Black Books, Foreign Statistics: United Artists Corporation Records, Series 1F, circa 1935-circa 1950
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Summary Information
Title: Black Books, Foreign Statistics: United Artists Corporation Records, Series 1F
Inclusive Dates: circa 1935-circa 1950

Creator:
  • United Artists Corporation
Call Number: U.S. Mss 99AN/1F

Quantity: 3.8 cubic feet (10 archives boxes)

Repository:
Housed at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives and Museum Collections; owned by the Wisconsin Center for Film & Theater Research

Archival Locations:
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:
Informational reference materials relating to the foreign territories in which United Artists (UA) did business. The materials were designed as a reference source on the cultural patterns, business practices, and laws which affected the foreign subsidiaries and licensed agents of the corporation. Included is information on the history of United Artists operations in that territory; laws related to the import and/or exhibition of foreign pictures; lists of holidays celebrated and the effects of each on attendance; comparisons of various film stars' drawing powers with local audiences; labor information; monetary regulation, tax, and duty laws; censorship laws; local advertising rates and policies; statistics on competitors' operations there; lists of local contacts; and other relevant information.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-99an001f
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Scope and Content Note

This series consists of information materials relating to the foreign territories in which United Artists did business, originally maintained as a set of black ring binders (hence the name).

Each foreign “territory” operated in much the same way as did the United Artists domestic exchanges with all major decisions and the majority of the bookkeeping handled from the home office in New York: in practice, however, the distances involved gave the foreign offices a relatively greater degree of day-to-day autonomy (and the licensed agents were independent corporations). Each territory represented a particular country or geographical area, often encompassing a wider area than the name may suggest: for example the Argentina office handled distribution in Uruguay and Paraguay as well as in Argentina.

The black book for each territory begins with an index, followed by some or all of the following sections:

  1. HISTORY: of United Artists operations in that territory.
  2. GENERAL: Statistics, laws, MPPDA and bank newsletters, circular letters from UA, historical development of policies, etc.
  3. QUOTA AND CONTINGENT LAWS: Restrictions on the import and/or exhibition of foreign pictures. Included are other cinema-related laws.
  4. HOLIDAYS: Lists of holidays celebrated, their dates and the effects of each on attendance.
  5. BOX OFFICE VALUES: Comparison of various film stars' drawing powers with local audiences.
  6. EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY: Labor laws and the responsibilities of employers to employees. Includes circular letters, correspondence, reports, etc. on salary scales, union contracts, vacation and severence requirements, workmen's compensation, etc.
  7. MONETARY REGULATIONS: Exchanging of foreign currency to U.S. dollars. Information on frozen funds.
  8. TAXES. Tax laws, opinions, etc. which effected film distribution and distributors.
  9. DUTY: duty laws, importation of prints and accessories.
  10. ACCESSORIES AND POSTERS
  11. CENSORSHIP: Local censorship laws.
  12. ADVERTISING AND PUBLICITY: Trade paper and newspaper advertising rates and policies.
  13. COMPETITORS: Comparative statistics on operations and grosses of competitors.
  14. CORPORATION DATA: Incorporation of the foreign companies and their current officers.
  15. POWERS OF ATTORNEY: Lists of those granted powers of attorney in each territory.
  16. BRANCHES AND AGENTS: Lists of contacts, correspondence.
  17. INSURANCE.
  18. AUDITORS AND ATTORNEYS: Lists of local attorneys on retainer and of local internal auditors.
  19. BANKS: Banks with which UA did business and other important local banks.
  20. SPECIAL SELLING INSTRUCTIONS: Mostly from UA producers.
  21. THEATRES AND POTENTIAL CONTRACTS: Lists of theatres, first run terms, etc.
  22. STOCKHOLDER PRODUCERS' - TERMS:

The file is arranged alphabetically (in three sections: Latin America, Far East, and Continental Europe and Near East) by name of territory, subdivided into sections as described above. While in theory the black books should have been updated either annually or whenever an important item appeared, in practice many of the files are incomplete and some are much more detailed and comprehensive than others. While scattered items predate 1930 and postdate 1950, the bulk of the materials date from between 1935 and 1950.

Contents List
U.S. Mss 99AN/1F
Latin America
Box   1
Folder   1-4
Argentina
Box   1
Folder   5-7
Brazil
Box   2
Folder   1
Brazil (continued)
Box   2
Folder   2-3
Chile
Box   2
Folder   4-5
Colombia
Box   2
Folder   6-8
Cristobal
Box   3
Folder   1
Cuba
Box   3
Folder   2-4
Mexico
Box   3
Folder   5-6
Peru
Box   3
Folder   7
Puerto Rico
Far East
Box   4
Folder   1-3
Australia
Box   4
Folder   4-6
China
Box   5
Folder   1-3
India
Box   5
Folder   4-5
Japan
Box   5
Folder   6
Netherlands East Indies
Box   5
Folder   7-8
Philippine Islands
Box   5
Folder   9
Straits Settlements
Box   6
Folder   1-2
Straits Settlements (continued)
Continental Europe and Near East
Box   6
Folder   3
Austria
Box   6
Folder   4
Baltic States
Box   6
Folder   5
Belgium
Box   6
Folder   6
Bulgaria
Box   6
Folder   7
Czechoslovakia
Box   6
Folder   8
Denmark
Box   7
Folder   1
Egypt
Box   7
Folder   2-4
England (British Isles)
Box   7
Folder   5
Finland
Box   7
Folder   6-7
France
Box   8
Folder   1
France (continued)
Box   8
Folder   2
French North Africa
Box   8
Folder   3
French West Africa
Box   8
Folder   4
Germany
Box   8
Folder   5
Greece
Box   8
Folder   6
Holland
Box   8
Folder   7
Hungary
Box   8
Folder   8-9
Italy
Box   8
Folder   10
Norway
Box   9
Folder   1
Persia
Box   9
Folder   2
Poland
Box   9
Folder   3
Portugal
Box   9
Folder   4
Portugese West Africa
Box   9
Folder   5
Romania
Box   9
Folder   6
Russia
Box   9
Folder   7
South Africa
Box   9
Folder   8
Spain
Box   9
Folder   9
Sweden
Box   9
Folder   10
Switzerland
Box   10
Folder   1
Switzerland (continued)
Box   10
Folder   2
Syria-Lebanon
Box   10
Folder   3
Turkey
Box   10
Folder   4
Yugoslavia