Box office digest annual (1940)

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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.