Canadian Film Weekly (Dec 5, 1956)

Page 8 THEATRE CARE (Continued from Page 1) charge of purchasing, engineering and maintenance for Canada’s largest circuit, says that ‘“‘Preventative maintenance is just plain, everyday horse sense as practised in your home by yourself and your wife.’’ That’s what he told those gathered at the recent regional conventions of Famous Players. This was elaborated on in the first issue of Famous Players’ National Ballyhoo after the meetings. Compiler and editor is Dan Krendel. Says National Ballyhoo: “Costly emergency breakdowns can be prevented . . . if all of your employees are trained to think in terms of ‘Preventive’ maintenance. Take care of the simple every-day repairs . . . and if you come across an item that requires outside help . . . don’t wait until it reaches emergency proportions . . . get estimates immediately . . . From them we get a constant picture of the physical condition of your property. The important thing is that your employees ... and yourself. . . exercise constant vigilance . . . recognize minor defects, repair them. “A dirty theatre reflects an inefficient operation. The dirt that is on high ledges today will be on your lower draperies tomorrow. Make sure that you regularly inspect your carpets . . . drapes, hangings and fixtures. Check your light bulbs, hinges, doors and all out-of-the-way areas .. . Fire hose, extinguishers, exit doors and safety appliances should be closely scrutinized . . . Every seat must be checked . . . Floor and seat bottoms should be examined for gum and the gum removed. “Your carpets will last longer if they are properly cleaned every day. Don’t just remove the surface dirt . . . get all the grit and grime out by proper vacuuming. “Your mechanical equipment .. . boilers, fans, air-condition units, electric motors, etc. should be regularly inspected and cleaned. Filters should be kept immaculately clean, and all motors regularly lubricated. Lack of regular inspection of roof areas and clearing of roof drains and hoppers may cause extensive damage to_interiors and structure. “Make sure that you keep a regular inventory of all supplies and purchase only what is required. If your light bulbs are not giving you the guaranteed life, save them and return them for credit. Your marquee and sign display sells your show .. . Is it doing the job for which it was intended? Dead lamps, dirty glass and neon will reflect a shabby, dull appearance, and possibly discourage many prospective customers. “It is well to remember that ‘Only those who have the patience to do simple things perfectly, ever acquire the skill to do great things easily.’ ”’ CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY CPP Hanson Dinner (Continued from Page 1) ‘a very good friend of mine,’’ had suggested that Mr. Hanson owed much of his success to her. Hanson spoke warmly of the late Clair Hague, the Pioneers’ first president, and the late Ray Lewis, his co-founders in 1940 of the industry’s fraternal and benevolent association. Much of the evening’s enjoyment was owed to Mr. Frost, who had been introduced by Morris Stein, CPP president and toastmaster. The Premier’s remarks, personal in relation to Mr. and Mrs. Hanson and markedly fraternal when the industry came into them, were provocative of much laughter and sentiment. The fraternal aspect was based on the fact that as Provincial Treasurer, a post recently relinquished, he had been the senior officer of Ontario’s theatre department and censorship board, which is administered by O. J. Silverthorne. “IT want to pay tribute to your industry,” he told the gathering. “In my 12 years with you I found that you played the game and always held high the standards of business.””’ The optimism with which the industry faced difficult times is “‘typical of Show Business in this province and in America,” he observed. “‘The show will go ” on. The award to Hanson was preceded by one to James A. Whitebone, MBE, made by John J. Fitzgibbons, CBE, and received in his behalf by his fellow-townsman, F. Gordon Spencer. Mr. Whitebone, IATSE business agent and a prominent figure in Saint John community life who is president of the New Brunswick labor organization, was unable to be present. Fitzgibbons said that he was glad to have been chosen to make the presentation to Whitebone “‘for his lifelong service to his country, to our industry and to the community in which he resides,’’ since the latter had been a Famous Players employee from the first day that company, which the speaker heads, had entered the Maritimes. He spoke highly of the responsibilities of the projectionist, Whitebone’s craft and his own at the beginning of his career. ‘Although the applause of his friends here tonight will fade away, this award of the Canadian Picture Pioneers will endure.”’ In receiving the scroll from Mr. Fitzgibbons Spencer said: ‘Back home we say that James Whitebone is the nation’s most distinguished projectionist. This proves Se The first award of the evening, made to the Winnipeg branch of the Pioneers in recognition of its outstanding contribution to the CPP’s work, was placed in the hands of Hy Swartz, its president, by N. A. Taylor, immediate past president of the Pioneers, during whose four years of office the Pioneer of the Year Award had been established. He recited the accomplishments of the Winnipeg members. Swartz, a charter member of the Pioneers, said it was their intention to keep winning the annual award for service. ‘But we'll be glad to relinquish it to any branch that deserves it more than ours,” he added. The evening opened with Mayor Nathan Phillips of Toronto welcoming those visiting the city. “No group in our community answers the call for public service more readily and often than the people of the motion picture industry,”’ he told the gathering. The events drew a full press corps. Not only were the film columnists present but reporters and photographers had been assigned by the daily papers. TORONTO PATTERN (Continued from Page 1) Yonge, near a subway station that is half-way between downtown and Eglinton Avenue, the main street of the city’s north end. The Hollywood, which has a handsome front and a_ spacious lobby, will be linked with two Famous Players theatres, the 1,485-seat Palace on Danforth Avenue, in the East, and the 1,385seat Runnymede, on Bloor Street, in the West. Into these houses day-and-date will go major motion picture productions first run as one of the answers to the booking jam caused by blockbusters. Oklahoma! is in its eighth month at the Tivoli, War and Peace is in its eighth week, having moved over from the Imperial to the Eglinton after seven weeks, and The Ten Commandments has opened at the University, where it may stay a year. Added to this is the fact that Shea’s, where the Solid Gold Cadillac is in its fourth week, is due to come down in February to make way for the Civic Square. Still to come are such three-hours-plus features as Giant and Todd-AOQ’s Eighty Days Around the World. MGM has Raintree County and Teahouse of the August Moon, both sure for long runs, so that may tie up the Loew houses. An answer to the booking jam is essential, for the majors have increased production. MGM, for instance, made 26 films last year and will make 54 this year. Columbia has 50 features under way and Allied Artists just entered the top playing time with The Friendly Persuasion, which in Toronto will play day-and-date at 20th Century Theatres’ Towne Cinema, on Bloor Street, which is midtown, and Famous Players’ Eglinton, in the north end. This is a first-time hookup. December 5, 1956 Leopold Friedman To Loew's Meeting Here Leopold Friedman, who succeeded Joseph R. Vogel as president of Marcus Loew’s Theatres Limited, Toronto when the latter resigned to follow Nicholas Schenck as head of Loew’s, Inc., will preside over the annual stockholders’ meeting in Toronto. It will take place in the lounge of Loew’s Yonge Street on Friday, December 7, 1956. John Murphy of Boston, whose responsibilities for the parent company include the two theatres in Toronto and one in London, will accompany Friedman. es > Canadian Picture Pioneers Annual Award Dinner For easier identification the photos on the next page will be treated as three vertical panels and the persons in them named from left io: right. Photos are by Bob Morris of Jones & Morris. LEFT PANEL: First photo — Mrs. and Mr. George Oullahan. He was co-ordinator of the dinner, which took place in the Crystal Ballroom of the King Edward Hotel, Thursday, November 22, 1956. Second Photo —N. A. Taylor, immediate past president of the Pioneers, and Hy Swartz of Winnipeg, president of the Manitoba branch, to whom Taylor presented the award given to that group for having led the other branches in serving the aims of the organization. Third picture— | The Hon. Leslie M. Frost, shown holding the Pioneer of the Year Award, and Mrs. Oscar Hanson. CENTRE PANEL: First photo — the general scene. Second photo — The Hon, Leslie M. Frost, QC, Prime Minister of the Province of Ontario, who presented the Pioneer of the Year Award to Oscar Hanson, | shown next to him, for the Cana| dian Picture Pioneers. At the right | is Morris Stein, president of the Pioneers and toastmaster of the dinner, who introduced Mr. Frost. Third photo—A_ section of the head table. In front are Dan Krendel, Mrs. Charles Dentelbeck and Charles Dentelbeck. The gentlemen are directors of the Pioneers. Fourth photo — The Award was delivered to the Prime Minister for Presentation by a Page Boy from the Provincial Legislature at Queen's Park, Toronto, who is shown here. He is Tommy Holmes, Jr., of Toronto. THIRD PANEL: First photo — Mrs. N. A. Taylor and Victor Hoare of London, England. Second photo —F. Gordon Spencer, Saint John, NB, is shown with John J. Fitzgibbons, CBE, after Spencer received the ancillary award in behalf of James Whitebone, MBE, Saint John, who was unable to be present. Third photo — Nathan Phillips, | At the QC, mayor of Toronto; Premier Frost; William J. Stewart, former mayor of Toronto and former Speaker of the Ontario Parliament; and Oscar Hanson. te cm