The Moving picture world (November 1925-December 1925)

November 14, 1925 MOVING P I CT U R t ^ O K LU 117 Smith Qeneral Sales Manager Of Associated Exhibitors^ Inc. OSCAR A. PRICE, president of Associated Exhibitors, this week added another important announcement to the almost weekly sales recurring since control of that distributing organization was recently taken over by P. A. Powers and Mr. Price. The latest news in the new program of expansion comes with the statement that E. J. Smith, for years among the industry's better known sales executives, has taken over the reins of general sales manager of Associated. Mr. Smith succeeds J. A. Gove, who has held that post for the past few years and who now resigns to enter on activities in another branch of the industry. Mr. Gove states that his future plans are in the process of shaping and not yet ready for announcement. E. J. Smith conies to Associated Exhibitors with a long record of sales successes in the picture industry. He grew up in the Universal organization when the "Big U" roster boasted that fast stepping crew of gogetters, including Joe Schnitzer, Harry Herman and Art Schmidt. Picture veterans still point to the results achieved by that "flying squadron" in those hectic days. When Universal faced the herculean task •of taking over distribution of its own product in England in 1920, Carl Laemmle scanned the organization and chose "Eddie" Smith for the job. His labor included the establishing of a complete exchange system, the selling of Universal product for new higher prices in opposition to its own pictures still being block-booked through previous distributors, and the launching of the first big Laemmle specials. Records achieved on "Foolish Wives" and other specials in the face of the multitudinous details of a new organization still continue highwater marks in British film distribution. The best index to the success recorded by the new Assoc'h'itcd Exhibitors sales manager Paramount Executives Leave to Attend Fall Meet is given in the fact that it was scarcely two years later when Carl Laemmle once more issued the call to higher honors, this time bringing Mr. Smith back to the United States to assume the • reins as sales chief of the home organization. Later he joined the F. B. O. sales staff, going from an executive post there to take on similar duties with the Warner Brothers organization. It is known that while negotiations looking towards his acquisition by Associated Exhibitors have been on for some time, it was only with utmost reluctance that Warner Brothers consente.d to release him from a long-term contract to enable him to take complete charge of the rejuvenated Associated. Paramount home office executives left on the Century yesterday (Wednesday, Nov. 4) for Chicago where the annual fall convention of district and branch managers will be held. The sessions will extend through Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Sales plans on the new season's product will be discussed, and on Sunday the assembled managers will view a number of the spring and summer pictures which have been completed. A special car attached to the Century carried the home office officials, among whom were: Adolph Zukor, Jesse L. Lasky, Sidney R. Kent, Eugene Zukor, Mel Shauer, A. M. Botsford, Charles E. McCarthy, Walter Wanger, Harold B. Franklin, Bogart Rogers, Claud Saunders, Russell Holman, I^hil Rtisman, John D. Clark, G. M. Spidell, G. B. J. Frawley, B. P. Schulberg, Mike Lewis, A. O. Dillenbeck, Henry Salsbury, Edwin C. King, William Le Baron, John Butler, Joseph Seidelnian, John Ragland and Leslie Whelau. MORRIS AND LESSER RETURN Sam E. Morris, and Myer Lesser, of Warner Bros, home office, having attended conferences with managers and salesmen in Chicago and Cleveland, have returned, reporting bright prospects in bookings for Warner prdouct. J. D. Williams is busily arranging plans for the erection near London of a massive studio, to equal the best in Hollywood. JOSEPH I. SCHNITZER Vice-President and General Manager of Film Booking Office of America, Inc., reports an exceptionally heavy volume of business on P. B. O. bookings for 1925-26. HAMRICK IN NEW YORK John Hamrick is in New York on business, understood to be connected with the activities of his ownership of the Pacific Northwest Blue Mouse Theatres. |iiiii>iii:iiiiiiiiiiiiiii!iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii:iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii^ I iiiiiii!<iiiiiiii[i{iiiiin,i2 I Rowland and Spring to Supervise New j I Sales Committee of First National — j I EschmMnn Qoes to United Artists | I A. ESCHMANN, for several years general manager of distribu | I M tion for First National Pictures, Inc., has resigned to take effect a I Kmdm December 10. i I Ned Marin and Ned Depinet have joined First National and with A. 4 I W. Smith, Jr., will comprise a sales committee to function under the I supervision of General Manager Richard A. Rowland and Samuel Spring, I Secretary -Treasurer of the company. It is understood that Mr. Spring I will act as chairman of the szJes committee. I Both Mr. Marin and Mr. Depinet have gained enviable reputations I through the effectiveness of the policies which they instituted as mem -i I bers of the sales committee of the Universal company. Prior to his | I association with Universal, Mr. Marin was with Famous-Players and I later with Distinctive. He moved to Universal at the time Al Lichtman I took charge of the sales for that company. Mr. Depinet is particularly I well known in Southern districts, where he has been located during I most of his motion picture career. | I As first assistant to Mr. Eschmann during the past two years, Mr. | I Smith has come to be recognized as one of the most capable and aggres I sive of sales executives. His work has been particularly notable in the I handling of First National's specials which have been placed directly I under his supervision. I Executives of First National expressed keen regret at Mr. Esch I mann's resignation in view of the many successful policies he has insti I stuted since his association with that company. Before becoming I General Manager of Distribution for First National, Mr. Eschmann I occupied a similar position with Pathe. As we go to press the news comes tlhat Mr. Eschmann will take charge of distribution for United Artists Corporation. Mr. Eschmann will take his new post as assistant to President Hiram Abrams, beginning about December 10. Both Mr. Abrams and Mr. Eschmann confirm the news, each one expressing gratification on the appointment. ,ill!IIIUI!lllllll>lll|llllllllllllllllll Ullillllllllllllllllllll Illlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllillllliiiiiiiiiiii