Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1940)

JAPANESE LIFT BAN ON AIR CONDITIONING Health won out over the war in Tokyo, Japan, recently when a police ban on air conditioning was lifted to permit full time operation of systems in theatres, department stores, banks and office buildings. Last summer a general ban was clamped on air conditioning to conserve chemicals and electrical power. It has been decided, however, that the saving in war materials was not as important as public health. Japanese public health authorities who made a thorough study last summer of the effects of temperature and ventilation of the human body reported that it was a health menace to tamper with public building ventilating systems. As the air conditioning systems in most modern buildings also regulate ventilation. POPPIN' PROFITS Popcorn, ever popular with movie-going youngsters and grown-ups as well, is being promoted most successfully by the Fanchon & Marco group of theatres in St. Louis, according to H. S. Walter, vicepresident of Advance Manufacturing Company. Like many other exhibitors, this circuit was for many years reluctant to consider operating popcorn machines. Nearby confectioners, however, were making a profit harvest in this popular confec and as the tight insulation required by these systems allows little or no fresh air to enter by other means, the result is that theatre patrons inhale the same stale air for hours on end. In view of the overcapacity crowds that shoulder into theatres these days, it actually is dangerous to interfere with air conditioning and ventilating facilities, according to the Nichi Nichi. The health officers who investigated conditions last summer found the air positively foul in many theatres, pack Thousands of merchants have found that ZOUR! Store Fronts not only boost sales right from the start, but also do a remarkable job of safeguarding sales volume in the face of intensive competition. For the advanced ZOURI features — such as rustless metal members and ed to the doors with sweating, panting movie fans. Such conditions are particularly dangerous for persons suffering with respiratory ailments. Another investigation revealed that the amount of electricity consumed by all air conditioning plants was so infinitesimal as to make no difference one way or the other in the capital’s power supply, which finding also influenced the police decision, according to the newspaper. Carrier Corporation of Syracuse, New York, has a record of more than 200 air conditioning systems installed in Tokyo by Oriental Carrier Engineering Co., Inc. These systems serve a variety of industrial and commercial buildings, including a number of leading theatres. Entrance Doors, plus K. Z. S. Porcelain Enamel and Aluminum Facing — give any store front the pulling power that really brings results. It will pay you to get all the facts on this great sales-builder today. Use coupon below, then see the ZOURI representative in your city. tion and the executives realized that regardless of their attitude and feeling toward popcorn they were having it in their theatres anyway. So why not make the profit, too? That popcorn has been profitable for them can be assumed by the fact that in May, 1939, Panchon & Marco purchased their first popcorn machine and in August of this year they had machines operating in twenty-three of their twentyfive houses. ^^Zouri Store Fronts, Niles, Michigan I Rush my copy of your new illustrated booklet on ZOURI I * Store Fronts. MT.940 * j NAME j , ADDRES& ! STORE FRONTS PI/LL PEOPLE IN! BOXOFFICE :: September 14, 1940 45