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

20 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD February 25, 1928 KNOW YOUR SALES LEADERS LOU B. METZGER, general salesmanager for the Universal Pictures Corporation, is a veteran in the film industry, having broken in 18 years ago -'as an inspector in the Portland exchange of the Film Supply Company, operated by his uncle, Gus Metzger. This exchange was the distributor in the Oregon and Northwest territory for the Laemmle Film Service, which later grew into Universal Pictures Corporation. Thus, Metzger can be said to have started in the Laemmle organization. With the exception of a few years, his entire film career has been under the Universal banner. ■ppROM film inspector he soon was graduated into the brief-case class, becoming a salesman for his uncle's exchange. He remained in that position until the entry of the United States into the World war, when he resigned and joined the army. He was assigned to the 81st Field Artillery of the 8th Regular Division, then forming in the Northwest. He specialized in field telephone work and finally rose to be the chief brigade telephone officer for the artillery of that division. LOU B. METZGER Beatty Goes to Coast for First National Conference ( special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) NEW YORK, Feb. 21.— Jerry Beatty, director of publicity and advertising for First National, left New York on Saturday for a trip to the coast that undoubtedly will have interest to the trade. Beatty expects to take up matters of advertising and publicity with the Western studios. He expects to be back in New York about March 15. Pathe Wins Basketball Title for Second Time ( special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) NEW YORK, Feb. 21.— Pathe again is champion of the industry's basketball teams. The final tilt in the league was won from After the war, Metzger re-entered the film business, being signed by Carl Laemmle as special representative for Universal's great war picture, "The Heart of Humanity," in the Kansas City territory, Metzger's home. Later he joined the K-C exchange as assistant manager. Next he was picked as salesmanager for the Stage Women's War Relief series put out by Universal. His work with those pictures attracted the attention of other companies and he accepted a handsome offer from Selznick late in 1920, becoming manager of short subjects for that company. From that post he went to the Northwest as district salesmanager for FBO. After a few months, however, he felt the call of home and of Universal and accepted the managership of Universal's Kansas City exchange. It was from this position that he jumped to national prominence early in 1925 as the originator of Universal's Complete Service Contract. After a preliminary tryout of this plan, Metzger was installed in the Universal home office to put the new and startling sales policy into effect. The results were astounding and endeared Metzger not only to Laemmle and the entire Universal organization but to the thousands of exhibitors who found the Complete Service Contract exceptionally practical. Metzger soon was advanced to be Western division sales director for Universal. This was near the end of 1925. Six months later, on the eve of Laemmle's departure for Europe, the Universal chief appointed Metzger as general salesmanager for Universal. That was a year and a half ago. The genial sales chief is still going strong. His tenure of the important sales post is almost a record for Universal. Laemmle's confidence in his keen sales ability and in his organizational and driving powers indicates that he will be there for a long time to come. — J. S. S. Paramount, 58 to 29 and gave Pathe 26 of the 28 games played in two years. Fox took second place by defeating Metro 50 to 28. The final standing was : W L Pathe _ 6 2 Fox 5 3 Paramount _ 4 4 Consolidated 4 4 Metro 1 7 Scheuer Quits Paramount ( special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) NEW YORK, Feb. 21.— Lewis M. Scheuer, who has been a member of the legal department of Paramount the last three years, will sever his connection with that organization March 1. Hopkins Writes Titles for M-G-M LOS ANGELES.— Robert Hopkins has signed a contract as title writer for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. What the Fans Are Saymg "'X'ELL me something," said a plump theatre patron in front of a Kansas City theatre the other day. "Who is responsible for the type of stage presentations we are getting now, anyway? When the public will pay top prices to see a good looking chorus and hear a couple catchy songs in a musical comedy, why don't the "movie" theatres give us a little of the same thing. Who asked for a lot of this slowmoving scenery with tinsel and stiflfnecked baritones?" * * * "Give me something light, something light!" exclaimed a veteran patron to a manager the other day. "I've seen this domestic tragedy stuff until I can't stand it any more. Must a man quarrel all day with his wife, then see it dramatized on the screen at night?" Sentry Officials Sail to Close European Deal for Distribution Riglits (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) NEW YORK, Feb. 21.— Two officials of the Sentry Safety Control Corporation, Jose E. Cohen, president, and Senator Max Aron, secretary, will sail Friday for England to consummate a deal for English and Continental rights to the distribution of Sentry safety control. Negotiations have been in progress for some time, and the deal was brought to a head recently by long distance telephone. The deal is said to involve several million dollars. Sentry safety control systems are said to be in use in more than 1,000 theatres. F BO to Film 2 Tales Cfiosen in Tie-up with True Story Magazine ( special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) NEW YORK, Feb. 21.— Announcement is made by Joseph P. Kennedy, president of FBO, that FBO will produce two motion pictures based upon stories that have appeared or will appear in True Story Magazine. The first will be selected by William Le Baron, vice-president in charge of production, from stories that have appeared or from unpublished stories. The second will be selected by a committee of three judges in a contest to be conducted by the magazine. Goldstein Transferred (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) ALBANY, Feb. 21.— Harry Goldstein, manager of the Paramount exchange, has been transferred to the Pittsburgh office. He has been succeeded by Kenneth Robinson. "Call of the Sea" An Educational Film "The Call of the Sea," a short feature starring Hope Hampton and one of a series of subjects in technicolor starring this player, is an Educational release, not a Rayart £lm, as stated beneath a picture in a recent issue of Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World. This series was produced by the Colorart Corporation.