The Moving picture world (July 1924-August 1924)

August 2, 1924 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 385 FIVE IMPORTANT UNITS IN WARNER BROTHERS' SMOOTHRUNNING MACHINE Left to right: Pearl Keating, scenario editor; Lon A. Young, director of publicity; Herman Starr, assistant to Warner Brothers; Watt L. Parker, advertising manager; S. Schneider, controller. Warners' Home Off ice Staff in New York the Last Word in Efficiency NOT all of the activities of Warner Bros, are confined to the coast. The New York office with its working staff of approximately sixty-five employees, is a carefully planned organization, divided into departmental units which work in harmony. The Warner Bros.' New York office five years ago consisted of two employees. One of these was Herman Starr, now assistant to the Warners. His ability was recognized when he established the accounting department which still operates under his system. Harry Warner, the president, decided that the same system of accounts at the Hollywood studio would avoid complications, and in a short time Starr was at work on the coast. With the installation of a large and detailed accounting department in New York came the necessity for employing a competent director. Samuel Schneider has lived up to the Warners' expectations in this job. His previous study of accounts and finances has given him a remarkable store of knowledge. "One factor paramount in good accounting," he says, 'is common sense. When I employ people, I look more for that quality than I do for real accounting knowledge. The accounting knowledge comes with experience, if a person has common sense." To Sam E. Morris is allotted the task of managing the sales department. The Warner Bros, franchise holders throughout the United States submit their contracts with exhibitors to him for approval, for without his sanction no theatre can play a Warner picture. In order to be acquainted with conditions among exchanges, Mr. Morris is called upon to make frequent trips to the exchanges all over the United States. Morris has been in the motion picture business for many years, and came to Warner Bros, when he consummated his contract with Selznick Pictures where he was also the sales manager. The foreign sales department is handled by Gus E. Schlesinger, who for seven years was office manager of the Inter-Ocean Film Corporation. Since his connection with Warner Bros., he has suceeded to a great extent in interesting the foreign countries in Warner Bros. Classics of the Screen. Schlesinger has not left a territory untouched in his foreign campaigning, and the Warner Bros, trade mark is now a familiar one in every country where motion pictures are shown. Warner Bros, attribute a good deal of the success of their product to Lon Young, head of publicity and advertising, former publicity man for Fox and Selznick Pictures. This experience as well as his previous work as an exploitation man and theatre owner has given him an enviable reputation in the picture industry. Walt Parker, the advertising manager, worked with a prominent Washington newspaper and later with the Selznick organization. Mrs. Pearl Keating, the editor of the scenario department, takes the choice picture material and presents it to the Warners for consideration. Warner Pictures Encircle Globe, Says Foreign Head WITH Warner Classics of the Screen being shown literally in "every corner of the globe," Gus. S. Schlesinger, General Manager of the Foreign Department of Warner Bros., can point to any country in the atlas, and say with truth and the pride of achievement: "Warner pictures are shown and known here." This statement is the more astounding when it is remembered that in only three years Mr. Schlesinger has established and perfected the Foreign Distribution Department of Warner Bros. To the comprehensive knowledge of foreign conditions, and the concentrated and untiring efforts of Mr. Schlesinger, ably aided by his executive secretary, Miss Helen Home is due the signal achievement of 100 per cent distribution outside North America. Not only can Warner Bros, claim 100 per cent distribution throughout the world, but they can assert that their foreign distributors, as well as American, number organizations of international repute and integrity. The following line-up is representative of the calibre of the foreign distributors of Warner product : The Gaumont Co., Ltd., of England, which covers the United Kingdom; Mr. Millard Johnson, of Australasian Films, Ltd., of New York City, embraces Australia, New Zealand, Dutch East Indies and the Straits Settlements ; Les Establissement Gaumont of Paris, purchases for France, Switzerland, Belgium, Colonies, Egypt, Syria, Turkey and Greece; Mr. Ernest Mattsson of Ernest Mattsson, Inc., of New York City, covers Scandinavia, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. L. Gaumont of Spain, embraces Spain and Portugal; Mr. Max Schlesinger of the International Variety and Theatrical Agency of New York City, buys for South Africa ; Miss F. A. Austin of Taisho Film Co. of New York City, takes care of Japan; Nat A. Magner of San Francisco, purchases for China and Philippine Islands ; Mr. J uan Kunzler of Sociedad General Cinematografica of New York City covers Argentine, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador ; Ferdinand V. Luporini of New York City, buys for Brazil; Compania Cinematografica de Cuba, covers Cuba. San Juan Film Exchange Co. of Porto Rico, purchases for Porto Rico and Santo Domingo; Mr. Felipe Mier of German Camus Y Cia of New York City, covers Mexico ; Mr. Loet C. Barnstyn of Nederlandsche Bioscoop Trust of Holland, buys for that country; Paul Davidson of Germany, covers Italy, Russia, Germany, Austria, Hungary, GUS SCHLESINGER Czecho Slovakia, Jugoslavia, Poland, Roumania, Bavaria, Baltic States and Turkey; and Alexandre Hague, of India completes the circuit of the world by purchasing for India, Burmah and Ceylon.