Paramount Pep (1923)

2 Paramount Pep A Hearty Welcome to the South S. R. Kent Announces That Distribution Department Takes Over Five Southern Exchanges. F. F. Creswell in Charge. Kantner is Exploiteer. Widespread report for the last two weeks regarding our taking over the Southern Enterprises was terminated last Friday by the signing of contracts between ourselves and the Southern organization. The five Southern offices affected by this deal are Atlanta, New Orleans, Charlotte, Dallas and Oklahoma City. Speaking of the deal, Mr. Kent said: “We are naturally delighted to have the Southern offices become one and the same as our own organization and I can not be too demonstrative and sincere in extending a hearty welcome to the forces in these offices into our happy family.” “As far as I know now,” continued Mr. Kent, “the offices will be manned by the same personnel with the exception of Oklahoma City where Carroll Peacock, formerly Salesman at Los Angeles, will take command as Branch Manager, and right here I want to congratulate Salesman Peacock on this promotion for he has brought it on himself by his hard work, interest, confidence and faith in Famous Players. "The deal itself has been most satisfactory to all concerned and I know that everyone is in sympathy with my feelings in extending this hearty welcome to the South.” Fred Creswell, long identified with our organization, remembered for his activities with our salesmen schools and extreme knowledge of the business in general, will be in charge of the five Southern offices with headquarters at Atlanta. Mr. Creswell himself is extremely busy completing final arrangements in the South and in commenting on the personnel, said : “I want you to know that we have the greatest people in the world down here. They are workers and believe me they possess pep galore, as you will see from their activities in time to come.” “We’ll tell the world,” continued Mr. Creswell, “you will know the South is here from now on and that these chaps that have battled year in and year out for prizes on the annual drive will have five new contestants to work with, so watch your step.” Oscar A. Kantner has left Minneapolis and is now stationed in Atlanta as Exploiteer and his activities are already beginning to tell thruout the territory which he invaded about a week ago. THE DEAL Upon the signing of contracts last week S. A. Lynch of Atlanta was relieved of the management of theatres and exchanges. The capital stock of the Southern Enterprises has been owned in its entirety by Famous Players-Lasky Corporation for the last three years. Famous Players paid to S. A. Lynch Enterprise Finance Corporation $1,900,000 which appeared on the company’s consolidated balance sheet as a liability. Of this sum $1,500,000 was paid by Famous Players-Lasky Corporation agreeing to issue to S. A. Lynch and his associates 15,000 shares of Famous Players common stock. The Theatre Department, under Harold B. Franklin, will take over the operation of the theatres formerly operated by Southern Enterprises which were taken over as part of the deal. It was announced at the Home Office that our corporation did not contemplate any refinancing and that there was no truth in rumors recently circulated to that effect. Kent Comments Upon being informed of Zane Grey’s signing with the Production Department for a series of his outdoor stories, Mr. Kent, on behalf of the Department of Distribution, said: At the various Conventions held during the past three years, there has been quite a demand for big outdoor material and especially has the name of Zane Grey been brought up from time to time. There is no author of the great outdoors today who knows the big West as Zane Grey does. There is no author whose books have had the wide circulation and who has been as commercial and sound in what he has written as Zane Grey. His addition to the Paramount program is one that we all welcome from his own standpoint as well as our own, because we believe in him and what he stands for implicitly. The first of his big series, “TO THE LAST MAN,” will appear in our program next Fall. Our enthusiasm for this product will be evidenced by the dollar and cents results that will be shown. S. R. KENT. Officers of New Enterprise The following officers of Southern Enterprises, Incorporated, have been elected : President, Frederic G. Lee; Vice-President, Harold B. Franklin; Secretary and Treasurer, Frederick Metzler. Daniel Michalove, Director of Theatres, will be in active charge of theatre operations under the supervision of Harold B. Franklin, and A. S. Barnard is retained as general counsel.