Box office digest annual (May 1938)

THE DIGEST ANNUAL cK)Wr a y ' ■ ■ 09 r. Published M ay i st, 1938 WE TNANK you... Herewith we present the first issue of THE DIGEST ANNUAL. We are properly humble, but modestly proud. We are humble because we are young in a forest where so many elders have trod before. We are just a mite conscious of youthful pride. We sincerely believe we have reason for that pride. There has never been anything in the industry comparable to THE DIGEST ANNUAL. It has not been concocted as a birthday or good will present to the publishers on the part of the generous folk who make up this glorious motion picture industry. It has been so devised that arbitrarily it has not even been possible — even if such a thing were desired — to use it as a velvet-hand form of advertising blackmail. THE DIGEST ANNUAL is plainly, on its face and in its facts, a service publication. The fact that so many of our followers in the industry have seen fit to aid with advertising representa¬ tion is a heart-warming thought. But also, the fact that they had nothing to gain or lose whether they saw fit to help or to turn a cold shoulder is even more encouraging in those dark hours of the night when we all need to renew our faith in human nature. ★ ★ ★ The creators of the industry, producers, associate producers, directors, writers, player personalities, who have helped to¬ ward the success of THE DIGEST ANNUAL have given them¬ selves a stronger vote of SINCERITY than any words we might use. Because the figures as shown in THE DIGEST ANNUAL are the figures. There has been no attempt to change them, switch them, nor to gently shade them. There the figures are— and on the figures we stand or fall. And let it be put ON THE RECORD right now that those individuals who tried to affect our box office figures were so few that they did not, in the slightest way, affect our appetite for dinner on any evening. While we are putting that fact on the record, let it also be stated that most of these people who make motion pictures are willing to FACE THE FACTS AND THE FIGURES. We hope to do better next year, and we know we will. We spent considerable money on clerical help and statistical research this year we expect to spend more next year. * * * We v/ill make a promise to the industry right now: we will never publish, nor even attempt to publish, a special edition that consists of a lot of hooey on any convenient subject from Lincoln s birthday to George Washington's wedding breakfast. We will never ask Hollywood to give us advertising just because it happens to be Thanksgiving Day or because it is "Be Kind to Animals” Week. * ★ * And now for the most important thing of all. Our exhibitor readers In the end, THE DIGEST lives or dies by that important support it receives from the big-money picture buyers of the country The day that we lose their faith you have the privilege of coming around without obstruction and wrappinq up THE DIGEST. To these exhibitor readers we renew our pledge as it is made in the weekly DIGEST: that our figures are presented as the figures add up We spend money, time, and effort to see that they are correct. We have a staff that is not a group of high brow doodlebugs but experienced and trained motion picture men. We will stick to our guns. * * * It is nice to say things such as this in a week that is really a week of glorious success for a young publication Maybe that is the time to say such things. Because then they come from the heart. We are happy with what you have done for THE DIGEST ANNUAL; we hope you are happy with what we have done for you. And for every brick you wish to throw our way for some disagreement over the figures in some particular department we wish to state right now, we will give a receipt. We can take it. And if you wish to play ball with us on the same level we will continue to give and take. Give and Take. That isn't a bad industrial motto, after all. ROBERT E. WELSH. Published by National Box Office Digest, 8609 Sunset Blvd.. Hollywood. Calif.-Phone BRadshaw 2-3942. $5.00 per copy.