Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

October 25 , 1930 Motion Picture News 81 MANAGERS' ROUND TABLE CLUB Charlej; E.Lewis Qtiaitsncui and /ciitat. in a Oy cMcdionat ctfffocurfion. of<Jhotfm&n. C?v(eetina , MOTION PICTURE NEWS Oteku OVeeA. —fot c\(uiual Sendk: an9 JPtoat&ffs *■ Conducted By An Exhibitor For Exhibitors "Kwitcherbelliakin" THIS talk about stock market conditions, business depression and numerous other, socalled, causes for bad business at the b. o. has finally reached the point where it now constitutes the pet alibi for all kinds of showmen. Out on the coast this past summer, when lots of houses were crying, we saw many theatres doing a turn-away business. True, they were running good product, but, also true, they were selling their shows to the public without a let-up. That struck us as damned sight better sense than lying down and bellyaching all over the town. On several occasions we made it a point to find out how strong the "crying houses" were making a play for patronage, and, in all but one instance, they were doing practically nothing at all. Show business has no use for slackers, and any one who seizes upon the "business depression" alibi to support his claim for poor b. o. receipts ought to be seriously thinking of getting into some new kind of a racket. When things slow up, that's the time you should make an inventory of yourself and your methods of show-selling. And when business is brisk, you must keep plugging if you want it to stay that way. If you are willing to face facts and truths, such an inventory may reveal that you are letting yourself slow up to a dangerous degree. Table of Contents \ Linstaedt Inaugurated "Harvest Week" \ Smart Placed Cut-out In Park If Bair Plugs Them From Roof *\ McCarthy's Paper A Wow 1! "The Showman's Calendar" \ Ken Hoel's Candy Tie-Ups % Dan Weinberg Joins f W. Ward Marsh Speaks r Solomon Has Great Stuff 1 Berney Wants A Little Help 1i "Holidays Are Coming" c Claar Handled House Capably ' Lewis Had Fortune Teller If "Truthful Advertising" If Campbell Passes Some Along 1; Carkey Crashes Thru *f "What Is Exploitation?" If Harrison's Button Stunt Good 1 Haley Utilized Trolley Car If Hance's Stage Wedding Clicked 1i Hecht's Flivver Ballyhoo U "Exploiting In England," by Robb Lawson If "Police Pups" If Peterson's Good-Will Getting 1 Harry Rice Secured Publicity If Beck's Novel Lobby Display If Mitchell's Identification Stunt IF J. Real Neth An Active Showman r "Potato Matinees" If Walter McDowell Joins The Club If La Bar Had Live Lobby Stunt 1 Oscar Passes Some Along I Street Used Banner As Plug 1i Russell, Jr. Invited Indian Chief 'I Smart Had Some Winners T Sonosky's Gag Was "All Wet" If Weaver Used Presentation Angle If Ed Mooney Active If Walter D. Fleck Shifts If Perrin's Coiffure Show If Olsen Plugged Telegrams II "New Members" Dangerous Pastime Then you must snap out of it quick and get them coming back to your theatre by working harder than ever. Perhaps these kind of tactics will surprise you by the way it works, and we are confident that it will work if you will only do your share. Then we have those visiting "crying towel" managers ; you know the kind we mean; they trot from one house to another unfolding endless stories of how hard (?) they are working to put their house over and how little appreciation the boss shows for their efforts. Show them the door, and show it to them quick. You have enough problems to juggle with without listening to a lot of hooey from showmen who are a disgrace to the business. And it won't add one bit to your prestige or reputation to be September issue. Forty-one found entertaining them when you ought to be doping out ways and means of keeping your house up among the big money makers. Visiting between managers has been one of the suggestions we have made time and again, but those visits should be educational as well as social. Not that you should be expected to talk shop all the while you are together, but the very nature of the business you are in is bound to provoke some sort of discussion about show-selling and the theatre game in general. "Chick"