Paul N. Lazarus Jr. became the director of the United Artists Advertising and Publicity department in March of 1943. He retained this position except for a leave of absence while in the armed forces in 1944, until June 1948, when he was named assistant to United Artists president Gradwell Sears. That portion of the files from 1948 and 1949 is very similar to previous portions, leading to the assumption that he remained connected with the Advertising and Publicity department after 1948. He left United Artists in September of 1950.
These files document the development and the operations of the Advertising and Publicity department under Lazarus' guidance. Containing correspondence with producers and producers' representatives; exhibitors; newspapers, magazines, radio stations and trade papers and with publicity agents and exploitation teams; these files outline the entire process of advertising and publicizing motion pictures. Correspondence with persons within the corporation runs the gamut from purchasing to print scheduling, and from private screenings for exhibitors and media representatives to the in-house development of advertising campaigns.
The files are arranged in alphabetical order under the following year dates:
- 1943:
- Contains extensive materials relating to David (“Skip”) Weshner, Director of Exploitation. Folders are missing between “D” and “E,” between “L” and “O” and after “S.” A number of folders concerning individual films are appended.
- 1945:
- Contains substantial material from Barry Buchanan, who headed the department during Lazarus' term in the army in 1944. Folders on individual films are appended.
- 1946:
- Individual film listing is appended.
- 1947:
- Missing after “S.”
- 1948-1949:
- Missing after “L.”
