Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1945)

30 YEARS OF INDUSTR) WITH 20TH CENTURY-FO) Thirty years — 1915 to 1945 — is the accredited corporate span of Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation. Actually, however, it roots back to the Brooklyn of 1903 when William Fox, then a cloth sponger, entered the arcade and nickelodeon business in association with B. S. Moss and Sol Brill. From this start, the enterprises moved along through the Greater New York Film Rental Company, the Box Office Attractions Company in 1913 and the Fox Film Corporation in 1915 to the far-flung empire that is Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation today. Looking back along the trail of progress, it is clear that the founders and their successors in this empire had their difficulties to overcome in a young and growing industry. Prominent were the periods of shifting financial interests, the hectic acquisition of theatres, and the tumbling floods of alternate prosperity and depression. Now it is under the leadership of Spyros Skouras, president; Joseph M. Schenck, executive head of production ; Darryl F. Zanuck, vice-president in charge of production, and Tom J. Connors, vice-president in charge of sales. Supply Problems Also Were Serious 30 Years Ago Back at the beginning, the problems were little different in the matter of supply than they are now. The addition of a circuit of theatres brought the cry for more films. In 1913, the Box Office Attractions Company was organized as the production unit for the burgeoning Fox theatre interests, turning out 35 motion pictures to meet the demands of the theatres. The first production, made at the small studio at Fort Lee, N. J., was titled "Life's Shop Window." Starring Claire Whitney, it was released November 19, 1914, at a cost of $14,700, bringing in a gross of $54,000. This is somewhat of a contrast, at least in figures, to the multi-million-dollar productions coming now from the Hollywood studios. One suspects, however, that the percentage of profit would be approved, even in these days. The Fox Film Corporation was incorporated February 1, 1915, with headquarters at 130 West 46th Street, New York. The studios were at Fort Lee. Theda Bara was the first star, gracing a production called "A Fool There Was." Released January 14, 1915, it was filmed at a cost of $29,500. It brought in a gross rental of $137,000, an astronomical figure for those days. Production Expansion Called For an Eastern Studio Soon thereafter, the production schedule was increased to 52 pictures annually. More studio space was needed for the increase in output, so the company obtained a studio in the Pathe Freres Building in Jersey City. Known as the Wonderful Play and Players Studio, it was the site of the filming of "Children of the Ghetto," an adaptation of the Israel Zangwill novel. It beat the gross of "A Fool There Was." It was decided to establish a system of film exchanges to sell features to other theatres. L| From the modest beginning of 12 branches^ SPYROS P. SKOURAS President JOSEPH M. SCHENCK Production Head TOM J. CONNORS Sales Vice-President W. C. MICHEL Executive Vice-President DARRYL F. ZANUCK Production Vice-President MURRAY SILVERSTONE Foreign Vice-President scattered throughout the nation in April, 1915, it grew to the present system of 37 exchanges in the United States and Canada. Before the war, the company had 44 branches throughout the world. Back in 1915, the company began expanding HERMAN WOBBER HEADS ANNIVERSARY DRIVE Herman Wobber, West Coast division manager of Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation, is chairman of the 30th anniversary celebration drive. He and his lieutenants have organized the field staff into a unified quest of contracts and playdates for the Spring months. In his role, Mr. Wobber will cover the nation, in addition to the 12 western states now alloted him in his executive position. Joining Fox Film Corporation in 1933, he succeeded John D. Clark as general sales manager of the new company in 1938, moving back to San Francisco and his present position in 1942. on the West Coast. An office was opened Los Angeles, and four studios were leased production. With these studios, the Pal Kalem, Life Photo Studio and the Selig S dio, under its wing, the company began bu ing its own stars. Added were such nar' as William Farnum, Annette Kellerman ^ Robert Mantell. They moved into the cc{ pany's own studio in 1917, located at Sur and Western Avenues in Hollywood. It still in use. Winfield Sheehan became general manaj of the company a little later. He subseque I ly became production head. With its ro ] reaching deeply into the production, distriljtion and exhibition fields, Fox Film Corpo tion made motion picture history in 1917 producing the first alleged "million-dollar" p ture, "The. Daughter of the Gods," starri the Australian swimmer, Miss Kellerman, rected by Herbert Brenon. In succession cai "Cleopatra," starring Miss Bara, and "Rid( of the Purple Sage," with Farnum. Shor thereafter, Tom Mix joined the galaxy ac was destined to become a most popular a profitable Western star. The studio and home offices on 56th Std and Tenth Avenue in New York were bu in 1919, the year that saw the establishme of the Fox newsreel. In this period came "Ov the Hill," in 1921, and "If Winter Come? 1923," and "Seventh Heaven" in 1927. Then came the industry's greatest revol tion. Sound burst upon the scene. In 192 32 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, MARCH 24, 19