In the Interest of Truth

By P.S. Harrison (1928)

Under date of February 29, Jimmy Grainger, General Sales Manager of Fox Film Corporation, has written me as follows:

I telephoned you today but learned that you were out of the city. (Editor's note: I was in Washington, D.C., that day, attending the hearing on the Brookhart Bill.)

In your article under the heading, 'Flops And Hits,' printed in the issue of March 3rd, you say that Sunrise has been given a forced run in this city.

If you will come to my office, I will gladly show you what Sunrise has done at the Times Square Theatre in this city and in every other city where it has played. To say that it has been given a forced run is a wrong statement and is not fair to the picture, and I am certain you are the first man who would wish to correct any error that may work an injustice.

I am certain you will agree with me that the Times Square Theatre is not the best location for a motion picture on Broadway (Editor's note: It is on 42nd Street) and we consider that we have done exceptionally well.

The picture is a hit in Detroit and is doing exceptional business.

I want you to see these figures and tell your readers about it, as I am certain you do not want to cause an injustice to this corporation or to any other.

At the Fox Terminal Theatre, in Newark, the Sunrise grossed over $20,000 in one week. The average receipts for this house are from $6,000 to $8,000.

At Philadelphia, the picture has run six weeks at the Locust Theatre to phenomenal business, playing twice daily.

I would appreciate it if you would communicate with me on Saturday.

Desiring to be fair to every one who has a grievance against this paper because of something that has been printed about him, I naturally called on Mr. Grainger. He showed me the receipts for the twenty-five weeks of the engagement at the Times Square Theatre, in confidence, and I can say that, while it did not make any profits, and may show a small loss, yet it has shown good strength when one takes into consideration the prevailing business depression.

In Newark the picture did exceptionally well.

In Detroit it did better than Seventh Heaven in the first three weeks, but showed considerable weakness the fourth week.

P.S. Harrison, "In the Interest of Truth," Harrison's Reports, March 17, 1928, page 44.

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