Paramount Pep (1923)

PARAMOUNT PEP 5 Push If You Would Prosper Convention Split Four Ways Semi-Annual Sales Convention to Be Conducted in New York, Chicago, New Orleans and' Los Angeles Upon Mr. Kent’s return from Europe, he immediately gave out plans for our coming semiannual sales convention. “For the first time in our history,” said Mr. Kent, “the convention next month will be split four ways — that is, the Home Office Staff will hold four conventions in four parts of the United States.” The first of the four will be held at the Hotel Commodore, Tuesday and Wednesday, May 8th and 9th, and will be attended by the Sales Force from our Boston, New Haven, Maine, New York, New Jersey, Buffalo, Albany, Philadelphia, Washington and Wilkes-Barre offices. Following the two-day session in New York a group of the Home Office executives headed by Mr. Kent will go to Chicago and hold a two-day session there at the Drake Hotel, Saturday and Sunday, May 12th and 13th. The Chicago convention will be attended by the Sales Force from our Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Columbus, Chicago, Milwaukee, Peoria, St. Louis, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Sioux Falls, Des Moines, and Omaha offices. Leaving Chicago Sunday night, May 13th, the convention executive car will make a speedy trip to New Orleans, La., arriving there Monday morning, May 14th, and after a t\yo-day session, which will be attended by the Sales Forces from Atlanta, New Orleans, Charlotte, Dallas, and Oklahoma City, the convention car will then head for Los Angeles for the fourth and last convention, arriving there May 19th, the session being held Monday and Tuesday, May 21st and 22nd. The Los Angeles convention will be attended by the forces from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake and Denver offices. All of the four sessions will be attended not only by the Home Office executives and department heads and District and Branch Managers, but also by all of the salesmen in each of the exchanges, the Booking Managers and the Exploiteers, and in that way every member of our sales force and other factors in the Department of Distribution thruout the entire country will receive the benefit of the executives’ forceful messages and new policies. Commenting on this new form of conducting conventions, Mr. Kent said : “In further support of the Divisional Supervision idea, it has been arranged that each Divisional Sales Manager will conduct with me the convention held in their respective divisions. That is to say,” continued Mr. Kent, “Harry Ballance, Sales Manager for Division No. 1, will hold forth May 8th and 9th in New York, and will remain here after this sectional session, while the rest of us will proceed to Chicago. Likewise George Weeks will hold forth in Chicago and return to New York t the close of that convention. John Clark, Sales Manager for Division 3, will go on thru to the Coast and take up his duties at the convention there. Those from the Home Office who will attend the convention at home and out of town are Jesse L. Lasky, S. R. Kent, Eugene Zukor, E. E. Shauer, George Weeks, Harry Ballance, John Clark, M. A. Shauer, George Spidell, G. B. J. Frawley, Claud Saunders, Charles E. McCarthy, A. M. Botsford and Wm. R. Hoggan, the latter Sales Manager of our Australian organization. Details of each convention held will be given “Doug” Praises “Prodigal Daughters” Douglas Fairbanks in an interview in the Los Angeles Times voluntarily gave great praise to “Prodigal Daughters.” Following is the excerpt : When he had finished telling of many features of the new film which are still studio secrets, Mr. Fairbanks changed the subject abruptly. “Have you seen Gloria Swanson in ‘Prodigal Daughters’? No ? Don’t miss it. It is not only the best piece of acting Miss Swanson has ever done, but it is I think one of the most faithful film portrayals of contemporary social and family life that has been screened. “It should be preserved under seal for showing fifty years from now to let your descendants know just what this jazz age really is. Mary and I run off films every night at home. Of late we have been seeing old news reels made about fifteen years ago, the funeral of Edward the Seventh of England and Coronation of King George — that kind of thing. They are more interesting than plays. Gloria Swanson’s new play I firmly believe will have a similar value fifteen or fifty years from now.” Your House in Order ( Continued from page 2) today it was his best effort, and we believe him because he always tells the truth about his own productions. To say nothing of the other product that is yet to come. I believe that in spite of some disappointments we can wind up the first five months in a blaze of glory. We have the pictures in number and quality with which to do it. Our sales on current pictures are in better shape than ever before. If we liquidate them scientifically and pick up. every old picture that has not been played we will not fail. The next two or three months is going to be a wonderful time to put your house in order for the big Fall drive. to. the readers of PEP thru telegraphic connection with C. E.. McCarthy in charge of publicity, who will be with the convention executives.