The Moving picture world (February 1920-March 1920)

March 27, 1920 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 2103 Robertson-Cole Sales Forces Hear Policies Outlined in Big Convention THE officers and branch managers of the Robertson-Cole Distributing Corporation met in first semi-annual convention at its home offices, 1600 Broadway, New York, on March 16, 17, 18 and 19 to discuss the general business affairs of the organization. At twelve thirty each day they participated in a luncheon at the Hotel Astor, at the conclusion of which one of the latest Roberston-Cole productions was presented and a general discussion held in the Astor Ballroom. At Tuesday's session, March 16, A. S. Kirkpatrick, vice-president and general manager, in his address of welcome, among other things, said: "You are selling pictures by the Robertson-Cole standard, and at no time will you be permitted to make promises to the exhibitor unless you are absolutely certain you and Robertson-Cole can make good. We must be fair and honest to the exhibitor, for unless he succeeds, we fail and we must establish close cooperation, linked with fair dealing, which results in a two-fold result. RobertsonCole maintains at all time a set policy. However rigid this course might be, honesty of purpose and sincerity of effort will count in the long run. We want results and will stop at no honest methods to secure what we believe a fair return for our investment." Will Buy Theatres Only When Forced. A number of telegrams from artists and others prominent in the industry were read. At the luncheon, President R. S. Cole said: "Robertson-Cole is in the motion picture business for the money good pictures are bound to bring us and a fair investment and close co-operation between exhibitor and distributor. The men behind Robertson-Cole have a set standard and pictures not meeting the requirements of that standard will have no place in its program. It will not purchase theatres for the release of its productions unless forced to do so by competitors who band together to usurp all the trade. We should give the exhibitor the best pictures money and time can buy. We shall do everything in our power to help the exhibitor; unless he lives, we die. Business principles are the backbone of our policy. The announcements made in the past ninety days are to be overshadowed with what is to come in the future. "The men behind Robertson-Cole are men of sound business judgment and well equipped for the battles in the motion picture world. We make no promises which cannot be carried out and do not forecast what might come but give to the trade only accurate information, sealed by contract. Robertson-Cole has sufficient money backing to purchase any film which comes up to its standard. Its trademark stands for fair play and quality of production." On Tuesday evening the entire Robertson-Cole organization was invited to attend the performance of "Clarence," at the Hudson Theatre. On Wednesday, March 17, the visiting manager at 9:30 a. m. made a tour by autos to the Ritchey Lithographing Company and from the Battery, up Broadway, returning by way of Riverside Drive to the Hotel Astor. After luncheon the convenors went into executive session until 5:30 p. m. and disbanded for the day. Merrick Speaks on Salesmanship. Thursday, March 18, the convention assembled at the home office to listen to an address by Field Manager J. L. Merrick on salesmen and salesmanship, also instruction on sales records, individual pictures, quotas, branch operation and future policies. After the daily repast at the Astor and the showing of the "Fortune Teller," the delegates went into open discussion of the picture until supper time. At 8:30 p. m. the entire delegation were guests of Robertson-Cole at the performance of "The Passing Show of 1919," at the Winter Garden. Friday, March 19, the assembly convened at the home office at 9:30 a. m. for general business and final instructions. Branch managers were called upon to answer questions pertaining to their respective territories and a general discussion of the questions followed. At 12:30 p. m. the entire Robertson-Cole organization attended luncheon in the North Ballroom of the Hotel Astor, during which general discussion was entered into and general instructions given. The convention disbanded at 5 :30 p. m. Gets Out Elaborate Brochure. The proceedings of the convention was set forth in the most beautiful products of the printer's art that has ever been and the person responsible for it deserves special mention. The productions shown at the convention were "The White Dove," "The Butterfly Alan" and "The Fortune Teller," with music arranged by Joseph O'Sullivan, musical director for Robertson-Cole, and played by the Garden Theatre orchestra of Richmond Hill, L. I., directed by Ben Grossman. Those Present. Those who attended the convention and took part were R. S. Cole, president; A. S. Kirkpatrick, vice president and general manager; J. L. Merrick, field manager; O. R. Hanson, Newton E. Levi and Fred G. Sliter, field managers; branch managers C. A. Saunders, Albany; R. A. Dvisa, Atlanta; F. F. Kimmerle, Boston ; E. J. Hayes, Buffalo; Max Levey, Chicago; Charles Casanave, Cincinnati ; Morton A. Levy, Cleveland; W. L. Campbell, Dallas; J. S. Nelson, Denver; Jerome Safron, Detroit; C. W. Tyler, Indianapolis ; F. W. Young, Kansas City ; A. R. Patten, Los Angeles; Louis Klar, Milwaukee; I. F. Mantzke, Minneapolis; J. B. Dumestre, Jr., New Orleans; F. Goldfarb, Xew York; T. R. Richards, Oklahoma City: C. L. Peavey, Omaha; J. F. Gill, Philadelphia; George Moore, Pittsburgh; W. A. Crank, San Francisco; Joe Desberger, St. Louis; L. Wingham, Seattle and C. E. Tyson, Washington. Nagapate Said That the Work Was the Best He'd Ever Seen THE wild men of Malekula are on their way to the United States to "capture" exhibitors. The only way to handle them, according to Watterson R. Rothacker, of the Rothacker Film Manufacturing Company, Chicago, will be to book them. Martin Johnson who took these pictures wrote Mr. Rothacker from Australia as follows: "I must hand it to you people. Mr. Beyfuss sends you my borderland films for printing and sends ten reels to me here in Sydney. They are excellent — in fact, I have never seen better work done. I gave a private showing at the Picadilly Theatre to two hundred of my friends and came away mighty proud of all ten reels. Then I took the films to Malekula and showed them to the South Sea nobility. Nagapate thought the work the best he had ever seen — of course, he had never seen moving pictures before. "I shall have my new film, 'Wild Men of Malekula,' cut and assembled in about a week. It will go forward by the next steamer to America. I am sailing to New Guinea with 45,000 feet of film in about two weeks. This film I shall develop on the spot. However, afterwards when I go to Borneo, Sumatra and Africa, I shall travel so fast that I shall not have time to develop, so after New Guinea I shall send all work to you to be developed." Ryan Recovers from Injuries by Steer; to Fight a Shark JOE RYAN has recovered from the injuries received while "bull-dogging" a steer for one of the scenes in "Hidden Dangers," the Vitagraph serial in which he is co-starred with Jean Paige. Accordingly, Vitagraph is able to announce that production on the new serial will be resumed. One of Joe Ryan's next tasks will be to kill a shark with a knife in an underwater scene. Aside from that exploit, it is likely the erstwhile bad man will commit deviltries of an altogether different sort. His implements and instruments and the forces working for and against him will be largely those of electricity. Ryan plays the role of Dr. Brutell, a young scientist possessed of two distinct personalities, merging and changing at different times with uncanny suddenness. He works with electricity to such an extent that his discoveries become marvelous, and his employment of this power works in terrible ways. Charming Olive Tell Whose first Jan's production, "Love Without Question," will be given a special trade showing at the Strand Theatre on Wednesday, March 24, at 10:15 A. M., with elaborate orchestral accompaniment arranged by Carl Rdouarde. Miss Tell and other members of the cast expect to be present.