Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

oivmen in Delmar Sherrill, who was the youngest manager in the Round Table in 1947 — at age 17 — was in New York to attend the TOA convention, with A. Fuller Sams, president of Statesville Theater Corporation, Statesville, N. C., who thinks a lot of his youthful manager. Delmar is now a first lieutenant in the Air Force, stationed in Massachusetts, but next March, when he has finished his hitch in service, heTi go back to his old company. ▼ E. E. Whitaker, operating manager of Georgia Theatre Company, was another up from the south for the TOA convention— we hadn’t seen Whit since another TOA session at the Shoreham, in Washington, several years ago. He brought news of two Quigley Grand Award winners— John Harrison is still dealing out showmanship at the Lyric theatre, Waycross, Georgia, and Pierce McCoy now has charge of three drive-ins surrounding his old home town of Augusta. Pierce says “The hours are better and he likes to be out doors” — and we’d like to hear him say it, with his soft southern accent. Clifford Blackstock, manager of Stewart & Everett’s Earle theatre, Mount Airy, N. C., found a local girl who packed her samples to sell “The First Traveling Sales Lady” as street ballyhoo — she spent the day on Main Street and sold a bill of goods. Increase in revenue was 28% and she was “Miss Osceola of 1955.” Hallowe’en, Thanksgiving, and fall merchandising seasons are upon us, with many opportunities for cooperative advertising, sponsorship for shows, giveaways, and stunts in keeping with the time of year. Aggressive showmen never have to be told what time it is; and they can call their own shots, because they contribute showmanship. ▼ The Grandmothers’ Club of Chicago, announces the annual awards for “Grandmother” and “Grandfather” of 1956, which will be presented October l4th, in the Waldorf ballroom of the Conrad Hilton hotel. Here is an event which belongs in every showman’s calendar, and you can follow the example of the national presentation with your own local handling, and the publicity in the newspapers. T This is “Doris Day Week” in the State of Ohio, by proclamation of Governor Frank Lausche, and we have a certificate to prove it, over his signature, and a full press release of all the activities conducted by MGM’s field force in cooperation with station WLW in Cincinnati — all for the benefit of the star of MGM’s “Julie” which will blanket the state. ▼ Mayor C. B. Harvey, of Key West, Florida, designated September 30th as “Carib Gold” day in celebration of the world premiere of the picture of the same name, starring Ethel Waters, in two local theatres. The motion picture was filmed in its entirety in this southernmost city. Warren Slee, whom we remember from way back with MGM in Chicago, sends us this action picture of "Cinerama" arriving at the Paramount theatre, Seattle, where he is established in his new post, for the Pacific northwest. Schine Theatres are setting their Christmas rentals, as usual, far ahead of the calendar; and Charles Tamme, at the Kent theatre, Kent, Ohio; Harold Lee at the Babcock theatre, Bath, N. Y., Toby Ross, at the Fox theatre, Corning, N. Y., Mel Gaitskill, at the Paris theatre, Paris, Ky., Ben Geary, at the Athena theatre, Athena, Ohio, are among a few who report two rentals all set. T A real nifty, from Philadelphia, is reported from Stanley Warner’s 69th Street theatre, Upper darby, where they are putting out pink slips (cards, that is) with a map showing nearby parking lots, and a “Get Acquainted” offer to new customers, who present the card at both the parking lot and the box office to obtain guest tickets. Same deal applies at the Stanley Warner Terminal theatre, farther in-town at 69th and Market Streets. Card is both useful and self-explanatory, with a profit for both parties. Norm Levinson sends a tear sheet from the Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville, with an advertising picture of prominent Jaxons applauding the premiere of “Tea and Sympathy” at the Florida theatre. Opinion makers and audience comments were used as selling approach for the picture, with a class audience. Jack Allen, manager of Stanley Warner’s Felton theatre in Philadelphia, not only promoted a round trip ticket to Europe for two lucky contest winners — but he also found a cooperative sponsor to provide free heralds for the theatre for an entire year! Vince Olanin, manager of Stanley Warner’s Warner theatre in West Chester, Pa., reminds us that October is “Navy Month” — something to remember in connection with “Away All Boats” — and he has accomplished good tieups with the Philadelphia Navy Yard for their cooperation in a promotional contest. Somehow, this photo got in the deep freeze — probably in the frozen foods department of our picture file — and we overlooked the showmanship that it contains. Tommy Powers, manager of the Texas theatre, San Antonio, at far right, runs "Phone-Arama" as a newspaper sponsored promotion in cooperation with local station KENS-TV. He asks questions, by telephone, which contenders must answer, about movies and both questions and answers are reported daily in the newspaper and on the TV program. Builds interest like anything — and the prizes include everything up to an 850-pound Angus steer — "a year's supply of barbecue"— provided by still another sponsor, who is delighted to be in the picture. MANAGERS' ROUND TABLE SECTION, OCTOBER 13, 1956 33