Exhibitors Herald World (Jan-Mar 1929)

28 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD January 19, 1929 Columbia Moving to Larger Offices To Meet Business Demands Entire Eleventh Floor at 729 Seventh Avenue, New York, Is Leased — New Quarters Tivice Size of Old (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Jan. 15. — Columbia has leased the entire eleventh floor of 729 Seventh avenue because of increased space demands of a rapidly expanding business, it was announced today. The move to the new address is to be made the end of this month from 1600 Broadway, which has been the home of Joe Brandt and Jack Cohn for 17 years, first when they were with Universal and since then with their own company with Harry Cohn in charge of production. T^IGHT years of accomplishment by the Columbia organization was topped in the past year with the greatest twelvemonth growth. For a long time the old offices have been crowded, however, what with the increase of personnel and detail work. Have Double Space Now The new quarters which are now more than two times the size of the old, will house an augmented sales staff. Important additions will be made to the advertising, publicity and exploitation departments as well as to the scenario division. Others slated for expansion are the contract, auditing and foreign units. Columbia's new home, which covers a floor space of 10,000 square feet, faces both un Seventh avenue and 49th street. The entire Seventh avenue side has been divided into private offices for Joe Brandt, Jack Cohn and the executives of the sales, contract, purchasing and foreign department. Arrangements also have been made for separate quarters for the publicity and scenario departments and for a private projection room. In 1912 Joe Brandt and the Cohn brothers came to^ the Mecca Building with Carl Laemmle's Universal Film Company. They devoted their time to the distribution, exploitation and production ends of the business. Started for Themselves in 1918 In 1918, Joe, Jack and Harry felt that the time had come to create for themselves a place in the industry. Under the name of C. B. C. they entered the production field fur themselves with the Hallroom Comedies and Screen Snapshots, with home offices in the Mecca building. This was a modest beginning, but during the eight years of the company's existence the growth has been rapid. In 1923 they entered the feature length field with 10 productions. This was increased to 16 when C. B. C. became Columbia Pictures Corporation, then to 18, 24, 30 and now to 36 features a year for the present season's schedule. In 1926 Columbia also entered the distribution field and became a national organization with its own exchanges in the principal key cities. "Flu" Hits Box Office In Many New York Cities (Special to the Herald-World) ALBANY, Jan. 15.— The "flu" is costing New York state theatre owners hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost patronage. Many theatres have closed down temporarily at the request of city or village authorities. Theatres are closed in Chestertown, Newton Falls, Antwerp, Cape Vincent and many other places. Lee Langdon, one of the best known bookers and operators of the Central theatre in Albany, died last week of the "flu." Mrs. Alec Feltmann, wife of the owner of the Lincoln and Rialto theatres in Schenectady, died last week. Permanent Writ Hearing on Pathe Sound Film Waits (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Jan. IS.— Hearing on the order to show cause why the temporary injunction granted Pathe against the New York state censor board should not be made permanent will be held tomorrow. The delay from January 7 was granted at the request of the attorney general's office on the plea that more time was required to study the case. It will be recalled that the injunction granted Pathe restrains the New York censor board from invalidating or revoking licenses for "Sal of Singapore," which in its silent version was passed without deletion or any change because of Pathe's failure to submit for censorship the sound record to accompany the film. The picture opens at the Colony Saturday. "We wish to commend your fine stand in resistance of pre-censorship of sound accompanied films," the American Civil Liberties Union, through Forrest Bailey, wrote Lewis Innerarity, Pathe secretary. "It may be of interest to you to learn that we have among our counsel attorneys who have specialized in the study of censorship problems. We should be very happy to make one of these available in an advisory capacity, if that would be of helpful service." Theatre Manager Robbed Of $850 by Lone Bandit (Special to the HeraldWorld) LOGANSPORT, IND., Jan. 15.— A bandit held up E. W. Hoover, manager of the Luna theatre here, and obtained $850. The burglary occurred in the office of the theatre. Hoover was alone at the time making a check of the receipts of the evening. Ushers who appeared on the scene as the bandit was preparing to leave were held at bay with a pistol. The loss is covered by insurance. Columbia's Triumvirate Sam Morris Promotes J. V. Allan to Warners' Western Sales Manager (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Jan. 15.— Sam E. Morris, vice-president and general manager in charge of distribution of Warner Brothers, appointed J. V. Allan, former branch manager of the Detroit exchange, to western sales manager. Allan will have charge of the branches previously supervised by Claude C. Ezell, who was recently advanced by Mr. Morris to the post of general sales manager. His headquarters will be in New York. Wobber Pacific Coast Manager of Publix Now (Special to the Herald-World) SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 15.— Herman Wobber, for the past 17 years associated with the Paramount-Famous-Lasky organization, and in recent years manager of the Pacific Coast Division, has retired from this post to become Pacific Coast manager of Publix Theatres, with headquarters in this city. Universal-Variety Chain Split Up in Two Circuits (Special to the Herald-World) CLEVELAND, Jan. 15.— The UniversalVariety chain of theatres in Cleveland is to be broken up into the Universal chain, consisting of the Cedar-Lee, Broadway, Oriental, Detroit, and Hilliard Square theatres, and the Variety chain, made up of the Kinsman, Imperial, Homestead, and Moreland houses. "President" at Playhouse (Special to the HeraldWorld) NEW YORK, Jan. 15.— The Playhouse has booked "The President," a foreign made picture, for its premiere presentation, beginning on January 19. The booking was made by the Edward L. Klein Corporation. JOE BRANDT HARRY COHN JACK COHN Fire Damages Theatre (Special to the Herald-World) YREKA, CAE, Jan. 15.— Peters* theatre has been damaged by fire and extensive rebuilding work will be necessary.