Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Mar 1954)

SHOWMEN IN ACTION British VI in World Trips Two letters in the Round Table mail, from opposite sides of the globe, reveal the world travels of two prize-winning British managers. From Lim Keng Hor, of Associated Theatres, Ltd., manager of the Cathay Cinema, Singapore, comes the interesting news that old friend and Round Table member. F. J. Smidmore, manager of the Odeon cinema, Manchester, England, has just arrived in Singapore, en route to Australia. Mr. Smidmore was first prize winner in Odeon’s International Showmanship competition for the exploitation of “A Queen Is Crowned” — and he won a trip to any country of his choosing in the sterling area. So, he went by Comet jet plane, flying eastward from London, and was guest of honour at a welcoming party given by the Cathay organization in the exclusive Hollywood Room, which is one of the attractive features of the new $4,000,000 super-Odeon theatre, during the one-night stop-over in Singapore on his way to Sydney. Since it’s just as far, coming home via Canada and New York, we hope to see him here. The Cathay organization, headed by Mr. Loke Wan Tho, operates three major first run theatres in Singapore, and is well known in cinema circles throughout America and the United Kingdom. Also, a bulletin from Peter Burnup in London, tells us that Douglas Ewin, whose picture appears below, will take bis prizewinning trip to New York in the near future. The report of his award as the Champion Showman of the Associated British Cinemas, appeared in the Round Table recently. And, if he gets across Canada to Vancouver, he will meet more prize-winning showmen and be half way around the world on his way home. We admire the style of the presentation at the classic Royal Pavillion in Brighton, with Mr. D. j. Goodlatte, head of England’s largest theatre circuit, presiding. Associated British Cinemas have the largest number of Round Table members of any single circuit in the world. Earle Holden's Christmas Ad From Staff of His Theatres Earle M. Holden, city manager for the Lucas, State and Avon theatres in Savannah, sends us a copy of his Christmas Greeting advertisement as published in Savannah papers, which extends the compliments of the seasons to friends and neighbors, with appreciation for their patronage, over the signatures of nine members of the managerial department, seven members of the projection staff, six of the concessions staff, 22 members of the service staff, 16 members of the cleaning department and one member each of the art department and engineering department. It shows the public the size of the local employed force in three theatres, and gives some idea of the dimensions of the job they do, at a time when the public is conscious of dimensions as to pictures. Matt Saunders, manager of Loew’s Poli theatre, Bridgeport, used a big publicity mat, six columns wide, as the basis for a special layout in the Bridgeport Sunday Post, for "How to Marry a Millionaire.” V Lou Cohen and A1 Lessow of Loew’s Poli theatre, Hartford, worked with Ed Laurie of the United Artists field exploitation staff, on the New England premiere of “Capt. John Smith and Pocahontas.” y Col. Bob Cox, of Scbine’s Kentucky theatre, Lexington, Ky., has a continuing, cooperative ad contest running in the local Leader, using full pages, with prizes for those who find clues. ▼ Bob Carney, manager of Loew’s Poli theatre, Waterbury, Conn., files some snapshots of his front display and window tieups on ‘‘Kiss Me Kate” and “Quo Vadis.” ▼ Max Cooper, manager of Skouras’ Cove theatre Glen Cove, L. I., got a double play with cooperative advertising for the opening of ‘‘Kiss Me Kate” and of the new Bohack super-market. ▼ Murray Spector, manager of Skouras’ Plaza theatre, Englewood, N. J., had good newspaper breaks and excellent publicity for his tieup with local schools, as exploitation for ‘‘All American.” T Jack Foxe repeating that huge CinemaScope poster display in the lobby of Loew’s Capitol theatre, Washington, for “Knights of the Round Table” — which he introduced originally for “The Robe.” It utilizes 24sheet poster cut-outs, with ’Scope. Geo. J. Forhan, manager of the Belle theatre, Belleville, Ontario, used a sponsored herald on “Gilbert and Sullivan” — and had 4000 of them printed and distributed by a cooperative advertiser. ▼ George Pugh, manager of Schine’s Rialto theatre, Glens Falls, N. Y., has made an arrangement with St. Mary’s Academy to present their senior play in the theatre, on Feb. 24th. ▼ And Stanley Rowland, manager of Schine’s Ritz theatre, Granville, N. Y., has a benefit set for the senior class of the Granville High School, with the attraction to be the film, “All American” — and the students selling the tickets, door to door. T John Balmer, manager of Walter Reade’s theatres in Plainfield, N. J., provided a neat and effective newspaper ad for “Little Boy Lost” at the Strand theatre. The 4-column space also has room for reference to other Reade theatre attractions, and Reade theatre ticket books for Christmas. ▼ Pearce Parkhurst’s campaign books, covering the last weeks of his 1953 season at the Lansing Drive-In, Lansing, Mich., entered for the Quigley Awards in the fourth quarter. Pearce and family, meanwhile, are en route to the East Coast of Florida. V John Burke, manager of Fabian Fox Brooklyn theatre is another whose final campaigns for the year are in hand, to be entered for the Quigley Awards in the last quarter. Closing date is just around the corner — right after New Year’s. D. J. Goodlatte, managing director of Associated British Cinemas, Ltd., congratulates Mr. Douglas Alfred Claude Ewin, who is declared "Champion Manager of the Circuit" — high honors for a highly personable and capable young man from the largest chain of theatres in England, for the six points of good management — good showmanship, good housekeeping, public relations, salesmanship, staff relations and administration. We're expecting Doug in New York, on his prize-winning trip. MANAGERS' ROUND TABLE SECTION, JANUARY 2, 1954 39