The Exhibitor (Jun-Nov 1944)

4a v \ -\\mmwv Xwmm m SCHINE SETS UP SPECIAL V-DAY MANUAL Gloversvii.le — Schine Circuit last fort¬ night made up a special V-Day manual as the result of the recent managers’ meet¬ ings, where these plans were discussed. It includes the following 10 points: 1 — Right now arrange to have at least two men deputized who will be assigned to your theatre on this day. One is to be used in the balcony, one on the main floor, and another in front of your theatre, if possible. 2 — Make sure someone is stationed in front of the theatre to protect your property, whether the news comes day or night. Even if it happens at 12 midnight, have arrangements made with somebody who will go down and act as watchman until the next morn¬ ing. 3 — Remove the cash from the box office as often as necessary. Remove all loose setpieces from the front, lobby, foyer, and rest rooms; also furniture, brica-brac, paintings, etc. 4 — If you are able to act as cheerleader or master of ceremonies, see to it that you. are prepared to lead your audi¬ ence in singing the old popular songs. Be sure that for the opening you use your Star Spangled Banner trailer. This can be followed by song slides which are to be made up in advance, these to include such songs as “God Bless America,’’ “Over There,” “Tip¬ perary,” etc. 5 — If the manager does not have the abil¬ ity to act as m.c., secure a person who can, by arranging for this now. 6 — House lights should be higher than normal, even if a little too bright for best projection. Remember, most vandalism occurs in dark spots. There¬ fore, don’t have any dark nooks in your theatre where a group can con¬ gregate. 7 — Cover the floor constantly. See to it that every available member of your staff does likewise. Your house must be under complete supervision at all times. 8 — Do not permit groups of rowdies to enter your theatre, and instruct your staff members to watch groups which may cause a disturbance after they gain admission. Especially watch the adol¬ escent boys and girls between 16 and 20. These are the only patrons likely to become boisterous. If they do, break the group up. Make them ta^e differ¬ ent seats. 9 — Tell your audience that all important news flashes will be announced. 10 — Plan to run “continuous” if that is not your regular policy. Remember, in the final analysis, we are depending on your usual good judgment to handle whatever situation which may arise in the most efficient manner. ANTI TRUST TRIAL RESUMES IN BUFFALO Decision Expected On Sale Of Four Houses Buffalo — The Schine anti-trust trial resumed here last week before Judge John Knight, and after a pre-trial conference, written agreements between Schine and the distributors, and documents giving general descriptions of terms applicable in playing films over the entire Schine cir¬ cuit were entered in evidence. Witnesses were not expected to be called until this week, when Judge Knight was also expected to make his decision regard¬ ing the recent sale by Schine of four the¬ atres in Virginia and Kentucky to A. C. Hayman, Niagara Falls, which the Court has held up. Theatre Changes Noted New York — Among the theatre changes reported by the Film Board of Trade last fortnight were the following: Victory, Bayonne, N. J., closed. Strand, Newark, N. J., now being oper¬ ated by Associated Playhouses, Inc. Linden, 1270 Nostrand Avenue, Brook¬ lyn, formerly the Century, and operated by Loew’s, is now under operation of the Century Circuit. Fifty-fifth Street Playhouse has been purchased by Sam Baker from Moe Gold¬ man, and will show foreign films. South Jersey Allied Meets Camden, N. J. — The first fall luncheon¬ meeting of the Allied Theatre Owners of New Jersey, Inc., South Jersey Unit, was held at the Walt Whitman Hotel on Oct. 2. At this meeting the new co-chairmen, Mrs. Helen Hildinger and Si Myers, were installed, and a secretary, along with various committees appointed. Harry H. Lowenstein, president, and E. Thornton Kelley attended the meeting. Buffalo Scale Okayed Buffalo — Joint application of distribu¬ tors and the IATSE for permission to in¬ stitute a system of job classifications with minimum and maximum wage scales, and a minimum 10 per cent wage increase for office workers in film exchanges here, was approved last week by the regional War Labor Board. FLORENCE SEIDELMAN, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Seidelman, was wed recently to Lieuten¬ ant Norman Barnett, Signal Corps, AUS. She is the daughter of the president of Universal international Films, while he is the son of the vice president of Massce-Barnett Company. \ \\w\v\ > \\\ YYVk New York City Crosstown G. L. Carrington, Altec’s president, arrived in New York last week to confer on interchanging of technical information and electronic research for design and servicing of motion picture sound repro¬ ducing equipment in theatres of the United States and those of foreign countries using equipment of American engineering de¬ sign. Edward L. Walton, executive assistant to Republic president James R. Grainger, and. assistant general sales manager, left lor Atlanta last week by plane on the first lap of a three weeks’ trip. Joseph H. Hazen, associate of Hal B. Wallis, returned last week after 10 days in Hollywood conferring with Wallis, setting plans for fall and winter production of the new unit, and making preliminary plans for production in England next year. The Paramount Pep Club Softball team rallied in the ninth inning to tally five times, and break a 2-all tie in its final game of the season against Columbia Broadcasting last week in Central Park, winning 7 to 4. The Pep Club finished its season with 10 games won and two lost. Retroactive wage increases to home office publicists of the Screen Publicists Guild are scheduled to be paid this week. The payment? run back to May 3, 1943, making about 17 months. . . . Tom Connors, Hal Horne, Rodney Bush, and Charles Schlaifer were scheduled to leave for the coast last week end for 20th Century-Fox studio conferences. ... A. Montague, Columbia sales chief, returned last week from the Chicago meeting. ... A big party was scheduled at the Astor yesterday (Oct. 3) for Roy Rogers, with Trigger, the horse of the Republic “King of the Cowboys,” as hoct. A gala affair was planned. . . . Cyril Landau, RKO legal department, returned from vacation last week. Cornel Wilde left for Hollywood last week. Wilde has been in the east for the past month on an extensive publicity tour for Columbia. Leo Spitz and William Goetz, who or¬ ganized International Pictures, arrived from Hollywood last week. It is their first trip east since the company was formed. Accompanying Spitz and Goetz, who are respectively, chairman of the board and president of International Pictures, were Joan Bennett and Fritz Lang. Irving Rubine, executive assistant to Lester Cowan, arrived la t week from Hollywood to confer with the home office executives of United Artists concerning the exploitation and advertising campaigns for Cowan’s “Tomorrw the World.” Rubine October 4, 1944 THE EXHIBITOR