From September 5 to 7, 1938 RKO held an annual meeting in Paris, France at the George V hotel on the Champs-Élysées. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is then a raging success throughout Europe and is front and center of the discussions, as evidenced by photos showing a statuette of Dopey and Snow White figurines distributed to those present.
On September 3, 1938, Le Journal announces: “RKO convention to take place in Paris. Mr. Phil Reisman, Vice President of R.K.O. Radio Pictures and head of the foreign department, kindly agreed to the wish of the company’s continental directors, who had requested the privilege of holding their annual convention in Paris. Mr. Phil Reisman was delighted by this request, which answered a secret desire he himself had long cherished, by fulfilling the wish of all his collaborators. This convention will be held on September 5, 6, and 7 in the salons of the Hôtel George V.”
On September 24, 1938, Motion Picture Herald provides a brief summary of the meeting.
“A recent scene in war-talking Europe as RKO Radio’s foreign department convened its European representatives in Paris for a three-day meeting to discuss motion picture merchandising. At left are pictured some of the 40 men who attended, with General Manager Phil Reisman (digitally emphasizing a point) on hand from the home office. At his right is R. W. Feignoux, Walt Disney representative for Continental Europe; at his left, Reg Armour, RKO Radio Continental general manager, and W. B. Levy, Walt Disney European general manager. It was announced that RKO Radio’s European business as a whole had trebled the amount of the previous year.”
The event is recounted in the greatest detail and with the most photographs in the corporate magazine La cinématographie française on September 9, 1938.
The RKO Convention was held this week in Paris.
This important meeting took place in an atmosphere of optimism that was anything but conventional…
More than fifty delegates from various continents were brought together by Mr. R. Armour, Director for Europe of RKO, in the salons of the Hotel George V. They continually expressed their pleasure at being in Paris; one, serious and stern in his own country, here wore a cheerful expression; another, usually reserved, spoke with warmth. Paris had won them over — “the atmosphere was there” — and moreover, they had just been briefed on the magnificent program for the coming season.
Leaving these happy men, we went to interview Mr. R. Armour, who kindly explained why optimism prevailed among him and his associates.
“RKO,” he said, “has just completed and is preparing a slate of films which places the company this year at a distinctly higher level.
“Let me first remind you of our latest films released in Paris: Bringing Up Baby; Joy of Living; Vivacious Lady, which won at Venice the award for ‘Best Artistic Ensemble’ and has begun a most brilliant run at the Avenue Theater; and finally Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which has just won at Venice the ‘Art Trophy,’ an award created especially for this picture, placing it Out of Competition.
“It could not have been otherwise. Snow White is more than cinema; it is a future, with incalculable possibilities.
“The following have also just been completed in our studios:
Carefree with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
Room Service with the Marx Brothers.
Gunga Din with Cary Grant, Victor McLaglen, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
Mother Carey’s Chickens, compared to Little Women.
Having Wonderful Time with Ginger Rogers and Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
Breaking the Ice with Bobby Breen, Charlie Ruggles, and Dolores Costello.
Sky Giant with Richard Dix and Chester Morris.
The Affairs of Annabel with Jack Oakie and Lucille Ball.
Sixty Glorious Years with Anna Neagle and Anton Walbrook.
The Mad Miss Manton with Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda.
Love Match, the first film by Leo McCarey, director of The Awful Truth with Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer, is nearing completion, as is Memory of Love with Claudette Colbert.
“Finally, preparing the production of other films, Gregory La Cava and George Stevens are working tirelessly, and their talent promises further successes.
“This year,” added Mr. Armour, “has been extremely brilliant for RKO in Europe and the Near East; the newly created agencies in Belgium, Switzerland, Holland, North Africa, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, Syria, and Palestine have produced unexpected results, and it has been a record year for the others.”
Mr. Phil Reisman, Vice President of RKO and Director of the Foreign Department, confirmed everything Mr. Armour had told us and added with a smile:
“Mr. Armour is too modest; I shall be less so for him and for RKO. I congratulate him wholeheartedly for these magnificent results and for the new momentum he is giving our company in Europe and in the other countries under his supervision. I affirm that never has RKO’s prestige been greater within our industry. The future is full of promises that will be fulfilled and will carry our company’s name to even greater heights.
“It is a reward I have granted all my agents by choosing Paris as the seat of our Convention — and it is one for me as well.”
We also learn that the Walt Disney studios are announcing 18 short subjects: The Brave Little Tailor, based on a tale by the Brothers Grimm; Farmyard Symphony; Donald’s Golf Game; Ferdinand the Bull; Merbabies; Mother Goose Goes Hollywood; Donald’s Lucky Day; Society Dog Show; The Practical Pig; The Hockey Champ; The Ugly Duckling; Goofy and Wilbur; Donald’s Cousin Gus; The Beach Picnic; Sea Scouts; The Autograph Hound; Donald’s Penguin; The Pointer.
Mr. de Rochemont, European Director of The March of Time, announced to us a sensational documentary on “The Maginot Line.”
A grand banquet at the “Coq Hardi” joyfully concluded this meeting, attended by more than fifty delegates: Messrs. R. Hanbury of the United Kingdom; L. Lioni of the Netherlands Indies; L. Wynbergen of Belgium; O. Sonnenfeld of Czechoslovakia; G. E. Georgoussy of Egypt; M. Westebbe of Holland; A. Zomerplaag and Ph. de Schaap of Holland; M. Durant of the Indies; Havas of Italy; V. Lisim, H. Pleven, M. Gentel, J. Schoubrenner, J.-M. Mounier of Paris; Czaban of Poland; R. Béja of Portugal; Cazazis of Romania; E. Simon of London; Wallmann of the Scandinavian countries; Blanco of Spain; G. Wadsten of Sweden; Palivoda of Switzerland; etc.
Also attending the convention as guests of RKO were Mr. de Rochemont, European Director of The March of Time; Messrs. G. Comte, Siebert, and Pagès, his principal associates; Mr. W. B. Levy, Director for Europe of Walt Disney Productions; Mr. R. W. Feignoux, representative for Continental Europe of Walt Disney Productions; and Mr. Ch. Findley of Pathé News.
We understand that important decisions were made during this convention. RKO Radio Films is a firm to be reckoned with. It has proven it — and will do even better this year. Our best wishes accompany it in this endeavor.
