Moving Picture World (Sep-Oct 1925)

October 10, 1925 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 463 r First National Makes Franchise Holders Sales Heads FIRST NATIONAL’S franchise holders are to become sales representatives in their various districts, as well as exhibitors of its products. This was one of several sweeping alterations in the distribution machinery of that concern, just announced by E. A. Eschmann. It involves the complete abolishment of First National’s present system of district managers and the substitution of franchise holders in their places. Eschmann points out that while they are exhibitors, primarily, the franchise holders are also partners in First National. And he contends that being partners they are as much interested in the sales as they are in their own exhibitions of its products. Therefore, they should throw their strength into the sales as wholeheartedly as they do into their showings. The franchise holders, First National announces, were by no means backward in agreeing with Mr. Eschmann when he submitted his plan to them at their last meeting in Indianapolis. The suggestion was accepted unanimously and put into action at once. And those who agreed to take on the Pathe Meeting (Continued from page 461) including “The Green Archer,”’ by Edgar Wallace; “Janie,” a western by Raymond S. Spears, and a thrilling, actional romance built around the United States Coast Guard service. In the short-feature department Pathe continues the distribution of its Grantland Rice “Sportlights,” “Stereoscopiks,” “Aesop’s Film Fables,” “Topics of the Day,” Pathe Review, Pathe News, “Chronicles of America” and a special “Pilgrimage to Palestine” series of single reelers. Those who attended the regular convention sessions included : Harry Scott, general sales manager, chairman; Pat Campbell, feature sales manager; Stanley B. Waite, sales manager of two-reel comedies ; E. Oswald Brooks, serial sales manager; W. A. V. Mack, short-feature sales manager; Charles Henschel, eastern district manager; Fred C. Aiken, mid-west district manager; R. S. Schrader, central district manager; Oscar Morgan, southern district manager; Frank Harris, western district manager; L. S. Diamond, manager of sales statistical dept.; S. Barret McCormick, exploitation manager; P. A. Parsons, advertising manager; E. F. Supple, publicity manager; Miss Regge Doran, manager of public relations dept.; Mrs. E. R. Dessez, manager of educational dept.; George Gray, editor of Pathe Sun, and W. C. Smith, controller. At the banquet in honor of the Pathe producers, held on Friday evening, September 25, at the Hotel Roosevelt, there were present in addition to those already named : E. C. Lynch, chairman of the Board of Directors ; Paul Fuller, president of Pathe Exchange, Inc.; Elmer R, Pearson, vice-president and general manager of Pathe Exchange, Inc.; J. E. Storey, assistant general manager ; Hal Roach and W. B. Frank, for the Hal Roach Studios; William R. Fraser and John Ragland, for the Harold Lloyd Corporation ; Pete Carroll and John Waldron, for the Mack Sennett Studios; A. Van Beuren and Charles McDonald, for “Aesop’s Film Fables” and “Topics of the Day;” Emanuel Cohen, for Pathe News and Pathe Review, and Irving Green for the Yale University Press. new labors of district managers insisted upon doing so without compensation. “In fact, at the close of the meeting all the franchise holders volunteered their cooperation in their respective communities, even to the point of going out into the field and selling the pictures, themselves, if necssary. They also agreed to lend their assistance, whenever and wherever required, in smoothing out such difficulties as may arise in trading between seller and buyer,” the statement says. By virtue of this arrangement, First National’s field forces will now operate under twenty-six district managers, instead of seven, as heretofore. Canada will remain under the supervision of a general manager, who will act as district manager, as well. The statement continues: “Eschmann explained that the change in no way reflected upon the ability of the former district managers. In fact, under his new plan, they will remain with the company, but in the capacity of branch managers. “In this manner, it is believed that considerably greater strength can be maintained throughout the field. For, while functioning ordinarily in the territory mapped out for them, provision is also made whereby any one or more of the branch managers, as required, can be switched at a moment’s notice to any other territory that might show signs of weakening. This continued concentration of an augmented force (which will carry with it a variety of experience) upon the weak links is calculated to bring them out of their lethargy and place the entire distribution illllllillllUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIM | Retain Hayward 1 According to a most reliable source § g Colonel William Hayward has been re g 1 tained as special prosecutor and “czar” I g by the Independent Motion Picture As g = sociation of America. Official announce 8 g ment of this fact is expected on October g g 2 when the organization meets in New g | York. Illi!l!!!li:i[l!llll[|liiill[l!ll!l!I!ll!lllllll![l!lllllllll!llllllll!l!lllll!lllllllllllllll[[|||||||l|l||||[|{j|||illlllll![||lllllllt1llllllM ROB TWO CALIFORNIA HOUSES The .Senator Theatre, Sacramento, Cal., was the scene of a bold hold-up on the evening of September 20, when two youthful bandits followed two employees from the box office to the theatre office on the mezzanine floor, secured $4,500 in cash at the point of revolvers, and made their escape. A daring attempt at robbery at the State Theatre, Oakland, Cal., recently resulted in the arrest of Jose Herrera. Approaching the ticket office he asked the cashier, Miss Mae Roche, for a ticket, but suddenly reached through the window, seized $48, and fled. He was captured after a chase of several blocks. BUTTERFIELD BUYS ANOTHER Another link was forged in the chain of Butterfield theatres last week when the Dawn Theatre at Hillsdale was sold by Nick Pappas to the Bijou Theatrical Enterprise Company of Detroit, better known as the Butterfield organization. This addition means that the Butterfield circuit now has a total of thirtyseven theatres in operation in Michigan and several new houses under construction. machinery on an even basis of 100 per cent, returns. “A still more direct contact between the field agencies and distribution headquarters is also incorporated into the: new arrangement. It is Mr. Eschmann’s intention that executives from the personnel of the distribution department will circulate constantly around the cycle of the exchanges so that there will be no loss of direct contact between them and the home office. He holds that this will be one of the vital aims of his organization. “Since the inception of the present distribution machinery, it has been Mr. Eschmann’s consistent policy constantly to increase the responsibilities of the branch managers and he feels that after the two and a half years of training they have received under his regime each branch manager now actually considers First National’s branch business as his own. The authority invested in him cements that feeling and brings out the highest type of loyalty to the organization and his keenest efforts to further the interests of First National. Such lovaltv and effort also inure to his own best interests. “By this change in policy Mr. Eschmann is calling to his distribution strength, the brains, acumen and force of the owners and partners of First National, and at the same time bringing about a closer and more direct co-ordination between the home office and the branches, as at least one of his associates in the home office will be making the round of the various branches, when he is not doing so himself. The points visited by himself or his associates will be those where the greatest benefit can be derived by direct contact.” Fox Heads Realty Unit What promises to be quite a most novel and unique real estate development on Long Island is foreshadowed in a statement just issued by Deauville Estates, Inc., headed by William Fox, president of Fox Film Corporation, but which has no connection whatsoever with the motion picture or theatrical interests controlled by Fox and his associates. Deauville Estates, Inc., recently took title to what for almost three centuries has been known as the Floyd-Jones estate consisting of 557 acres at Massapequa, Nassau County, Long Island. The property has a frontage of 2200 feet on Merrick Road and 9100 feet on Great South Bay. The Floyd-Jones estate had been held in the same family for nearly 300 years. NIAGARA STRIKE CONTINUES The strike of musicians, stage hands and operators still is in force in the Strand, Bellevue and Cataract Theatres in Niagara Falls. It promises to continue indefinitely. High officials of the stage hands union were in town last week end but were unable to get together with the theatre interests. They returned to New York. Charley Hayman, president of the company operating the Strand and Cataract, has gone on a two weeks’ hunting trip in the wilds of northern Ontario and Herman Lorence of the Bellevue has started on a motor trip through the Adirondacks to New York City.