Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1943)

July 10, 1943 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 15 WARNERS LIST 31 FEATURES ON FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE AT WARNERS' Eastern regional sales meeting in the Waldorf-Astoria, New York, last Thursday and Friday. On the dais are Norman Moray, A. W. Schwalberg, Mort Blumenstock, Roy Haines, Samuel Schneider, Joseph Bernhard, Benjamin Kalmenson, Arthur Sachson, Jules Lapidus and I. Howard Levinson. Exact Number Will Depend on Market Conditions, Regional Session Told Warner Bros, will begin the 1943-44 season with a list of story properties "surpassing all previous years," including 14 features already completed, five others now in production and another 12 ready to start shooting, Ben Kalmenson, general sales manager, announced Tuesday following the regional sales meeting held at the WaldorfAstoria in New York last Thursday to Saturday. The exact number of features to be released in 1943-44 will depend upon market conditions, Mr. Kalmenson said, with the studio maintaining continuous capacity production in order to be prepared for any change in present conditions. The meeting was the first of three which the company has scheduled for July. A second regional conference began on Thursday, July 8th, at the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago, and the third will be held in San Francisco on July 15th. Joseph Bernhard, vice-president of Warner Bros., reiterated the company's "open door policy" in which exhibitors "are welcome at all times to discuss their individual difficulties" in addressing the delegates at the opening session of the Warner New York meeting last Thursday. "This policy of cooperation which has always been part of the Warner way of doing business has been found workable and equitable," he said. Mr. Bernhard pointed out that, by and large, the wartime population shifts have affected only a small percentage of the theatregoing public, perhaps not more than three per cent of the country as a whole. He also predicted that post-war attendance in motion picture houses would continue at a higher rate, particularly as a result of the more solidly established theatregoing habit now taking place, and the increased number of potential patrons, greater frequency of attendance and the progressive improvement in film quality. The industry's cooperation in providing screen entertainment for the armed forces also is developing thousands of new and permanent film patrons, he said. Kalmenson To Conduct Other Meetings Mr. Kalmenson, who presided at the sessions, also is conducting the Chicago meeting and will preside over the San Francisco regional. With Mr. Bernhard and Mr. Kalmenson were the following executives : Samuel Schneider, Mort Blumenstock, Norman H. Moray, Arthur Sachson, Roy Haines, A. W. Schwalberg, Jules Lapidus, Howard Levinson and Albert Howson. Jack L. Warner, vice-president in charge of production, in a message to the delegates, praised the cooperation and teamwork . of the field organization. Harry M. Warner, president; Major Albert Warner and Charles Einfeld. director of advertising and publicity, also sent congratulatory messages. Affiliation of Bert M. Stearn, sales executive, with Warner Bros., was announced formally by Mr. Kalmenson. Air. Stearn will serve in a general executive capacity for the time being, it was said. Announcement of the 1943 Warner sales drive winners and a business session concluded the morning conference. The afternoon was devoted to several group discussions conducted by sales officials, at the end of which a screening of "Thank Your Lucky Stars" was held. 'Watch on the Rhine" was screened later. On Friday, Albert S. Howson, eastern scenario editor and director of censorship, described in detail the company's inventory of completed pictures, those in production and in preparation and story properties held by Warners for early production. He said that more than 60 stories definitely are scheduled for release in coming seasons. Before leaving New York for the Chicago meeting, Mr. Kalmenson announced on Tuesday that selling plans had been completed for Irving Berlin's "This Is the Army" and said that the picture would be handled in a manner to make it "the biggest thing that ever hit the film industry." He emphasized that the picture was to be sold as an absolutely separate attraction, not to be grouped or otherwise identified with any other Warner product under any circumstances. The general sales manager pointed out that due to the nature of the film, and the fact that all proceeds will go to Army Emergency Relief, the Warner sales force is being instructed to obtain extended playing time in all engagements, and wherever possible to make the run longer than that of any picture to date. Under this plan, Mr. Kalmenson said, not only will the picture make big money for exhibitors, but it will bring in the largest possible amount for Army Relief. "This Is the Army" will open in New York at the Hollywood theatre July 28th at a $50 top admission, with most of the seats expected to be sold at this figure. Openings at $25 too already have been set in Washington, Baltimore, Worcester, New Haven, Hartford and a score of other key cities. It will open in about 100 other midwest, western and southern situations at prices ranging from $25 down to $2. This advanced-price premiere policy is to be carried out in all cities down to 5,000 population as well as in smaller places wherever practicable. General release date of the picture is August 14th. Working in cooperation with a War Department public relations staff headed by Colonel Charles Johnson, the Warner advertising and publicity forces under Mr. Einfeld and Mr. Blumenstock will set up local committees to give a strong sendoff to the picture in all advanced-price opening engagements. Winners in the Warners' 1943 sales drive announced at the New York regional were as follows : Recipients of the $33,500 in War Bonds which will be distributed as prizes include : District Managers : first prize, Henry Herbel, West Coast, $1,500; second, Ralph L. McCoy, Southern, $1,000; third, Hall Walsh, Prairie, $750; fourth, Harry Seed, central at start of drive recently promoted to N. Y. Metropolitan, $500; fifth, Robert Smeltzer, mid-Atlantic, $350. Branches : first prize, Kansas City, Russell C. Borg, manager, $3,500 ; second, Seattle, Vete Stewart, $3,000; third, San Francisco, Al Shmitken, $2,500 ; fourth, Denver, Earl A. Bell. $2,000 ; fifth, Los Angeles, Fred Greenberg, $1,750; sixth, Memphis, H. G. Krumm, $1,500; seventh, Portland, Al Oxtoby, $1,250; eighth. Salt Lake City, William F. Gordon, $1,000; ninth, New Orleans, Luke Conner, $900 ; tenth, Dallas, Doak Roberts, $800 : eleventh, Washington, Fred W. Beierdorf, $750 ; twelfth. Buffalo, Max Roth, $700; thirteenth, Oklahoma City, T W.. Lcwe. $600; fourteenth, Atlanta. W. O. Williamson, Tr. (now in Navy), $550; fifteenth, Chicago, A. J. Shumow, $500. Salesmen : first prize, Ed Williamson, Atlanta (recently promoted to Memphis branch manager as a result). $350; second W. B. Col (Continnrd on following page, column 1)