Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1939)

18 TILM BULLETIN NEW YORK TIP-OFF Customers are still remaining away from the majority of Broadway first-runs in droves although many managers reported a slight pick-up in business following the low grosses of the Memorial Day week-end. A notable exception to the box office drought is "Juarez", now in its second big week at the Strand following an indifferent twoa-day run at the Hollywood Theatre. And, of course, the crowds still are willing to wait in line outside the Astor to view "Goodbye, Mr. Chips", now in its fifth week of fine trade. Two important new films, "Young Mr. Lincoln" at the Roxy and "The Mikado" at the Rivoli, were treated kindly by reviewers, but mistreated by the heat. Business was about average, however, and both held over. "Invitation To Happiness", at the Paramount, had a satisfactory opening on Wednesday following the four-week run for "Union Pacific". "The Sun Never Sets" at the Radio City Music Hall will be below average for the world's largest house. All of the smaller first-runs along the Main Stem, the Criterion, Rialto and Globe, as well as the larger-capacity Capitol, were unable to attract many passers-by with such fare as "Undercover Doctor", "Street of Missing Men", "Climbing High" and "Tell No Tales". The Paromount home office staff, including Alec Moss, Al Wilkie, et al, expect to be back in New York some time this coming week following the three-day sales convention in Los Angeles, June 8-10. Next — and final — major sales gathering to announce 1939-40 product will be RKO Radio's International Convention to be held at the Westchester Country Club at Rye, N. Y., June 19-22. Jules Levy, general sales manager, has picked A. A. Schubart, M. G. Poller, W. J. McShea, Harry Gittleson and S. Barret McCormick for the general committee to officiate at the sessions and McCormick and Gittleson, with Rutgers Neilson and Michael Hoffay, for the publicity committee. At least 250 delegates are expected to attend. — RKO home office employees will go half-and-half for their annual outing this year — in other words part of the staff will enjoy the day off on June 12 while the rest keep things moving at 1270 Sixth Ave. On the 19th, the other half of the employees have their fun at Bear Mountain . . . The success of RKO Radio's exhibitors' lounge, where H. M. Ritchey, director of exhibitor relations, makes visiting showmen welcome, has probably inspired Warners to set up an information service at the home office for the convenience of visiting exhibitors who want to glimpse the World's Fair. Mrs. Isabel Turner, of the advertising and publicity department, is in charge . . . Warners is also starting a series of simultaneous East-West premieres with the special showing and luncheon at the Warners home office here of "Daughters Courageous" on June 14, same day it opens at the Hollywood Theatre, Los Angeles. Following the resignation of Leonard Gaynor from the 20th Century-Fox publicity department, Charlie McCarthy, ad and publicity chief, announced that Rodney Bush, exploitation manager, would have complete charge of the combined 20th-Fox publicity and exploitation department . . . William A. Scully, general sales manager of Universal, has created the post of short subject sales manager, which will be filled by Leo Abrams. Abrams, for many years manager of the Big U Exchange here, is being replaced in that capacity by David A. Levy, former M-G-M N. Y. branch manager ... J. Cheever Cowdin, U's Chairman of the Board, sails for England on June 15 to spend several weeks abroad in business conferences with the company's English associates. Vincent Trotta's testimonial luncheon at AMPA during which an engraved scroll was presented to Trotta, for 25 years head of Paramount's art department, probably inspired one of the cleverest publicity stories in months for Jack Cohn, Columbia's vice-president. According to a press release, he has already received over 100 acceptances for his Picture Pioneers Club, membership of which is restricted to veterans of the industry for 25 years or more. New organization will not charge dues, but will be solely for the purpose of holding four annual luncheon meetings a year. Frank Speidell has been re-elected president of Audio Productions and Eastern Service Studios and Charlie Glett has been re-named vice-president in charge of operations . . . Miriam Howell, story editor for Samuel Goldwyn, has resigned because of ill health and Lois Jacoby, Goldwyn's eastern talent representative has also resigned. Gregory AN EXPERIMENT IN HARMONY By H. M. RICHEY (Continued from Page 5) in a certain territory fifteen years ago where the relationship between a certain labor union and the exhibitors was, and I am being conservative when I say strained. Despite the fact that the man in the booth did play an important part in the whole scheme of things, petty arguments concerning such stupid problems as who was going to carry the film to the booth, minutes of overtime, days when the operator was to be paid, who should ring the bell to correct the outof-frame picture and so forth, developed. Such trying situations caused threats of strikes, bitter words and a downright general hatred existed between those two members of the theatre family that spelled nothing but inefficiency and bad business. A change in administration both in the union and in those who were leading the exhibitors viewpoint, has resulted in an extremely friendly relationship. There has not been a strike or threats of one for the past ten years. The general efficiency of operation has been raised and the hours spent in wages of negotiation have been cut. All because both sides had laid their cards on the table and in so doing, each got a little better appreciation of the other fellow's problem and a little more toleration in his handling of the other fellow's situation. In the various spots that I have had the pleasure of going into io attempt to conciliate situations, particularly involving our company, I found from the distributor's end not only a willingness, but an intense desire to avoid friction wherever possible. While there have been instances of over-zealous salesmen crowding his point too far or situations where the exhibitor, having an unreasonable control of a situation attempted to take advantage of it, I found on both sides a willingness to give and take once the two factors were brought together for a common sense talk. I found that the majority of these problems were not nearly as big as they looked at long distance. When the Exhibitor's Lounge idea was conceived, it was with the hope that theatre owners coming to New York would take the time to visit the home office and get a little closer glimpse at the men they read about and had never seen. I found them expressing amazement at how human, intelligent and considerate were the executives with whom they came in contact. On the other hand I found an almost pride evidenced by these executives in the fine calibre of theatre owners that they had the pleasure of seeing during these little brief visits to New York. The whole idea of giving more time to exhibitor relations from the RKO viewpoint has been a distinctly pleasant experience. It is just a start in an effort on the part of the company, in addition to justify the exhibitor's confidence on improved produce, to continue to attempt to bring the exhibitor and the company closer together. I don't believe the time is far distant that when conciliation boards are established their work will be to handle the exceptional cases rather than a multitude of cases because conditions creating cases will not have arisen. A better understanding of the other fellow's problem will prevent them from becoming problems. A harmonious relationship and marshalling of all of our talents and forces are highly desirable if we are to retain and maintain the public's confidence and support so vitally necessary to the success of not only the producer, but the distributor and exhibitor as well. This experience in harmony from my personal viewpoint has been delightful for who wouldn't enjoy going around and attempting to, and in a few instances, being able to solve problems that are affecting the relationship between the company and the exhibitor. Harmony is an experiment that can't fail to pay a dividend. Dickson, who only recently became publicity director of Samuel Goldwyn Productions on the West Coast, has also resigned and is on a vacation in the East. Does this mean that Goldwyn will temporarily suspend production following the completion of "The Real Glory"? . . . Joe Gallagher, for many years advertising manager of Box Office, has become motion picture advertising manager for another trade sheet, Showman's Trade Review . . . Milton Silver, of National Screen Service, is commuting daily to his 100 acre Connecticut farm . . . March of Time is readying its first feature to be called "Ramparts Re-watched".