Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1949)

SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, ^October 15, 1949 E-II Tesma Presents Parade of New Aids to Showmen Equipment Stressed as Never Before; S. H. Fabian Praises Manufacturers and Dealers for Helping Theatre Industry a striking testimonial to the vastly increased interest of equipment manufacturers in the theatre field, as well as of theatre owners in equipment and furnishings for their operations, the Joint TesmaTeda Trade Show and Convention this year easily surpassed all former records. In fact, in number and still more in variety of exhibits, the motion picture equipment industry trade show in 1949 began to take on some of the aspects of the really large industry trade shows, such as the chemical industry or the radio industry customarily stage at Grand Central Palace in New York. If still not as large in actual number of companies represented, Tesma-Teda displays this year were at least as varied, and possibly even more so. Exhibits Overflowed Booths , Tesma-Teda presented about 110 exhibits, overflowing from the 90 booths available to tables set in odd corners. More than one booth was (by courtesy of the company renting it) used also by other manufacturers who applied too late and could not obtain one of their own. Since almost all the exhibits included at least several items, and some of them dozens of items, it is safe to estimate that from 1,000 to 2,000 different articles for theatre and drive-in use were put on exhibition at the Stevens Hotel during September 26th-28th. A striking number of these items were entirely new, while a still larger number incorporated novel improvements not previously shown to the public — a further testimonial to the interest of manufacturers in developing and improving practical aids to successful theatre operation. The Theatre Equipment and Supply Manufacturers Association elected new officers. Their names, and the pictures of most of them, appear elsewhere on this page. The Theatre Equipment Dealers Association again chose Ray G. Colvin of St. Louis to head their organization, but altered his former title of President and substituted the designation Managing Director. Mr. Colvin also serves as Secretary and Treasurer. Directors chosen by Teda to serve during the coming year are: Tom Shearer, of B. F. Shearer and Co., Chairman; K. R. Douglas of Capitol Theatre Supply Co.; H. J. Ringold of Ringold Theatre Equipment Co.; Jack L. Rice of J. M. Rice Co.; Ray Busier of United Theatre Supply Co.; John P. Filbert of John P. Filbert Co.; Harry Sorenson, Modern Theatre Equipment Co.; Ernie Forbes, Ernie Forbes Theatre Supply Co.; Joe Hornstein, Joe Hornstein, Inc.; F. A. Van Husen, Western Theatre Supply Co.; J. Eldon Peek, Oklahoma Theatre Supply Co.; Nash Weil, Wil-Kin Theatre Supply, Inc., and W. E. Carrell of Falls City Equipment Co. Gael Sullivan told a huge audience gathered in the Stevens Hotel's Grand Ball Room that the theatre industry has four important problems, the most important being its own internal public relations. "Most of our troubles are due to ourselves; we have washed our linen in the front yard," Sullivan declared. "We've got to start from inside before we can do a good job outside." The industry's second problem is taxation and its third censorship — -"we can be censored into weakness," he asserted, if held up to ridicule by any local authority that chooses to take such a stand. As to television, it could be "good competition," Sullivan believed, if this industry faces up to it and grows with it. Shotvman Praises Manufacturers S. H. Fabian, who addressed the gathering on the subject of television, agreed. "Television will enhance the value of the theatre to the community," he contended. "The theatre now will bring people not only great pictures, but great events the moment they happen. Television and motion pictures can produce, in the theatre, the finest entertainmertt and information available anywhere." Fabian told the assembled equipment manufacturers and theatre dealers that when they urge showmen to keep theatres up to date and in perfect condition, they are not only serving themselves but rendering a genuine service to the industry. {Continued on Page £-21) New Officers and Directors of Theatre Equipment and Supply Manufacturers Association (clockwise) : F. J. Wenzel of Wenzel Projector Co., H. B. Engel of GoldE Manufacturing Co., W. D. Matthews of Motiograph, Inc., L. W. Davee of Century Projector Corp., Roy Boomer, Secretary; Oscar Neu of Neumade Products Corp., President; J. R. (Bob) Hoff, Jr., of Ballantyne Company, Vice President; C. S. Ashcraft of C. S. Ashcraft Manufacturing Co., H. H. Strong of Strong Electric Corp., V. J. Nolan (sitting back from table) of National Carbon Co. and L. E. Jones of Neumade Products Corp. New Directors not shown in this picture are: William Gedris of Ideal Seating Co., J. F. O'Brien of RCA, E. J. Vallen of Vallen, Inc., and Erwin Wagner of Wagner Sign Service, Inc.