Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

tanks. Sensitive plunger type gates are immediately ready to start the dasher motors and dispense the product. In ad dition, heavy-duty water-cooled hermetically-sealed compressors operate in each of the units. Power and water connections are designed for easy installation, according to the manufacturer. Motorized Vending Cart For Drive-In Theatres An automatic, fully-motorized vending cart for drive-ins has been introduced by the Confection Cabinet Corp., Newark. Named the “E-Z Go Foodmobile,” the cart consists of three-wheel tractor unit that draws a refreshment-laden trailer behind it. The trailer is equipped to serve hot and cold food items, including frankfurters, popcorn, ice cream and cold drinks. According to the manufacturer, the new vending cart is designed for all-year operation to “pick up sales which would ordinarily be lost.” The cart may be operated by one person, who maneuvers the Foodmobile among the ramps and serves patrons directly at their cars. Reports of THE SAVON COMPANY CREATORS OF Family Style PIZZA FOR DRIVE-IN THEATRES EXCLUSIVELY Sold at 60l to 65^ Complete equipment and ingredients available WRITE FOR INFORMATION 286 PENNSYLVANIA AVE., PATERSON, NJ. field tests conducted with this equipment claim a 28% increase in concession sales. Hot Chocolate Dispensers In 3, 6, 12 Quart Models A new line of hot chocolate dispensers, in serving capacities of 3, 6, and 12 quarts, has been introduced by Helmco-Lacy, Chicago. Each unit has a gold anodized finish and features a moving wig-wag sign on top which reads, “Delicious Hot Chocolate.” According to the manufacturer, all three models contain automatic “Dial-a-Heat” temperature control, automatic agitation, and fast flowing double-action faucets. Heating is described as waterless and fully automatic. Faucets may be stripped down in seconds and then reassembled without tools, it is pointed out. All three sizes are set on circular bases and take up no more than 12 inches of back-bar space. New Official Measure For Popcorn Expansion A new official measure for expressing popcorn “poppability” and quality, developed by the Popcorn Processors Association for use by the entire industry, went into effect October 1st, according to William E. Smith, executive director of the PPA. The new instrument, called the “Revised W.V.T. Tester” (weightvolume tester) measures expansion in terms of cubic inches per pound of raw corn. The previously employed O.V.T. (official volume tester) made use of an arbitrary volume ratio in expressing expansion of popcorn popped. A plastic tube replaces the metal tube that was used in the O.V.T. The revised tester, perfected after many months of research, was approved at a recent meeting of the Popcorn Processors Association. Director Smith declared: “By using the new W.V.T., popcorn people can now measure expansion and convert it to approximate realizable dollars per hundred-weight by merely knowing the cubic content of their popcorn box.” The original O.V.T. tester served the industry for a decade through many changes and developments in hybrid popcorn. It was pointed out, however, that the more recently developed hybrids of much higher expansion made it advisable to improve the original tester. Working directly with the manufacturer in developing the new W.V.T. tester, the PPA was instrumental in bringing about the few minor changes that were needed in the measurement tube and the popper housing. New Candy Bar with Caramel-Nougat Center A new chocolate-coated bar, called the Nut Patti, has been introduced by the Hollywood Candy Company, Centralia, 111. Described as “first cousin” to the company’s Tafy-Nut bar, the Nut Patti consists in a layer of dairy butter caramel and a chocolate nougat center wrapped in milk coating, with almonds. It comes packed in both 24’s and 120’s. • NEW FRANCHISES ISSUED The Orange-Crush Company, Evanston, 111., has announced the signing of five new franchises with the following firms: Deep Rock Bottling Company, West Palm Beach, Fla.; Star Bottling Company, Peru, 111.; Charles A. Bernick, Inc., St. Cloud, Minn.; Norfolk Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Norfolk, Neb.; and Phillips Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Phillips, Wis. To Theatre and Concession Managers — Gain deserved recognition for your better refreshment merchandising ideas. Make yourself eligible for Motion Picture Herald's Special Merit Awards by sending in reports on how you have applied showmanship and built business at your refreshment stand. Make the reports detailed. Include photos of your stand and samples of any printed matter. Reports considered by the editors to be of interest to readers will be published, with due credit. From the published reports, selections will be made for citations. Citationholders qualify as finalists for the annual Special Merit Awards. Send your entries to: The Editor, Better Refreshment Merchandising Department, Motion Picture Herald, Advertised HENRY HEIDE, INC. • NEW YORK, N.Y. BETTER REFRESHMENT MERCHANDISING 41