Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1947)

CALGARY Oray Sharp left last week to attend the ^ tradeshow of the Theatre Equipment and Supply Manufacturers Ass’n in Washington, D. C. He planned to stop off in Toronto and Chicago en route to visit theatre supply wholesalers. He heads Sharp’s Theatre Supplies. Lloyd Muir, RKO publicity man for Washington and the Canadian west, spent a week in Alberta arranging a radio and newspaper campaign for the forthcoming day and date premiere of “The Long Night.” The first areawide campaign ever staged by the Famous Players Canadian circuit, the “Long Night” campaign is drawing a lot of attention and may be the forerunner of carefully prepared campaigns to boost special attractions this coming season. Muir spent a day each in Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary and Lethbridge completing his advance radio and newspaper publicity. He had just come from Manitoba and Saskatchewan, where similar plans were laid and he went on to the coast at week’s end. Gordon Brewerton, looking quite recovered from his recent traffic accident at Okotoks, was along Pilmrow completing his fall booking. He left Cardston this weekend to attend a church conference in Salt Lake City. A short that has caused much comment here is the nonprofessional documentary, “The People’s Charter.” It was made and released by the United Nations and is both interesting and informative. Under the management of W. G. Sharp, the screening room at the Calgary Film Exchange Bldg, is one of the best for the trade in western Canada key cities. New ventilation and air conditioning have just been installed, and with its chesterfieid-like roomy seats, spaciously spaced, soundproof walls and ceiling, its sprinkler system for safety, the screen room is now ready for the season. Islanders Speak French. But Like U.S, Films St. John — The Rink Renaissance in St. Pierre, the only theatre on the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, has some uncommon aspects. These islands are French possessions, 15 mUes off Fortune, N. F., between Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton island and Newfoundland. St. Pierre has a population of about 3,700, out of a total of 4,600 on the dual islands. Although French is the language, the films are often entirely in English, and from Hollywood, not France or Quebec. A visitor in St. John said he saw a 1936 western at the Rink, the sound track of which was defective. He found it hard to understand the talk. Yet there was a crowded house, many of them young couples, fishermen and their wives or sweethearts. After the show, consisting of one feature the wooden benches used for seats were removed and dancing followed. Many films screened at St. Pierre are supplied by the St. John exchanges. Independents Unhurt By Teen-Age Prices From Midwest Edition MINNEAPOLIS — Establishment of special teen-age admissions for youngsters from 12 to 16, approximately 35 per cent under the adult scale, in downtown first run and Minnesota Amusement Co. neighborhood houses several months ago has not hurt business at independent theatres and the latter will not follow suit in establishing the new admission classification and cutting prices, according to Bennie Berger, North Central Allied president. The independents are content now to go along without making any changes, Berger says. They are escaping the grief and the nuisance that the new admission classification has created for those using it, he declares. At first, they were apprehensive as to the effects on their theatres, but their fears have proved groundless, according to Berger. Thus, for the first time, the independents are not meeting an admission cut of the bigger affiliated circuits and will continue to charge more in some instances than big chain houses. On their part, Minnesota Amusement Co. and RKO Theatre executives express themselves as “very well satisfied” with the way the junior admissions have worked out and the results obtained from them. They say the special new scale — higher than children’s but lower than adults’ — definitely has helped to boost boxoffice take. SELLS 10,000 CHAIRS Through Classified Ads in BOXOFFICE "Maximum results for minimum expenditure/' says Jack McGrath, who is typical of the many who use— BOXOFFICE Want Ad service. ' Buy . . . Sell . . . Locate . . . Improve | With Low-Cost Ads in the Clearing House Department. I BOXOFFICE :: September 27, 1947 105