Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1940)

Monday. May 27. 1940 Motion Picture Daily 5 Paramount to Sell More on Percentages (Continued from page 1) Barney Balaban, president, gave the studio the "go-ahead" signal on production effort "irrespective of cost." ."Paramount's operating and finan■\a policies have been shaped to a YKern which may in the past have appeared conservative," Balaban said. "Nevertheless, as a consequence of these we can today breathe more freely, devoting all our energies to the successful operation of the company." 'Shooting the Works' "This is a time," he said, "when a natural impulse is to reduce investments in product. Instead of running to cover, Paramount is 'shooting the works.' Fortunately, our company at this time is in a position where it does not have to do anything panicky." Gillham said intensification, rather than retrenchment, of his department's work would be the rule. At least one field exploiteer will be assigned to each of the company's eight sales divisions, and there will be two in the larger ones, he said. They will cooperate with division managers and work under the supervision of Alec Moss, home office exploitation manager, who, like Gillham, will spend more of his time in the field this season than heretofore. The field men will be brought to Hollywood several times during the year to familiarize themselves with new productions. A new phase of their work will be the transmission of production information to salesmen for use in their work throughout the year. More Radio Exploitation Increased use of radio exploitation is planned also, Gillham said, largely due to the fact that such personalities on the company's new season program as Bing Crosby, Jack Benny, Fred Allen, Bob Hope and Bob Burns will be dividing their time between films and radio. John W. Hicks, vice-president in charge of foreign operations, told the convention : "We are still in business and still working." Uncertainty as to the future, he pointed out, is the most serious problem facing both the foreign department and the entire company. "From a market that brings in from $12,000,000 to $15,000,000 in normal times," he pointed out, "we cannot definitely say whether we will get onefourth, one-tenth or any part of that." Y. Frank Freeman, vice-president and studio head, acknowledged the studio's reliance on the sales department for guides to exhibitors and the public, and for gauging box-office trends. "This studio will not reach the top rung of the ladder in a day or a week," he said. "But I promise you we will do everything in our power to give you the product — not only for this year, but for year upon year — that you well can be proud of." Other convention speakers included Neil_ F. Agnew, vice-president and distribution head, who presided at the meeting; Arthur Pratchett, general manager for Central America; Frank Kennebeck, Far East manager, and Al varo Reyes, Colombia manager. Benny Rides Again Los Angeles, May 26. — Jack Benny, addressing the Paramount convention here and "riding" Y. Frank Freeman about his Southern ancestry, said: "I just found out what the Y. in Freeman's name stands for. It means 'Youall.' " Members of Equity Want $50 Minimum Actors' Equity annual membership meeting on Friday rebuked the union council for voting to retain the present $40 weekly minimum and recommended an increase to $50. The membership which acts only in an advisory capacity, has asked for the increase at three previous meetings. Paul Dullzell, executive secretary, in his report stressed the uncertain financial picture and declared that next season's prospects are not promising. A motion to place the union on record against U. S. participation in the war was ruled out of order. Bert Lytell was reelected president, Walter Huston was named first vicepresident ; Florence Reed, second vicepresident; Augustin Duncan, third vice-president ; Peggy Wood, fourth vice-president ; John Beal, recording secretary, and Dullzell, treasurer. Tallulah Bankhead was defeated as councilor. Greenthal West on UA Pre-Selling Unit (Continued from page 1) director of the bureau, in Hollywood this week. He left for the Coast by plane last night. The new field organization, which will consist of 15 men operating from key cities, is half completed now. It is scheduled to be ready to function shortly after June 1. The field men will work directly with Greenthal, who will spend considerable time in Hollywood developing publicity and exploitation material on individual productions, feeding the material to the men in the field for special handling. The bureau also will work with the home office advertising and publicity department under Lynn Farnol, director. Campaigns on individual productions will begin with story purchases and follow through all production phases and theatre openings. Tierney Plans Remake Of 'Rio Rita' Musical Negotiations with M-G-M for the re-adaptation to the screen of "Rio Rita" will be started next week by Harry Tierney, composer of the original musical score of that production and of "Irene," "Kid Boots" and several of the Ziegfeld Follies. Tierney plans to leave for the Coast within the next few days. His plans call for the appearance in the re-make of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. Tierney also plans a musical production of "Beau Brummel" for Broadway this Fall with Maurice Evans in the title role, with a film version to follow. Max Laemmle Gets Film Hollywood, May 26. — Max Laemmle today signed a contract with Juno Films giving him exclusive Pacific Coast distribution of "Human Beast," French film. KING OF CRIME ... HE RULED BY TERROR! He made crime his career in a gangland empire without parallel.