Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1940)

2 Motion Picture Daily Monday, July 22, 1940 Personal Mention DEL GOODMAN, Far Eastern managing director for 20th Century-Fox, arrived on the Coast from Tokio over the weekend, and will remain there about two weeks before coming East. William C. Gehring, 20th Century-Fox Central division manager, has returned from Chicago and Detroit. Tyree Dillard, Loew's attorney, has returned from a fishing trip in Maine. • Herman Fuchs, RKO Pathe News music editor, and Jessie Lebson were married yesterday at the Hotel Pierre. They are on a motor trip to California, planning to return about the middle of September. • James R. Grainger, president of Republic, is due back today from a sales trip to Toronto, Chicago and Detroit. • Mr. and Mrs. I. J. Hoffman (he is Warner Theatres New Haven zone manager) have announced the engagement of their daughter, Edith, to Gerald Steinberg, Bridgeport attorney. • Lou Lifton, Monogram director of advertising and publicity, is vacationing in New England. • Terry Turner, exploitation manager for RKO, returned to the home office Friday after three weeks in the field. • Arthur Field, M-G-M assistant manager in Continental Europe, who returned from abroad late last week, left for the Coast Saturday. • Manny Reiner of Monogram returns today from a vacation in Miami and Cuba. • Among vacationers along Albany's film row are: Winifred Allen, Wayne Carnigan, Mrs. Doris Senecal, 20th Century-Fox ; Joseph Weinstein, Elizabeth Herrick, Ray Powers, Jules Curley, Warners ; Alexander Sayles, manager of Fabian's Palace. • Thomas Speck, assistant at the Trans-Lux, Philadelphia, has become engaged to Marie Kennedy, former cashier at the house. William Pancake is celebrating his 25th anniversary as manager of the Knickerbocker, Columbus, O. • John McManus, manager of Loew's Midland, Kansas City, is vacationing with his family in Hollywood. Robert Kail is taking his place at the theatre. • Al Corwin, assistant to L. F. Whelan, director of foreign publicity for 20th Centutry-Fox, left Saturday on a vacation trip to Nassau. • Jimmy Sileo covered the Syracuse premiere of "The Boys from Syracuse" photographically. Readers 9 Say-So Cooperative advertising and Samuel Goldwyn's recent article in the Saturday Evening Post are discussed by prominent readers of Motion Picture Daily. Editor, Motion Picture Daily : I read with great interest your article about RKO's decision to reduce cooperative ads with exhibitors, and I sincerely hope that they don't change their minds, because the idea that these ads are beneficial to firstrun houses in key situations is fallacious, and expensive to the exhibitor. I sincerely hope that all the other companies adopt the same general practice. You will find, however, that they won't, because the exhibitors in the hinterland will be clamoring for the ads to continue, and the exchange managers and salesmen will ask that they be continued, not that they will help the first-run theatres, but' that they will help them sell pictures to the subsequent theatres and out in the hinterland. It is rather strange that the exhibitors seem to grade the pictures by the size of the first-run ad rather than by the reviews or the actual results, Many times we run even bad pictures with great big ads, and they certainly don't help our first-run income. Sincerely yours, Harry Arthur, Vice-President, Fanchon and Marco Theatres, St. Louis, Mo. Advertising Manager Speaks Editor, Motion Picture Daily : It has always been the Lincoln Theaters Corp. (J. H. Cooper-Paramount) policy on producer co-op ads that we take our regular house budget, 50 column inches weekly, and add 50% of the co-op price. In other words, if the distrib takes a 40 inch advertisement, we take our regular 50, and 20 inches additional. LTC is very much in favor of co-ops, and we feel the public is genuinely impressed in most cases that a big picture is at hand when one runs. We help generate that feeling, by not sroing from a 3 col. 13 inch spread to a 2 inch 1 col. shot the day after. We keep the big ones going for three days. Cordially, Ed Vaughan, Advertising Manager, Lincoln Theaters Corp. Lincoln, Neb. Small on Goldwyn Article Editor, Motion Picture Daily : I read the article "Hollywood is Sick," by Sam Goldwyn, and I believe it defines the evils of the double bill in a very understandable manner. Goldwyn's experience has been a long one in the business — both in production and distribution — and the article proves he knows what he is talking about. Speaking for myself, now that the triple bills are becoming more popular and double bills are commencing to be a thing of the past, the exhibitors will have to think of more things to give away in addition to soap chips, pottery, radios, and automobiles. I suggest they add to these things bowling, drinks and slot machines, etc. After all, there is no limit to what can be done. With all the goodies that are being concocted for the public, the theaters will become a combination of dance halls, gambling and auction rooms. We might commence to wonder whether pictures are a major entertainment or purely a side-line, and maybe if this continues, the greatest entertainment for the masses the world ever knew, which is talking pictures, might get lost in the shuffle. The situation which is facing the motion picture industry is a continuation of quality in pictures. The American public doesn't recognize our industry's problems. They are not interested in what pictures cost nor how broad the market may be. The great capital investment in this industry throughout the country cannot survive with inferior product and unless all parties concerned admit this condition and do something about it, I predict that the product coming out of Hollywood from January 1st on will be on the decline. As surely as this happens, you will find thousands of exhibitors in a turmoil and theatres thrown on the market at your own price. Edward Small, President, Edward Small Productions, Hollywood. Wanger Concurs Editor, Motion Picture Daily: I concur in what Samuel Goldwyn says about Hollywood. In my diagnosis of Hollywood's ills so long as double features, giveaways, bank nights and other forms of racket-store showbusiness continue any cure for the ailment will be difficult. Producers are supported by the market. Motion pictures are the legitimate shows of the day. They must have individual consideration, exploitation and better presentation. Audiences are extremely critical but hungry for good entertainment. Producers must advance their standards in face of a most discouraging market. Theatremen must help them by individual methods of selling and presenting pictures to the public. Now that producers can concentrate on the American market they must have more help from American showmen! There must be greater unity in thought and action. Hollywood IS sick as Goldwyn says. I think it is a nervous breakdown brought about by too many kinds of showbusiness. Hollywood has a strong constitution and will regain sturdy health only the proper stimulation honest cooperation brings. Walter Wanger, Hollywood. Georgia's Governor Honors H. M. Warner Harry M. Warner, president of Warners, will be awarded an honorary appointment as lieutenant colonel on the staff of Gov. E. D. Rivers of Georgia, in recognition of the company's campaign against "Fifth Column" activities. In announcing the honor, Governor Rivers specifically cited the Warner film, "Confessions of a Nazi Spy." Matter of Opinion Cincinnati, July 21. — This double billing was on the marquee of the suburban Clovernook : "Two Girls on Broadway" "And One Was Beautiful" Laudy Lawrence Here After Much Delay Laudy Lawrence, Continental European manager for Loew's, arrived in New York on the Yankee G°~ Uev Saturday, one week later th^en \is originally scheduled arrival. Lawrence was held at Lisbon last weekend when accommodations could not be obtained on the American Clipper. After being given space on the Yankee Clipper, that ship was twice delayed at Lisbon and twice at Horta by unfavorable weather and motor trouble. Having left Paris the day the German army entered the city, Lawrence is reported to have made the entire trip from there to the Spanish border on foot and by bicycle. On his arrival in Spain his only possessions were the clothes he was wearing. Philadelphia Pool By W. B., Goldman Philadelphia, July 21.— A pooling deal in the Germantown area here has been completed between William Goldman, for the Bandbox and Warner Theatres, for the Germantown. The Germantown will play first run in the area for 20th Century-Fox and Columbia product, with the Bandbox playing shows after the Germantown on a continuous run basis. The Bandbox had been using 20th Century-Fox and Columbia product, but the house has a small seating capacity, and the use of the Warner Germantown, now being renovated and enlarged, will be a decided advantage. Goldman, who operates an independent theatre circuit in the state, is a former Warner zone chief. Fishman, New Haven Pioneer, Is Dead New Haven, July 21. — Funeral services were held today for Abraham Fishman, founder of the Fishman Theatre Circuit, who died yesterday after a heart attack. Fishman, who also headed the chain of theatres which he had founded, was active in independent exhibitor affairs and in various philanthropies. MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Publishedftiaily except Saturday, Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York City. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Colvin Brown, Vice-President and General Manager; Watterson R. Rothacker, VicePresident; Sam Shain, Editor; Alfred L. Finestone, Managing Editor; James A. Cron, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Avenue, C. B. O'Neill, manager; Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Building, Boone Mancall, manager, William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4, Golden Square, London Wl, Hope Williams, manager, cable address "Quigpubco, Lon 'if don." All contents coprighted 1940 by Quig S ley Publishing Company, Inc. 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