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Number of Releases and Batting Averages of Producer
Distributors For Past Four Years
DISTRIBUTOR’S BATTING
AVERAGE FOR
1936
1. M. G. M.
52 Releases
JO
107
2. United Artists
18 Releases
100
3. 20th Century-Fox
59 Releases
92
4. Warner Brothers
60 Releases
90
5. Universal
_ 29 Releases
90
6. Paramount
64 Releases
87
7. R. K. O.
47 Releases
86
8. Columbia
43 Releases
84
9. Gaumont British
16 Releases
82
10. Grand National
4 Releases
.... 73
11. Republic
24 Releases
70
416 Features
DISTRIBUTORS’ BATTING
AVERAGE FOR
1938
0/
1. M. G. M.
45 Releases
JO
103
2. 20th Century-Fox _
52 Releases
92
3. United Artists
17 Releases
92
4. Paramount
40 Releases
88
5. Warner Bros.
53 Releases
87
6. RKO
.39 Releases
83
7. Columbia
33 Releases
80
8. Universal
39 Releases
77
9. Republic
_ 25 Releases
73
10. Monogram
14 Releases
69
11. Grand National
4 Releases
66
12. Gaumont British . .
_ 10 Releases
59
371 Features
DISTRIBUTORS’ BATTING
AVERAGE FOR
1937
0/
1. M. G. M.
50 Releases
JO
___101
2. United Artists
23 Releases
99
3. 20th Century-Fox
56 Releases
94
4. Paramount
54 Releases
91
5. Warner Brothers
59 Releases
88
6. R. K. O.
53 Releases
82
7. Columbia
42 Releases
81
8. Universal
34 Releases
78
9. Republic
27 Releases
74
10. Gaumont British
_ 17 Releases
73
11. Grand National
_ 26 Releases
. 73
12. Monogram _
12 Releases
.. 72
453 Features
DISTRIBUTORS’ BATTING AVERAGE FOR 1939
o/
/o
1. United Artists 18 Releases .. 97
2. 20th Century-Fox 54 Releases 96
3. M. G. M. _ 51 Releases _ 95
4. Paramount 51 Releases 85
5. Warner Brothers 52 Releases 84
6. RKO-Radio _ 39 Releases _ 82
7. Universal _ 44 Releases _ 80
8. Columbia 35 Releases _ 78
9. Republic _ 23 Releases _ 69
10. Monogram 19 Releases 67
11. Grand National 4 Releases _ 66
12. Gaumont British 2 Releases 65
392 Features
ANNUAL RELEASES
1936 _ : _ 416
1937 _ _ _ 453
1938 _ 371
1939 _ _ 392
(Above does not include Westerns)
(There are an average of 70 Western Features produced annually in Hollywood)
Plainly shown above are the number of major releases for the past four years, practically all of which were made in Holly¬ wood with the exception of a few English pictures.
It is interesting to note that last year — -in 1939 — there were 392 feature pictures, which is 21 more than were produced in 1938. However, over the last ten year period there was an aver¬ age of 430 feature pictures produced a year (not including Westerns). So while the Hollywood studios made 21 more pictures last year over the previous year, they are still produc¬ ing approximately 40 pictures less a year than they have over the past ten year period.
On account of the European war situation, and the terrific loss of foreign revenue, practically every major producer and distributor has announced that they are making from 10 to 15 pictures less for the coming 1940-41 season. So exhibitors can’t look for more than around 350 pictures at most from all major distributors for the coming season. This probably means that exhibitors will have to give the bigger box office attractions ex¬ tended playing time or fill in their open dates with re-issues.
Producer-Distributor Profits for 1939
(Continued from Preceding Page)
Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and Charles Spencer Chaplin, they do not issue any financial statement for publication, but only have their own private records. However, it is estimated that this company is show¬ ing a very good profit and that the five owner-members declare them¬ selves very good dividends from time to time. President Murray Silverstone is endeavoring to increase the usual fifteen Unitd Artists releases a year to about twenty-five or thirty, anticipating greater profits for his company and giving the exchanges something to sell from week to week.
REPUBLIC: Republic Pictures, like United Artists, is a closed cor¬ poration controlled by H. J. Yates, and this past year they have issued no financial statement so far, although it is reported that they may do so at a later date. The two previous years, 1937 and 1938, Republic showed a profit slightly in excess of a half million dollars and it’s quite likely they netted about the same amount for 1939. While Republic only makes 24 regular features a year they also make a group of about 20 westerns headed by their cowboy star Gene Autry, and it is from these Westerns that a great deal of the company’s profits are realized. In an attempt to bolster the company’s profits. Producer Moe Siegel, has an¬ nounced that Republic will make at least three big heavy budget pictures for the coming season.
GAUMONT BRITISH: Gaumont British, in the past the leading British producing and exhibiting corporation, has shown fairly good profits, particularly in 1937 and 1938. However, for 1939 this company discontinued production and is now only an exhibiting concern. Their last few releases that fan over into 1939, including re-issues, were sold through the Twentieth Century-Fox exchanges in the United Stares.
GRAND NATIONAL: In 1937 this company showed a loss of over half a million dollars and not having sufficient capital to operate on, went into receivership in 1938. As the studios and exchanges have since been liquidated, there is natutally no statement issued for 1939.