21) company announced the reduction of its regular dividend of $1 to 75 cents a share. All these steps, it is understood, are in line with policies advocated by Irving D. Rossheim, newly elected president of the Stanley Company, who upon his election undertook to reduce the overhead expenses of the company by enforcing strict economies, through the elimination of unneeded employees and the cutting of unprofitable contracts. Rossheim also urged that the company build up a strong cash reserve, even at the expense of reducing the dividend. It is understood that these economies will save the company from $400,000 to $500,000 a year. Another proposed change in policy, it is understood, will consolidate all buying under the direction of one individual. While the name of this individual has not been announced, it is believed that Fabian will undertake the task and that carefully supervised buying will not only result in savings been a picture man throughout his business life. Step by step, as a result of proven capacity, he has risen to his present post of high responsibility. In 1910, the Imported Film and Supply Company became a part of the General Film Company, giving Depinet a broader opportunity to familiarize himself with the marketing of pictures in the southern territory. His success was so pronounced that in 1911 the Universal Company offered him the place of Southern division manager, a position that he filled until 1924 when he was brought to the New York office as one of three sales directors. Along with his other duties, Depinet continued to be the righthand man of William Oldnow, who for many years held the Universal distributing franchise for the entire South. In the fall of 1926, he came to First National as a member of the sales cabinet organized at that time with the country divided into three territories, East, South and West. Depinet took over the Southern territory and soon brought the sales in that part of the country up to a new high mark. When it was decided to appoint a general salesmanager with jurisdiction over all domestic distribution, he was chosen as the ideal man for the place. Under the direction of Depinet, with A. W. Smith, Jr., Eastern salesmanager, Stanley W. Hatch, Western and W. E. Callaway, Southern, First National branches are going well above their alloted quotas on the new season's product. Depinet was a distributor representative at the exhibitor-distributor-producer contract conference held recently in Chicago. — J. S. S. to the company but will provide better attractions for patrons. It was also announced that one of the largest girders ever made will soon be placed in the Mastbaum theatre which is being built at Twentieth and Market streets. The theatre is to seat 5,000 and cost $5,000,000. Steel will be the chief part of the structural work. William Fox in South ; New Projects Rumored (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) ATLANTA, Feb. 28.— William Fox spent several hours in Atlanta Wednesday afternoon and his visit gave rise to rumors that, in addition to the magnificent theatre which he contracted for here, he is planning other houses in the South. Mr. Fox came to Atlanta from Augusta, Ga., arriving late in the afternoon, but remained here only long enough to catch the Crescent Limited for New Orleans. He was met at the train by Paul C. Bryan, head of the Fox exchange in Atlanta. Serve Coffee at Roxy NEW YORK — Coffee is now being served in the Roxy theatre grand lounge room. The coffee is free lo patrons and is served between the hours of 3 and 10 o'clock. 4,000-Seat Stanley In Pittsburgh Has Premiere of Pomp (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) PITTSBURGH, Feb. 28.— Amid pomp and ceremony the long awaited opening of the new 4,000-seat Stanley theatre took place yesterday at 3 p. m., when the official dedication of the theatre by Mayor Charles H. Kline took place. At the opening performance scenes of this were shown as part of the Paramount News. A dinner at the William Penn for the officials of the company and other prominent people followed the dedication. The entire house was reserved, at $1.65 for orchestra seats and $1.10 for balcony. The theatre itself is modern in every respect, with 4,000 seats on two floors. The foyer is not separated by doors from the auditorium but constructed to allow standees to see the show, as in some legitimate houses. With an elevating pit and organ and a medical room, besides being beautifully appointed, this house compares favorably with any in the country. There was no confusion at all at the opening, and much credit is due James Balmer, the manager. Charles Raymond has prepared thorough exploitation for the premiere. Concessions Made in New Standard Contract (Continued from page 15) specifying the number of days for acceptance of a contract, these periods of time have been revised in the case of several cities. Considerable of the additional text in the new contract is devoted to percentage booking, and in the clauses affecting this it is specified that "if this contract calls for payment or any part thereof computed upon the exhibitor's gross receipts, such payment or any part thereof shall be made daily." Heretofore the contract has specified only that a daily itemized statement was required. Woodhull Makes Statement In making public the new contract, the following statement was issued by R. F. Woodhull, chairman of the unaffiliated exhibitor group, and R. H. Cochrane, chairman of the distributor group: "We are more than pleased with the really fine work of the Contract Committee, the members of which gave unstintingly of their time at a great sacrifice of their personal interests to do a constructive piece of work for the motion picture industry at large. Called "Great Improvement" "It is the belief of the committee that the new Contract and Rules are a great improvement over those which they will supersede, beginning May 1, 1928,— and that the new provisions and those which were omitted from the old Contract and Rules, will do much to eliminate many points of trade differences between exhibitors and distributors of motion pictures." Following were the members of the committee representing the Unaffiliated Exhibitors: Ben Berinstein of Los Angeles, Nathan Yamins of Fall River, Mass., R. R. Biechele of Kansas City, Mo., H. M. Richey of Detroit, Mich., secretary. Representing the Affiliated Exhibitors: Fred Desberg of Cleveland, and Edward Schiller of New York. Representing the Distributors: Felix F. Feist, Ned Depinet, Phil Reisman.