Motion Picture Herald (Sep-Oct 1938)

September 3, 1938 MANAGERS' ROUND TABLE 6! FP C Managers Greet Chairman At Toronto Meet by A-MIKE VOGEL One of this department's yearly highlights, attendance at the annual Famous Players-Canadian convention in Toronto, occupied the spotlight the week-end of Aug. 27, when your Chairman, again honored with an invitation by J. J. Fitzgibbons, was pleased to spend a few days mingling with the members across the line in celebrating the circuit's Twentieth Anniversary Jubilee. American Airlines took us to Buffalo for a short visit with Vince McFaul, head of Shea's Theatres, Round Tabler Charley Taylor, Shea Theatres ad head, and the rest of his department, all up to their necks and doing a top job of putting over their part in the industry drive. Business on the upbeat was the Buffalo story. Talk of this and that with the boys until train time and then to Toronto, where the welcoming committee, headed by genial Jim Nairn and Howard Knevels, was gathered at the King Edward. The famed Canadian hospitality was immediately in evidence and continued at the home of Morris Stein, where many of the theatremen were guests of the Ontario supervisor and Mrs. Stein. A feature of the gathering was the presentation by the boys of flowers to Mrs. Stein and a desk set to the popular Morris. Nafhanson Presents Checks The following day was the last of the convention, and as always, the most important, since it marked the arrival of N. L. Nathanson, president, from his annual trip to Europe, to be on hand for the personal , distribution of the bonus checks earned by the managers in the circuit's famed participation plan. Mr. Nathanson spoke of the progress made by the circuit and difficulties overcome in the past twenty years. He thanked the theatremen for their loyalty and cooperation and looked forward with confidence to the following years. Tribute to the theatremen who had been with the circuit for 20 years was paid by Clarence Robson, to whom the boys presented a gift of a serving cabinet in appreciation of the esteem with which they held the Eastern Division manager and chairman of the convention. Mr. Robson introduced your Chairman, who emphasized that the industry now more than ever leaned upon the manager to keep the box office in a healthy condition. Among the final talks made, Mr. Fitzgibbons again brought out the importance of the trade press in theatre operation, especially Motion Picture Herald and Managers' Round Table. Convention Attends Picnic Lunch followed the final session and then to the big event of the day, the annual picnic and games at the Rouge Hills Country Club, and a handsome day it proved to be. A complete program of games was held under the supervision of C. L. Querrie, Dan Krendel, Stan Andrews, M. J. Doyle and J. A. Troyer. Prize golf tournament and candid camera contest were also featured. Dinner LIST OF MANAGERS IN ATTENDANCE Complete list of theatremen in the Eastern Division at the famous Players Canadian convention is set alphabetically down as follows : ■ S. Andrews Jaclc Arthur W.J.Burke J. Bblinsky L. Bishop A. E. Cauley K. Craig S. C. Clayman J. Connor T. Daley F. Doney R. Downey M.J. Doyle A. P. Drohan R. Eves A. Easson W. J. Fawcett G. Forhan T. Forhan T. Franklin Chris Georgas W. H.Golding Larry Graburn W. Graydon Pete Harrison S. Hershorn Harold Hitchinson Chris Holmes V. Hudson Walter Hunt Bob Knevels S. Korman Dan Krendel Ed Lamoureux E. J. Landsborough Joe Le Fave Jack Lever James Lynch D. P. MacDonald R. J. Machdam M. Margolius G. W. Martin R. Maynard R. McClelland Tom McCoy Jim McDonough Peter McGeachie Russ McKibbin Fred McLennan Clarence Markell H. C. Merritt George Morrell Ernie Moule Jack Nelson Harry Neun Leon Osier Jack Purves Charles Querrie Al Ritchie G.T. Robert A.J. B. Robert • Earle Scandrett S. Scott Al Sedgwick J. Shea Isser Singerman Jack Smart Ernie Smithies C. T. Spencer Angele Stevens George Stroud W. R.Trudell Ray Tubman Paul Valliere Fred Winter Jack Ward and dancing filled the balance of the day's entertainment and gave us an opportunity to do a lot of visiting with the Canadian Round Tablers. The short time before train time next day did not allow us much theatre visiting but we did have an opportunity, chaperoned by Russ McKibbin, to get over to see Jim Lynch at the Runnymede and John Purves, spry as ever after his long illness, at the Village. "Let's Hear From You" "Lord Jeff" Soap Box Derby Entry Aids Picture Date Leo Young, manager of the Strand Theatre, Portland, Maine, and MGM exploiteer Bert McKenzie fashioned a campaign on "Lord Jeff" which included cooperation of News of the Day for a newsreel of pictures taken of the Portland Soap Box Derby. One hundred and eighty cars participated in the race, forty of which were sponsored by local merchants. Theatre had an entry called "Mickey Rooney — Lord Jeff," which incidentally finished second in the finals. Newspapers were generous with art and stories on the theatre entry and Young received a wire from Mickev Rooney wishing his driver good luck. Station WGSM gave an all-day broadcast to the race and every time the theatre's entry got out front it received a special plug. Exploitation included newspapers, loud speaker systems, ballyhoo car, radio, etc. Loew-Poli Heads Organize Parades for New Season Sponsored by Harry Shaw, district manager and engineered by Erie Wright, division ad head for the Loew-Poli New England Theatres, the annual new season's product campaign, now under way, features parades in every city, specializing a huge float decorated in silver and purple tin foil, at the front end of which is a miniature stage with draw curtains. On the stage is a huge frame carrying 12-40 by 50's on the Loew coming pictures and New Show Season slogan. Posters are changed by costumed girls pulling a gold cord. Copy is lettered on window shades and rolled up in the same fashion. Two gold lions are planted at the head of the float, which, after parade in each town, will make the various Loew theatres and be stationed in front of the houses. At night the car will be illuminated from the marquee with special spot lights and color wheels. Man-on-street broadcast has also been arranged for direct from float with interviews from people on street on questions relative to Movie Quiz and Greater Show season. The Mayor in each town and Governor of both Massachusetts and Connecticut have signed a proclamation carrying the symbol of the New Show Season. Special 18-page albums being printed locally will be sold in each town to one merchant, and each week for 16 weeks a still of a star will be given to everyone who brings an album to the theatre. Stars Wire Congratulations Arrangements have been made for congratulatory telegrams from stars, directors and executives in Hollywood direct to managers of each Loew theatre, these to be placed on a huge board in lobby. Small angel cakes will be mailed direct to newspaper editors, critics, city and state officials with copy inserted on a printed card reading "Cut yourself a piece of cake and help us celebrate Motion Pictures' Greatest Year." In cooperation with various Chambers of Commerce throughout the territory, merchants will decorate their store fronts and buildings. Street flag poles will be hung . with burgees, double faced with "Loew-Poli Theatres March On to a Greater Show Searon" on one side and "Movies Are Your Best Entertainment" on the other side. Newspaper campaign includes slogan in all advance ads, special readers and photograph of the parade and float. "Let's Hear From You" Ties "Chicago" to Week Fire Prevention Week, coming directly in advance of "Old Chicago," at the DeKalb, Decatur, Ga., Manager John Thompson, tied in with the local drive by plugging the community event in exchange for publicity for his date. In all the newspaper stories, the "week" was hooked up to the fire in the picture which was mentioned by name and further plugged with a three-column cut showing the local firemen gazing at picture of the bovine