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48
Motion Picture News
July 5, 1930
MANAGE!?!' KCIJND TABLE CLUE
AN OPEN LETTER
on
MANAGERS and PROJECTIONISTS
From P. A. McGUIRE
The Managers Round Table Club has constantly stressed the importance of friendly and harmonious relations between house managers and projectionists. We did not hesitate to express our own candid opinion, either to commend or criticize, but we felt that we I honestly started something worth-while in bringing this matter to the fore. In the following excerpts from Mr. McGuire's letter, he will give you his slant on many angles pertaining to this important discussion. Not alone should YOU read it, but make sure that it is posted in a conspicuous spot up in your booth.
"Chick"
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My dear Mr. Lewis:
I want to express my sincere appreciation of your very friendly comments on the Projection Advisory Council in the June 14th issue of the Motion Picture News and to thank you for the splendid co-operation you have given in our efforts to carry out the motto of the Council "Progress Through Understanding." The motto of the Projection Advisory Council is not a mere slogan and we are sincere in wishing to have it taken literally. "Understanding in its various meanings conveys a comprehensive explanation of what the Projection Advisory Council is seeking to accomplish for the advancement of projection and the motion picture industry. The Council has a number of very practical activities, such as seeking to secure properly designed projection rooms, provide good working conditions, minimize the use of obsolete and defective equipment and standardized safety laws. In addition the Council hopes to encourage understanding that dispels misunderstanding. All suffer by the illwill created through the faith to properly realize the responsibility and problems of others." .
You have shown an extremely fair minded and courageous spirit in bluntly criticizing the viewpoint and attitude of some managers and it is no more than proper that there should be some reciprocation through the Projection Advisory Council. The Council is seeking to secure a greater respect for the projectionist and a better understanding of his problems and responsibilities, but I assure you that progressive projectionists fully realize that respect and understanding must be mutual. No worthwhile projectionist will deliberately belittle or ignore the rights and authority of managers. There must be leadership and leadership must have authority.
For the Masses
Motion pictures are the very bread and butter of recreation for the vast mass of people and while they have a penny left for relaxation it will be spent for motion picture entertainment. We can be sure of that, for there is no change from the inevitable monotony of the factory, office and even the home, which make such a complete appeal to every member of the family. In order that the public may look constantly to the motion picture theatre for relaxation and happiness, patrons must feel sure that they can have a reasonable dependence upon the entertainment provided, that their comfort and convenience shall be considered at all times and that the picture shall be presented in the best possible manner.
David Sarnoff, President of the Radio Company of America, has said "that this is the age of electric entertainment" and the motion picture industry depends entirely upon mechanical means for recording and reproducing. In spite of this, the industry is not technically minded and has not always • adequately realized how much the quality of the entertainment depends upon the condition of the equipment, working conditions in the projection room and the skill of the projectionist. The projectionist should be afforded every facility for doing his work in the best way and then held to the highest standards. No worthwhile projectionist will fail to take his work very seriously or expect to avoid the difficulties that develop in the performance of his duties. Let us investigate more closely the qualifications necessary to make an expert projectionist. I quote briefly from an article "Projection A Specialized Art," issued some time ago by the Projection Advisory Council.
A good projectionist must develop an artistic side as well as a mechanical skill and this means the developing of conflicting mental qualifications, which makes him a highly specialized expert. A good manager, if he is a good executive, will, therefore, readily realize that when he has a man who possesses these various qualifications, he must do everything within reason to keep him and get the best out of him. It is the task of a real executive to take onditions he faces and make the best of them. A real executive develops men he has and only discharges them as a last resort. While the manager must be keenly alive to everything that goes Oil in his house and demand good projection, he must not expect perfection in men, methods or material. The good manager will seek to maintain the highest standards in every department of his
theatre, but his experience and ability will show him he must sometimes compromise to get best results.
Don't Start Kicking
It should be quite obvious that it is entirely wrong to call up the projection room and complain as soon as anything goes wrong. If a defect continues, it is, of course, proper to call up at a reasonable period to call attention to the trouble. If the projectionist is any good at all, he will make every effort to correct the fault as soon as he can. No competent projectionist gets anything but grief when something goes wrong with the picture. The defect is there for the whole world to see and the minutes seem like hours to him until everything is again going the right way. The world of the projectionist is a little world, it is true, but a big one to him. It is made up of patrons of the house and those who work in it and the projectionist knows that his is the responsibility when anything interrupts or spoils the entertainment. A good projectionist does not have to be told when anything is wrong on the screen, for he should be the first one to know it. Perhaps it is his own fault, but it may be caused by something beyond his control. No matter what the cause of the trouble may be, he is not happy. He knows he will be held responsible and if he is worth his salt, he is working like "seven devils" to get the picture back on the screen or overcome the difficulty.
Calling him up at such a time only adds to his trouble and delays him. Later on the manager will want to know what happened and if there is a recurrence of the trouble, may have considerably more to say. Whatever he says, however, or whatever he does, will be based upon his desire to get the best results at all times. He should never be actuated by a desire to show his authority or indulge in mere fault finding.
Progress Through Understanding
A great merchant once said "the customer is always right," and that means that even the owner must subordinate himself to his patrons, if he wishes to retain their patronage. If the boss does this, surely everyone employed by him must expect to follow suit. In doing this, no one need lose his own self-respect but will secure the confidence and good-will of others. "Progress Through Understanding," as it applies to the projectionist, means that he must meet others at least half way. That he must be more than willing to make sacrifices when necessary, obey orders, accept criticism and fully realize that he cannot expect consideration from the manager unless he earns it. It has been my good fortune to see the managers and the projectionists working together with the best of good will and respect for one another, and such theatres have invariably been conducted on the highest possible plane. "Progress Through Understanding" must be on a fifty-fifty basis. If there is any competition at all, it is for both sides to strive to see which one can contribute most to the success of the theatre.
I have had a long and intimate friendship with many of the leading projectionists of the United States, Canada, England and other parts of the world, and I know that in this letter I have merely expressed their ideas, which have the support of thousands of conscientious and capable projectionists. Cordially yours,
P. A. McGuire,
Executive Vice President, PROJECTION ADVISORY COUNCIL.
PLAN AHEAD!
It is not ioo soon to start laying your plans for the coming season. Most live showmen have already given this a lot of thought, but perhaps you are one of those who feel that the summer is still too young to worry about the new season. Well, it is rather early, but nevertheless there are many things suitable for next fall that possibly will occur to you. Jot them down in a note book. Keep them where you can lay your hands on them. But don't dismiss them from your mind.
After all, once July breezes on its hot, merry way, you will have to be getting yourself and your theatre set for the opening of the busy days ahead.
This is just an advance suggestion and you can either throw it in the waste basket or treat it seriously. But if you want to take some good advice, start thinking about September right now.