Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1931)

June 27, 1931 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 57 MANAGERS' i ROUND TABLE CLUB Chab.i,e}S E.^'ChickT Lewis Qhaltmcuz and ^ditat, IVIOTION PICTURE HERALJ) Conducted By An Exhibitor For Exhibitors Lend Me Your Ears! LIFE is just one fever after another. First we get spring fever and give that as the "perfect" alibi for not wanting to w^ork. Then spring passes and we find it's summer and we still don't want to work. And as summer gets under way we laze around and hate the further thought of work. So Fve come to the sober conclusion that it is not a matter of fever at all. It's plain, unadulterated golfyitis of the fairway variety. At least two thirds of the film industry is so affected and what's more, they seem to like it. Can't blame those golf-bugs much when you understand that the only possible relief from the affliction is playing golf. . . .? ^ Some day a worthy statictician will up and dope out how many managers . . . spend how much time . . . speculating on how much better the other fellow's job is than their own , , . and when the figures are. complete we suggest that it be thrown in the sewer . . . because if all those speculators were laid end to end it would be just grand. Just what is the use of figuring out that Jimmy Jones has a better job than your own? Maybe if you paid more attention to your work, you would be much better off than Jones. Any way you figure it . . . there will always be guys who are envying you something that may hardly be worth envying. * * * Dear Circuit Chiefs : (Who preach "no salary cuts.") Are you aware of the fact, that, contrary to your circuit announcement about no slashing of salaries, certain district and division managers are doing just that under the applesauce to the house managers that it is "only temporary" and will help keep the district standing up among the leaders? If by any chance you are not aware of it, take this writer's word. It is being done. If you are not for salary-slashing send an official notice to that effect to every division and district manager. Otherwise your promise to the managers was not sincere. I'm maderenell because so many managers are ■'thinking of making a change" when they ought to be concentrating on "keeping their jobs." Good Lord boys; are you aware of the number of men out of work right now? Maybe not, or you would be mighty slow about giving up what you have for what you think you ought to have. Remember — (if we may be allowed to repeat something we told you several times before) — no matter how hard it is to get along on your present income, it's going to be a darned sight harder getting along without it. If your super-sensitive feelings are telling you to quit a good job just because things are not rolling smoothly, try to think of those who may be dependent upon your salary. * * * We wonder whether it isn't the exception rather than the rule which prompted a certain chain executive to say that his circuit would rather move the men around than permit them to stay in one community and take root. His claim was that a manager who stayed too long in one location eventually devoted more time to outside activities than to the theatre, with particular reference to local clubs and organizations. Maybe we were brought up in this business under entirely different surroundings, but it was always conceded good business for a manager to be active and interested in the doings of his community in order that the theatre might profit thereby. Many's the extra hundred dollars or more that has been attracted to the theatre b.o. by reason of a wide-awake manager's ability to capitalize on his membership or interest in local organizations. * * * Some of the members who kidded us about the '^cenery from the windows of Club headquarters have had a chance to take a look for themselves and they all agree it was not exaggerated. Drop in and see for yourself. "Chick''