Variety (Jun 1930)

V 'A R I E T T WARNERS AND Aids to Equip Modern Hieatre By Harold Rodner (President Continental Theatre Accessories, Inc.) Equipping: the modern talking 4 picture tlieatre involves a great deal more than merely supplying the owner of the house with ap- paratus for Its operation. In this era of good taste in construction and decoration tasks allotted to a thtotre accessory organization are manifold. In a manner of speaking^ they : are educational, for a supply houige must act in the capacity of selector. V(r« of Continental Theatre Ac- cessories do not feel that our Job either begins or ends with the sale of equipment. The first factor which enters into a transaction Is naturally the Intent of the archi- tect>. and the consideration, of his basic .idea in designing the house. An interview is arranged with the architect. He Is assisted in the matter of laying out complete sound and.projection equipment, arranging seating plans, stage rigging, etc. Nothing Is. planned which would In any-way Interfere with the archl- tecttiral theme of the theatre or the decorative scheme employed by the man responsible for Its design. Harmopy The next task is to emphasize .to the-theatre o^er the necessity for harlQony. He is advised to .i>ur- chase furniture, for' Instance, that reflects the period of- dedign used throughout the theatre. His lobby appointments, he .Is told, must be a true' lii^ex of the character of the Integrior and Individual articles ho purchases' must not clash In color or line with the general, decorative scheme employed by the designer.. OAee the prospect is convinced his iiccessorles are of the right type, the foundation is laid. As construc- tion; progresses engineers on . the ' staft of Continental keep ;ln coh- Btant touch with the contractors, supervising the work m - that the W. B. Railroad Man Al Braunliiger, .sales promo- tion manager for Warner Bros., doubles : In brass aa railroad man and major domo. . He routed 76 branch' man- agers to Atlantic City, housed land dined them and sent them back^ to all points ot the com-- IMura without a casualty. completed Job will reflect credit on all concerned. ■■. Freo ServTco;.. . Ordlhioily, when a supply orgiui- Izatlon has made a sale halt the work Is over, but Continental Iteels the sale merely, marks the b^sin- illng of coroperatlon between archi- tect, owner, contractor, trades people and accessory unit Thus, service is free ot charge to ex- hibitors. ' " . continental presents to Its cllehts the latest. solentlflc lnnova,tlonB, In appaitttus, as well as- a large selec- tion bit mlscieillaneoua equipment for Interiors, lobbies an^ loungO rooms, ^^oin; street to sheet," Is the phrase w%<use to Indicate the. extent Of our service, although as a matter of fact Our scOpe Is even wldei'. . Complete ■ Line ^ Blectrlo signs, marquees, box Offices^ ticket ■ vending '' machines, brass standee posts, lobby display frames, mlrrofs, lobby, furniture, drapes, special rugs, chairs, electric fixtures, complete booth eqdlpment —these represent only some of the things with which we are prepared to serve our patrons. To thiis end ow Ke^. York office has oikened branches in Iios Angeles, Chlca.go and Pittsburgh, with a round dozen other) key cities to follow In the next six months. - Warner BnKLlH^^ Inc. And AMOciate CpBilMiiiies The Vitaphone Corporation; Vvi^ The Vitaphone Distribiitliio-C«i^oij!|itton. Vitaphone Limited, Englsnd. First National Pictures^ Inc. First National Pictures Distributing Corporation. First National Pictures Production Corporation. Warner Bros. Theatres, Inc. Warner Bros. Hollywood Theatre Corporation. Warner Bros. Booking Office, Inc. Warner Bros. Southern Theatres, Ine. fikouras Bros. Enterprises, Inc. St. Louis Amusement Company. Vitagraph, Inc. : The Vitgraph Company of California. Stanley Company of America. Stanley-Crandall Company of Washington. Stanley-Davis-Clark Corporation. Stanley-Mark-Strand Corporation. Stanley-Fabian Corporation. Continental Lithograph Corporation. Warner Bros. Broadcasting Corporation. National Radio Advertising, Inc. Warner Bros. Realty Corporation. M. Witmark & Sons. Remick Music Corporation. Harms, Inc. De Sylva, Brown & Henderson, Inc. Famous Music Corporation. Music Publishers Holding Corporation. Brunswick Radio. Corporation. Brunswick Radio of Canada, Limited. Brunswick Radio of Argentina, Inc. Brunswick Radio of Brazil, Inc. Brunswick Panatropo Corporation. Hollywood Film Laboratories, Inc. 321 West 44th Street, Inc. Warner Bros. Pictures Limited (England). First National Paths, Ltd. (England). First National Pictures (Australia), Ltd. Warner Bros. First National Vitaphone Pictures (Denmark). Warner Bros. First National Pictures, S* A. Mexico, D. F. Warner Bros. First National Pictures (Cuba), Inc. Warner Bros. First National Pictures (Japan), Inc. Warner Bros. First National Films, ine. (France). Warner Bros. First National Pictures of Braxil, Ine. Warner Bros. Pictures G. M. B. H., Germany. Warner Bros. First National Vitaphone Pictures, A/s (Norway). Warner Bros. First National Vitaphone Pictures, A. B. (Sweden). Warner Bros. First National Vitaphone Pictures (Hungary). National Film Verlieh and Vertriebs A. G. (Germany). Defina Deutsche First National Pictures, G. M. B. H. (Germany). By Major Albert Warner (Vice-President of Warner Bros.) The financial' status of Wamej Bros. Pictures, as exemplified by-fi financial statements, plaeea this corporation in an enviable position, its coming report will be eloquent in making It clear that it is not only a tremendous' factor In the business of providing entertainment for the peoplea of all countries, but that as a business organlxa'fion it takes rank with the largest and most progressive in America. There l8| not an Instant during the 24 hours' of the day that Warner Pictures are not being shown In some portion ot~the world. It- can be said of W^sr Bros. Vitaphone and First National Pictures thai they cover the earth. The whole world contributes to the success of. the. Warner productions. There has been built a mighty .business organ- ization that serves Europe and the Continent as capably arid xealously as'lt serves America. ' In Its. expansion, Warner Bros.' growth; iaas been consistent and steady. '-Nothing has been done ex- cept after much consideration. Nothing has been hurried. As a result of tills, Warner Bros. Pic- tiireb has eanied the confidence of the Investing public. Figures Figures are eloquent In showing the magnitude of Warner Bros. Pic- tures.- Of stockholders there are 16,260, and this stocic, being held by Inves- tors throughout the country, the prosperity of Warner Bros. Is a matter of nationwide Importance. Gross revenues from theatres for the last idscal year amounted to 172.390,979.16. The total theatre attendance amounted to 196,360,606, w;hlch sounds staggering.. The number of theatres owned, or controlled, Is 812, which Includes five on Broadway In New Tork and sev- eral in Los Angeles. Total value of the real estate owned, or controlled, reaches $160,000,000. In Philadelphia alone the value of the real estate holdings amounts to 160,000,000. The theatre holdings are being consis- tently Increased. 18,500 Employees Warner Bros, employ 18,600, and the annual payroll .goes over $36,- opo,oo6. Nothing proves so conclusively the stability of Warner Bros. Pic- tures as the valuation of Its bond and stock Issues. At the present time its bonds have a value of |70,- 722,600 iand Its stock Of $204,497,287. In the key cities of this country and Ot Europe, Warner Bros, have 93' exchanges, each one of which Is a separate .unit for the distrlbutlpn ot Warner Bros., Vitaphone and First National pictures. Gross film rentals for the year have exceeded $66,000,000, while the production costs at the studios in Hollywood and Burbank, Califor- nia, and Brookl^, New Tork, reached $26,323,622. Protecting Stockholders The policy of expansion In all lines connected with picture en- tertainment Is being steadily car- ried out with the dominating idea of safeguarding the Interest of the stockholders. It is the object to make Warner Bros, a completely self-contained producing, dlstrlbut Ing and exhibiting organization, equipped to operate In every phase of mechanical entertainment and in any industry which contributes es sential factors to this business. The acquisition of several of the largest and oldest music publishing firms in America gives to Warner '^ros.' copyright holdings of tremen dous value, and the taking over of the music and radio divisions of the Brunswick - Balke - Collender Com pany was another move strengthen- ing Warner Bros. In the production of Vitaphone pictures. The sub stantial stock purchase of the Nak- ken Patents corporation gives War- ner Bros, free license to use the patents of that corporation. Foreign Connections The public Is already familiar with Warner Bros.' Interest with the Kuchenmelster Group (Sprek film of Amsterdam, Tobls of Berlin, Associated Sound Film Industries, Ltd., of London, and Compagnle Francalse Tobls of Paris). This In terest in the German group gives F. N.'S FORIODABIE USTOFDIRHnraRS Warners' For All in Huge Organization Great Newspaper Man Vhrglnla Horris, ot A. P. Waxman's staff, took a leave ot absence recently to await the. arrival of a new edition ot her- > self. Instead of knltUng little things tor the stork's passen- ger, ^e whDed away her tln^ editing this edition-for Warner Bros. Just a nice girl, but 4 great newspaper man. For the new productions; First National Plctureis has assembled a llne-up ot directbikl all standing near the head ot their profession. At the present time the list reads WUllam Belter, Howard Hawks, Clarence Badger, Fhuik ijoyd, John; Francis Dillon, WllUam Beaudlne, Mervyn LeRoy and Edward Cllne. While these men will carry through the bulk ot First Natlont^ produc- tion, other directors may be engaered from time to time as occasion re- quires. William Setter, having completed "The Toast ot the Lieglon,'* Is now engaged on the famous play entitled "When We Were Twenty-One," now called^'The Truth About Touth." Clarence Badger,, who has been directing pictures since the early days ot the screen. Is now engaged on '"The Bad Man," In which Hol- brook Bllnn was starred on the stai;e. Walter Huston Is playing the title role in the picture. Frank Lloyd, who, a number ot years ago, directed First National's famous success, "The Sea Hawk," has recently completed "The Right of Way," an elaborate version of Sir Gilbert Parker's popular novel. Lloyd's record tor successful pre- ductlons no. doubt equals that ot any director In the field. He wUl be assigned 4o "Heart ot the North" and "Captain Blood." Another veteran Is John Francis Dillon, now engaged on "The Girl of the Golden West," adapted from Belasco's memorable stiCge play. Dillon set a rapid pace during the past year with pictures such as Sally,',' "Spring Is Here," "Bride of the Regiment." "Fast Llf^ "The Other Tomorrow" and "One Night at Susie's" to his credit. William Beaudlne Is completing "The Lady Who Dared" at the First National Studios. "The Girl From Woolwiorth's," "Hard to Get," "The Road to Paradise" and "Wedding Rings" are to his credit. Youngest Director Mervyn LeRoy, rated the young est director in the Hollywood col ony, is proving his aptitude for va rious types of pictures by success- fully handling "Little Johnny Jones," "Show Girl in Hollywood," "Top Speed," "Playing Around" and last of all, "Numbered Men," a dra matic story dealing with prisons and convicts which has become a sensation. Edward Cllne, now directing "The Widow From Chicago." also di- rected "The Forward Pass," "In the Next Room," "The Naughty Flirt," and "Sweet Mama" for First Na- tional release. Howard Hawks is responsible for "The Dawn Patrol," an epic of the air by John Monk Saunders, in which Richard Barthelmess is star* red. "The Dawn Patrol," produced on an ambitious scale, will be re- leased soon for extended runs. By Joe Homstein (General Purchasing Agent Warrter Bros.) fop The . method uSed by Wameq Bros. B^es the' purchasing de^. partbient as eCBcIent and well or<H . dersd as ttie departments that re^ quire only two or three operatloni^ ^ in., the completion of their duties*. Perhaps the best way to describe ■ this method Is to visualize a central . point ot action from which every) V stepi ot the purchasing Is planned and executed bjir the specialists who head the v{^■lous phases of buy ine tor Warner Bros, and Its subsidiary . companies. At this centralized point In the home office, a complete study Is made ot the items necessary to rua thei' business. Through a procesq ot elimination and analysis, we de- termine the needs of the,- entire Orgaribsatlon. The market is watch^ ed carefully so that we may buy; conunodltleB at rock bottom prices. :. Throujih One Channel Furniture and equipment have been Standardised to obtain unl-^ tormlty In all our branches andl companies. Etxcept for a few ismall Itenis, all branches and companies receive their supplies from the. home Office. The l^ms they are permit- ted to purchase locally are lIstecE and dievlation from this course la not authorized. Bttcii material as stationery, adt vertlslng matter and mlscellaneoua supplies are shipped from our va^ rlous warehouses , on order from^ thU office.. Hiaving these ware- houses enables us to do a great deal ot quantity buying. We eliminate contusion by means of perpetual in- ventory systems. -When a'department , or branch re- quests something we have not used previously, we analyze Its useful^ ness and it we find that it will Im^ prove the efficiency of the organiza^ tlon, we order It throughout. To sum It all up, we are eog« nizant at this central point of action 6t every Item that Is purchased and used In the Warner home office^ ' the branches, and the subsidiary companies. All Firms Welcomed. Co-ordinating the purchases oil everything needed In over 800 the- atres of the Warner Bros. Theatre Circuit; 76 Warner Bros, and FlrstT National Exchanges; six muslo publishing companies; four produc- tion studios; Brunswick Radio Corp., to mention just a few of the half a hundred Warner Bros. af« filiates Is a fair sized Job. Keeping an open door to all concerns, so that all have the same Impartial opportunity to sell their wares. Is the keystone of our purchasing system. L H. IVORRIS CONTACT > HEAD OF MUSIC C0& Warner Bros, tremendous advan- tages throughout Europe. That the expansions and additions have been of value to Warner Bros, is borne out by the success won by Warner Bros, and the position the corporation holds In the world of entertainment and of finance. The work contributed by B. Hi Morris, executive of M. Witmark 4( Sons, since that company under^ took the publication ot Vltaphon«l music, reflects the benefit ot a youth* ful viewpoint In selecting and mar* ketlng popular songs. Since the affiliation of Witmark with Warner Bros., Mr. Morris, not yet 26, has occupied one of the most Important posts on the Witmark executive staft. Early in the fall of 1929 when Warner Bros, acquired the music publishing firms ot Harms, DeSylva, Brown & Hender- son, Remick Music Corp., and the subsidiaries of these companies, Mr^ Morris' duties were augmented to production contact man of these various organizations. Recently he was elected "^^^^' president of the Music Publishers Holding Corporation, the combine of Warner Bros, music affiliates.