The Exhibitor (Nov 1942-May 1943)

5 mmtmi GAS BAN, OIL CUT BLOW TO THEATRES Many Houses Must Convert Washington — Many theatres through¬ out the 17 eastern states and the District of Columbia where the oil shortage is most acute received another box office blow last week when pleasure driving was banned by the OPA and all fuel oil rations for theatres as well as other business buildings were cut 25 per cent. This brings the allotment to about 45 per cent of last year’s oil consumption, it is estimated. Going to the theatre was termed pleas¬ ure driving, with cancellation of all or part of the gas ration books as a penalty. Many theatres are also faced with the necessity of converting from oil to coal, where possible, by the time the next oil ration period begins. New York — A survey of houses of the eastern seaboard last week showed that 80 per cent had converted to coal with conversion continuing in the remaining 20 per cent wherever possible. Loew theatres in this city included the following in their newspaper ads last week: “Loew’s theatres are heated with coal. Turn down your furnace, save fuel, and come to Loew’s.” To offset any loss in theatre patronage due to the ban on pleasure driving some newspapers pub¬ lished gratis a series of ads calling atten¬ tion to the fact that 95 per cent of patrons are within walking distance of theatres or close to transportation. Warners announced last week that, ex¬ cept for a few scattered theatres whose physical construction does not permit the installation of coal bunkers, the conver¬ sion of their houses from oil to coal heat¬ ing had been completed. Of the 1,085 motion picture theatres in the metropolitan area, about 850 are heated by coal. There were 450 of these converted from oil to coal in the last 90 days. All the theatres and the circuits re¬ ported that they had good supplies of coal on hand, although some said there was difficulty in getting coal now, espe¬ cially where storage bins are small and deliveries have to be made often. Some theatre owners were worried more about what curtailment of pleasure driving would do to their business than they were about heating. Most were of the opinion that the patron accustomed to driving to the theatre would get used to taking a bus or walking. In the sub¬ urbs, however, the end of pleasure driv¬ ing was expected to cut down attendance, at least until the customers became accus January 13, 1943 Moral: Make It Easy PHILADELPHIA— Ben Fertel, who operates the local Overbrook as well as other houses, this week made a resolution: that he will, in the future, keep his safe door open. Several months ago, thieves broke into the safe, and stole some cash. The insurance company told Fertel to buy a gadget which would prevent its being opened. He d'd. Last week thieves broke in, and couldn’t open the safe. Instead, they took it. Now Fertel is looking for the safe. tomed to leaving the family car in the garage. All 48 RKO motion picture theatres in greater New York bum coal or buy steam from the New York Steam Corporation. RKO converted 10 theatres from oil to coal in the New York area. Its entire national circuit of 100 theatres is on a coal-buming basis and, by converting to coal, the circuit frees 750,000 gallons of fuel oil a year for more important work. All 75 Loew’s theatres in the New York area bum coal. Four were converted from oil last fall. The Brandt circuit, according to Harry Brandt, president, has 118 theatres in the New York area, 90 of which now burn coal. He said 75 were converted since last summer and that the others are being converted or will be soon. Skouras Theatre Corporation, with 75 theatres in the metropolitan area, is a coal-burning circuit 100 per cent. Twentyfive Skouras theatres have been converted from oil to coal since last June. Jules W. Catsiff is in charge of construction and maintenance of Skouras theatres. Twenty-nine theatres were converted from oil to coal by the Century circuit, which operates 37 theatres in Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties. Century is now wholly coal-heated. Of the theatres operated by the Randforce Amusement Corporation in Brook¬ lyn and Queens, 33 bum coal, three more will be converted when materials are re¬ ceived, and three were waiting to see if conversion is possible. New Haven, Conn. — Fishman’s Rivoli, West Haven, Conn., and Community, Fairfield, Conn., last week completed conver¬ sion to coal-burning equipment. The Webb, Wethersfield, Conn., closed for a brief period to make the conversion. Twenty-four of 50 Warner houses have shifted to coal heat, as have the 15 Poli houses and many independent theatres. Atlanta, Ga.— A survey conducted last week showed that few theatres in this ter¬ ritory are wholly dependent on oil heat. THE EXHIBITOR Washington — Recent WPB figures showed that only 11 out of the 70 houses in the District of Columbia still bum oil. Boston — It was announced last fortnight that nearly one-third of the motion pic¬ ture theatres of Greater Boston have al¬ ready converted from oil to coal. In other cases conversion is under way. Gov¬ ernor Saltonstall last week in his in¬ augural address warmly complimented theatres of the state upon their war activ¬ ities and the splendid co-operation with the Massachusetts committee on public safety. Newark, N. J. — AJ1 first runs here last week reported that they had either con¬ verted to coal heat or have always used coal. Providence, R. I. — Providence theatre managers said last week that they are not worried so much over the oil shortage as over the stoppage of pleasure driving. Only first-run using oil here is the Metro¬ politan, which operates week ends only. Majestic and Carlton are in process of converting. Other houses are now heat¬ ing with coal with the Strand and Play¬ house having converted recently. Wilmington, Del. — Delaware theatres were last week fast turning to coal, at least those that could convert their property for such fuel usage without exorbitant costs and sacrifices. All except one of the theatres in the business area of this city are now burn¬ ing coal. Three of them were converted during the summer. The manager of the fourth theatre said in order to build a coal bin it would be necessary to remove his air conditioning equipment. Downstate, the latest conversion was the Schine house in Milford, Del. Fall River, Mass. — None of the local theatre schedules was affected by the re¬ cent OPA edict further reducing the amount of fuel oil. As early as last May, conversion from fuel oil to coal was started at the Empire, Durfee, and Cen¬ ter, and the work was completed before September at the two former houses Coal heating units are also in operation at the Strand, Park, and Capitol. The Plaza, owned by John O’Connor, is still using oil pending the arrival of a coal heating unit ordered several months ago. Albany, N. Y. — Elimination of pleasure driving has made inroads on theatre grosses, according to Albany exhibitors queried after the first day of the ban. Night shoppers were noticeably fewer than in the past. Throughout the day and evening parking space was readily avail¬ able on the streets normally most crowded with cars. New York — Loew’s theatres made quick changes in their newspaper ads to in¬ clude special copy covering the sensa¬ tional new gas and fuel oil shortage edicts. “Loew’s Theatres Are Heated With Coal. Turn down your furnace, save fuel, come to Loew’s” is the new war-time copy. The majority of Loew theatres have been coal heated. The few with oil equip¬ ment were switched over to coal some time ago. Loew managers were instructed to make a careful check on business in relation to the gas shortage. A check of parking lots, arrival of patrons by car, if any, etc., has become part of the new routine. QUIN.