b'Most major studios quickly followed. To comply and set up to control this massive amount of growth, NSS made a BRILLIANT maneuver. RISE OF THE (NSS) EMPIRE! 1940-1959On December 22, 1939, Paramount and Advertising Accessories, Inc. (a then subsidiary of NSS) signed a 5-year exclusive contract. In January 1940, RKO, which had also suffered losses from its accessories business, signed up also under the condition that they would open branches in all major markets for distribution. To accomplish this, NSS approached the largest and most reputable poster exchange association, National Poster Service Association. At that time there were 51 major exchanges around the country that were members of the National Poster Service Association and each is said to stock between 100,000 up to one MILLION posters.In a brilliant move, on February 17, 1940, National Screen BOUGHT the 21 largest poster exchanges in the Association, plus an additional seven poster exchanges in the other cities needed, giving them 28 independent poster exchanges, and keeping their current management.The announcement below appeared in the Showmens Trade Review dated February 17, 1940.'