The Canadian Motion Picture Exhibitor (Dec 15, 1941)

Page 6 MUR EE UR UR URE ENE EU MO SS Season’s Greetings and a Prosperous New Year to all our Exhibitor Friends FILMART ANNOUNCEMENT TRAILERS 45 Richmond St. East TORONTO EMER EU ME MERE BS US UE NR RE BEB MU UE A UD De De as RE PRR AR A AA EAE A ER ge ee ae a eh as REAPS ERE SRE EE BE ED ES Theatres Robbed The Community, Hamilton, a 20th Century house, and the Capitol, New Toronto, one of the Premiere string, were robbed last week. Manager Al Perley of the Community reports that the thieves stole the cash-box containing $150. There was no sign of a break-in and it is thought that the robbers hid after the last show. The New Toronto house suffered considerable vandalism, though the thieves weren’t able to open the safe. Martin Bloom is the manager. Plan Scout Film The story of the Boy Scouts of America and the great work it is doing to mould character in youth will be the subject of a coming Warners production. Arrangements between the studio and Scout movement officials have been concluded. & THE SUCCESS of your THEATRE depends upon GOOD EQUIPMENT consult GENERAL THEATRE SUPPLY COMPANY Ltd. 104 BOND STREET ° 336 MAYOR STREET TORONTO MAOMTREAL 5 The Exhibitor December 15th, 1941 Going After Them! jWarers Plan By Lloyd M. Mills | Saar open this column with a few notes on one of our best contributors, Robert Brown of the Vanity, Windsor. Instead of praising Bob, I want to congratulate him on having such a marvellous staff. They give Bob great cooperation in the Sunday concerts he runs in his theatre for charity. Some of the drives which have benefitted from their help are the _ Spitfire Fund, Queen’s Fund, Overseas Smokes, Bomb Victim—and the theatre is also used for lectures in the interest of public welfare. They have raised thousands of dollars for worthy funds and all of us are grateful to them. They deserve thanks for creating in Windsor some very high regard for the Moving Picture industry. They have always donated their services without complaint. That is carrying the Christmas spirit on for 365 days a year. og * * fiche MASCARO of the Capitol, Belleville, put on a_ special screening of ‘Dive Bomber’ for the air chiefs of Trenton. The newspaper gave it a big boost. Along those lines Willie Payne, Granada, St. Thomas, had a plane 15 feet long made up of wrapping paper. It hung over the theatre and looked like the real thing. It’s a twice-a-week house but Bill got a full week out of it. Back to Tom Mascaro. He got a tieup with the Bellville School for the Deaf on ‘Come _ On, George!” The kids laughed themselves sick at George Formby. It was nice of Tom to do that for the boys and girls and won much praise. Tom plastered the air school and other places with heralds of every kind and did large business. * * * OB BEREZIN of the Elgin, Ottawa, uses this slide on his screen before playing the now highly-popular Columbia sing-song shorts: “Following is a Sing-Song. Let’s have fun. Put your gum under the seat, ‘clear your throat and everybody sing. Don’t be shy. Just try and sing out.” Bob has made the _ sing-song shorts the most popular and regularly requested single reel in his theatre—and in town. Thanks for the tip, Bob. I think there’s a lot of money in good shorts if they are sold and not just added on. The community spirit has taken hold of the Elgin since the shorts went into action and there are never bad comments. Everybody feels friendly. (I’d certainly give two-bits to hear Frank Meyers of Exhibitors Booking during one of those singfests. He’s a tenor, you know.) ARNET HEATHERLY, Centre, London, got up something somewhat extreme but highly effective on “Underground.” He has a lobby display of a dummy hanging with a noose around the neck. “This man loved Freedom and Democracy,” the sign read, “and strived for it in Nazi Germany.’ He recommended watchers to see “Underground.” This is being done for three weeks in advance of the showing and should help him match the high grosses everywhere on “Underground.” * *% * | 2 beset RANKIN comes up with a good Christmas idea. He promoted a large paper bag and printed “Centre Theatre, Chatham” on it. The parcels checked by patrons are put in them. It’s a cheap idea and a good one. * * Bg OR “Shepherd of the Hills’ Pete Harrison of the Capitol, Cobourg, along with other stunts, distributed heralds at every barn and ‘country dance in a ten-mile radius. He also presented passes for prizes at dances and contests. The film has a special appeal for rural folks and Pete’s thoughtfulness stirred plenty of interest. %% * * M£" JOLLEY, Columbia, Thomas, doesn’t go in for big stunts but consistent ones. He uses a lot of them during the week and he ships them here for public notice. He has’ promoted airplanes, plane picture series and things like that for aviation films. He has given out pictures of Churchill], and things for the kids. He tied up the druggists for the Kildaire pix and the service stations for “They Drive By Night.” Every week cafes or florists run cooperative ads in the papers. It would take pages to list the stunts of this very alive fellow. He is consistent and keeps everlastingly after them. That’s the secret of his success. Keep writing, Mel, I always enjoy your letters. Mel, by the way, has a daughter who he claims is St. Thomas’ most beautiful girl. See what I mean? Mel is always promoting some thing. * * ba epee FRASER, Century, Trenton, ran a 20-foot gorilla up the side of his building front for “King Kong.” It could be seen from both ends of the main street. He did excellent business and is willing to lend it to anyone. the Two-Reel Dramas Warners, in an endeavour to fill up the hole left by its policy of no “B” features, offers something new—two reel series of fictional subjects. The idea might be described as serials for adults. Two discontinued feature series will be revived Penrod and Torchy Blane. They’ll come under the general supervision of the shorts department chief, Gordon Hollingshead. The company is opposed to doubdle-features and feels that the two-reelers of a dramatic nature might be the answer to building out the bill. If the idea shows promise it will be done on a large scale. The story shorts may get in on the soap opera trade, which is used to getting its drama in abbreviated form. H. Nathanson Tops Can.-Metro Henry Nathanson has been appointed MGM’s general manager in Canada, it was announced by William F. Rogers, sales chief of that exchange. Rogers will personally handle Canadian matters, the Dominion having been part of Tom Connors’ division. Metro’s Canadian distribution has been handled through Regal Films up to now. No further changes in the native set-up have been announced and it is understood that the arrangement will embrace the present personnel and organization intact. Capra Joins Fox Frank Capra, Academy Award winning producer director, has Signed an exclusive contract for three years with 20th CenturyFox Studio, it was announced by Darryl F. Zanuck, vice-president in charge of production. Capra will report to the Westwood studio immediately after completing his current assignment, “Arsenic and Old Lace,” at Warner Brothers. Holiday Greetings A. Sprachman M.R.A.LC. Harold S. Kaplan M.R.A.LC. ARCHITECTS TORONTO ONTARIO PRR AALRARRH RRR RRR