Boxoffice-08.01.1960

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Nate J. Blumberg Is Dead;
Was Universal Chairman
VAN NUYS. CALIF— Nuto J. Blumberg.
who started his film industry career as a
Orose
theatre candy butcher in Racine. Wis., and
to a dominant
position in the motion
picture business
as president of Universal
Pictures from
1938 to 1952 and as
chairman of the
board since that date,
died at his home here
Sunday i24i. He was
66 years old and had
been ill for many
months.
Nate J. Blumberg Blumberg was an
exhibitor who successfully
made the transition to the production-distribution
end of the film business.
In his first years as an exhibitor he
ran several of his own theatres, and for a
short period was general manager in Wisconsin
for the circuit of theatres operated
by Universal. In the late 1920s, when the
Orpheum Circuit was absorbed by the
Radio Corp. to create the RKO organization,
he took his first big step up. He was
named divisional manager for all RKO
theatres in Chicago and the west. From
this post he went to the New York office
as assistant general manager and then as
vice-president.
A group headed by J. Cheever Cowdin
had just acquired control of Universal
from Carl Laemmle in 1936 when Blumberg
was recruited from RKO to become president
of the firm. At the same time William
Scully left MOM to become general salesmanager
and Cliff Work, also of RKO. assumed
the production helm at the studios.
Under Blumberg's direction, this team began
producing pictures from the viewpoint
Variety Clubs International
Representatives Named
PHILADELPHIA — Appointment of six
international representatives, each of
whom will serve as a link between Variety
Clubs International and a group of tents
in an assigned region, was announced by
Chief Barker Edward Emanuel. Morton
Gerber of Washington, Joe Podoloff of
Minneapolis. Robert Bostick of Memphis
and Gene Murphy of Las Vegas were reappointed,
and John J. Fitzgibbons jr. of
Toronto and Harry Kodinsky, Pittsburgh,
are replacing former international representatives
William Koster, who is now
Vari.tys Heart chairman, and Ralph Pries,
who ;^ now international dough guy.
Fit. ^i),::!
. chief barker of the Toronto
tent a;. v.ii chairman of Variety's recent
anc :i!-, successful annual convention,
will .iHivi.ve region one embracing
tents in Be ^0:1. Buffalo, New York. Albany
and Tc'.rito Oerber's region two
will include c ;:,,ti:. Atlanta, Miami.
; .
i
Kodinsky's .'
Baltimore, Jackso Washington.
iclude Pittsbiu-gh.
territor:.
; :
Cleveland, Phii. :;.iua.
i
Ii.diana and Dayton. Rt^ion
Cincinnati,
four headed
of the men who exhibited them and in
this manner getting as close as possible to
demands of the theatregoing public. It was
a successful formula for many years.
In the first years of the Blumberg administration.
Universal rebuilt or reconditioned
its sound stages and generally updated
its Universal City plant, brought the
Deanna Durbin pictures to a peak of
worldwide popularity, teamed W. C. Fields
and Mae West in a successful western,
signed such young players as Bing Crosby
and James Stewart to starring roles and
introduced the comedy team of Abbott and
Costello.
In 1946, in association with Cowdin who
was then chairman of the board, he consolidated
Universal with International and
Universal-International became a tradename.
On July 15. 1952 he was elected
chairman of the board when Milton R.
Rackmil assumed the presidency.
Rackmil. in a statement issued in New
York, called Blumberg "a great industry
leader and a true humanitarian." He said:
"His friendship and his counsel were a
source of strength and inspiration, and I
shall always cherish the years and the
experience we shared together.
"He leaves a heritage for all of us to
share and remember. His life was full of
accomplishment. He reached the heights
of our industry but never lost his humility.
His heart was as big as his being and he
gave himself to all who knew him as a
friend and they were legion."
Funeral services were held Tuesday at
the Valley Jewish Community Center In
North Hollywood, and burial was in Mount
Sinai Memorial Park.
Blumberg is survived by his wife. Vera:
a son Lewis J, Blumberg. and a daughter
Mrs. Stanley Meyers, all of Van Nuys.
by Podoloff consists of Minneapolis. Des
Moines. Detroit. Grand Rapids. Chicago,
Milwaukee and Omaha. Bostick will serve
as liaison over tents in region five which
include Memphis. New Orleans. Dallas.
Oklahoma City. St. Louis. Houston and
Mexico City. Tents in Los Angeles. Seattle.
San Francisco and Las Vegas will be supervised
by Murphy.
C. J. Latta, former chief barker of the
London 1
tent, will continue as
international European representative.
New UAA Executive Post
Is Given to Erwin Ezzes
NEW YORK—Erwin H. Ezzes. vicepresident
of Television Industries, has
been elected to the new post of executive
vice-president of United Artists Associated,
it was announced by Arthur B. Krim,
UAA president, and president of United
ArtLsts.
Henry J. Zittau. vice-president, has
been made senior vice-president. Robert
Rich, vice-president in charge of sales,
and Don Klauber. his assistant, have resigned.
20fh-Fox 'Autonomy'
Plan Is Successful
NEW YORK—The policy of 20th Century-Fox
to give its branch managers complete
autonomy, a system which has been
Glenn Norris, left. 20th Century-Fox
general sales manager, and Martin
Moskowitz, assistant sales manager, at
a tradepress conference.
in effect about 18 months, has worked out
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highly satisfactorily, according to Glenn
Norris. general sales manager. In his first
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meeting with tradepress representatives
;
since succeeding Alex Harrison in the top
sales post, NoiTis said the plan had many
advantages and had resulted in more ef- ,
fective operation.
An "on the spot" decision by a branch
manager has proven to be a time saver,
he said, even though deals are reviewed at
the homeoffice. Norris meets with the field
men periodically at their branch offices in
regard to sales plans and formulae. The
branch managers now do not have super-
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vision by district or division managers.
Nonis said that company business had
improved since the system went into ef-
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feet.
Film rentals in recent months have Increased
by a slight margin, Norris reported,
but he could not estimate the in- ;
crease from a percentage standpoint,
"Can-Can" currently is playing in 51 theatres
and will be in 70 houses by the end
of the year. Film rentals on the picture
are expected to reach about $6,000,000 by
the first of next year.
Norris said that 20th Centuiy-Pox
would release 50 pictures in the 1960 fiscal
year, practically the same as in fiscal 1959.
The compaiw operates its own back
rooms except in New Haven where the
company is part of a central shipping arrangement.
Nonis said, however, that
there were no savings in community ship- .
ping and that the company would continue
to operate its own rooms in all exchanges.
Norris said he planned to hold similar
press meetings periodically to report on
the company's sales developments.
Raporte Named Director
Of Loew's Real Estate
NEW YORK—Arthur J. Raporte has
been made director of real estate activities
for Loew's Theatres. Prior to a two-year
association as real estate manager of
Wirn. Lane and Klein, he was for 11 years
counsel and real estate director of the
Welch Grape Juice Co. and Jack Kaplan.
The circuit has large real estate holdings
in the U. S. and Canada.
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BOXOFTICE August 1. 1960