Canadian Film Weekly (Nov 27, 1946)

November 27, 1946 Canadian FILM WEEKLY Page 17 So You Want To Play Santa? HE STAGE is set for Santa, ‘i is Santa set for the stage? There exists the mistaken belief that white whiskers and a red and white hooded coat will transform any motion picture exhibitor into a realistic Santa. A. motion picture exhibitor may think he IS Santa, but unless he is one in a thousand — a natural — he cannot assume the many-sided character without adequate preparations. Santa is an actor, and part of his act is careful attention to detail in make-up and costuming. The accepted stage method is to glue several hairs to the face, and then add a few more, building up the beard on the instalment plan. A ready-made beard, attached by wires to the ears, is easy to detect, and destroys the childhood illusion. And cheesecloth never made a satisfactory costume for the jolly old fellow, who needs the best. One training school of Santas for department stores favors red chinchilla cloth, with FPCC Meeting. In Montreal (Continued from Page 3) Amusements; Allan Murray, secretary-treasurer, United Amusements; John Ganetakos, general manager, Confederation Theatres: Charles Bourassa, Quebec Allied Theatres; Eugene Beaulac, secretary, Quebec Allied Industries; J. Arthur Paquet, Quebec; Hilly Cass, Regal; Herb Mathers, Owen Lightstone and Mark Plottel, Empire-Universal; Tommy Dowbiggin, Paramount; Charlie Chaplin, United Artists; Sam Jacobs, Monogram; George Arnott; Percy Hirsch, purchasing manager; Phil Maurice, supervisor of theaters; and Tommy Cleary, publicity director of Consolidated Theatres. Open 16 Mm. Theatre On 35 Mm. Lines In McBride, BC, Mr. and Mrs. E. Fraser Taggart have opened a 300-seat theatre, the Rainbow, in true 35 mm. style — but it exhibits 16 mm. films. The building is specially con_structed, has planned acoustics, fire and safety precautions, a sloping floor and angled rows, men and women's restrooms and dressing rooms offstage. The district newspaper carried a full page of congratulatory ads. It makes the possibility of 16 mm. theatres in cities seem plausible. Sound Advice for the Theatre Manager Who Wants to Don the Red Suit And Play the Good Old Guy By ERNEST the trimming of white rabbit. Another important part of the act is the diversified knowledge which Santa _ should possess. Young children regard him as a person of considerable wisdom, and expect him to — 1. Know How Toys Are Made: This fundamental knowledge Santa can absorb by chatting with those in charge of toy departments in local stores, and by the reading of catalogues and other toy literature. If this Santa is mechanically-minded, he will soon grasp toy construction fundamentals. Thus prepared he will be able to intelligently answer the thousand and one questions thrust at him by juvenile visitors, Without this knowledge, he will soon lose caste — and be nothing more than a dressed-up dummy to his critical audience. 2. Be An Authority on the Arctic Region: Needless to say, this includes the Eskimos and the reindeer. Here, again, book knowledge will come in mighty handy. There is a glut of good Arctic travel and exploration books, but selection will, in all probability, narrow down to what the local library has on its shelves. 3. Identify Each Child and Iknow Its Age: The child con siders Santa as an intimate friend and expects to be addressed by name. But how? Often the advance information is in the hands of a woman, located a short distance away. She is supposed to be Santa's secretary—or, better yet, Mrs. Santa Claus or Miss Santa Claus. In her register she enters the full name and age of each child to come before her. This information is relayed to Santa by A. DENCH concealed microphonic apparatus. 4. Be a Busy Man, working against time to complete and deliver. playthings to all his young friends by December twenty-fifth. Action—or a suggestion of it—should radiate from Santa's station. The indolence of a make-believe throne is out of key. Between chats with members of his young flock, Santa should endeavor to make a realistic impression by doctoring some second-hand toys intended for later distribution to the local poor children through relief organizations. 5. Be the Type of Santa to Win Goodwill of Parents: Just what can Santa do to get into parental good grace? Well, every parent has trouble training offspring in good health habits. When the lesson comes from Santa in a good-natured way, children are likely to take it to heart. He is their idol. One Santa we know made a big hit because he humorously (with an undercurrent of seriousness) examined each child’s hands with a magnifying glass to determine if they were clean—even to the finger nails! Those who made the grade were presented with an inexpensive toy and allowed to write their names and addresses in Santa’s “Good Boys and Girls’ book. Those who flunked the lesson were soothingly told to come back a little later for a second inspection. The youngsters involved hurried to the restroom to perform a transformation in hands and face cleanliness. Were their parents gleeful? Decidedly so. Any physical contact Santa has with children should not go beyond shaking hands. He should British Films Hit Publicity Jackpot Films made in England are commanding unprecedented free space in Canadian papers. In a few weeks they have had layouts in New World, Toronto Star Weekly, the Montreal Standard and the Ottawa Citizen. Current Magazine Digest features a story on James Mason. Most of of the layouts occupied one or more pages. The Ottawa Citizen, for instance, devoted a whole page to cuts of five stars. Warners NY Meeting Attended By Masters Haskell Masters, Canadian district manager for Warner Brothers, attended a meeting of the company recently in New York. Called by Ben Kalmenson, vice-president and general sales manager, it was held to discuss forthcoming product, sales policies and other subjects of timely interest. Many home office executives and all district managers attended the conference. wear white gloves. One cautious Santa employed in a department store alternates with four pairs of white gloves, each pair washed and dried twice daily. Planting a kiss in the region of Santa’s false whiskers may be an affectionate gesture, but it should be gracefully avoided. Santa has his health to consider, and also the health of those with whom he comes in close contact. Official action has been taken by at least one board of health (Newark, N.J.) in rating Santa’s beard as a de luxe germ catcher. Sterilization is now compulsory, while the kissing act is banned. If Santa must smoke during his rest periods without removing his false whiskers, the latter should be fireproofed by the following American Red Cross formula: Take four ounces of ‘ammonia phosphate and add one quart of water. Mix thoroughly, then dip whiskers in solution. The five elements set forth in this article materially contribute to the illusion of the perfect Santa. Biltmore Theatre Plans Concelled Plans of Biltmore Theatres Limited to erect a theatre at 317 Yonge St. in Toronto were halted when W. H. Bosley, emergency shelter administrator, cancelled the order permitting the conversion of the building, at present occupied by three families. Fitz, Jr., Interested In Planned Theatre It is John J. Fitzgibbons, Jr. who, with Edward C. Hill, will establish a theatre in Richmond Hill, Ontario. In last week's issue the “Jr.” got lost between the proof on which it was added at the last minute and the presses. Just how unlikely the news was did not occur to the man who handled the copy, he not being up on things in our world. He did not recognize the importance attached to that “Jr.” Jack (Jr.) is not connected in any way with his father's business associations. The theatre, to be known as the Richmond, will seat 600 and be open next summer,