Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1921 - Mar 1922)

48 E XHIB] T ORS HERALD March 11, 1922 Crandall Urges Exhibitors to Have Houses Inspected Regrets the Knickerbocker Disaster May Have Affected Other Theatre Business of Country IN a letter addressed to Martin J. Quigley, publisher and editor of the "Herald," Harry Crandall, whose Knickerbocker theatre in Washington, D. C, recently was the scene of an unfortunate disaster, urges "every exhibitor in America to have his theatre inspected by the best engineer it is possible for him to get, so that he might avoid the very thing that I have gone through." Mr. Crandall in his letter also takes the opportunity "to publicly thank every exhibitor, film producer, manufacturer, star, trade paper, and everyone else who sent me such wonderful wires of condolence at the time when I needed them most." THE letter in part follows: "I want to say that I have never been so affected by anything in my life as by this catastrophe, and hope never to see anything like it again. This is the first trouble of any kind I have had in my fourteen years in the motion picture industry. * * * "It might be interesting to many to know that the first investigation, that of the coroner's jury, held practically everybody in connection with the building for the grand jury with the exception of myself. Although I was exonerated entirely, this does not lessen a certain load that is bound to be on my mind for the reason that the theatre bore my name. "It might also be of interest to knowthat I was not really in on the original construction of the building. I do not say this to clear myself, if I were responsible, because I know positively that Mr. Wagner, the builder, was one of the best builders in Washington. There is also no reason for anyone to think that the theatre was slighted in construction to save money, for the highest bidder was awarded the contract by reason of his being the most reliable. "I feel heartily sorry that my name was in any way connected with a disaster (even though it was beyond my control) that was of such a nature as to affect (as I understand it has) the business of all my brother exhibitors throughout the United States, and hope that their business will quickly recover, as a thing like this may never happen again in a hundred years — and although a verdict has been rendered, the real cause of the collapse of the Knickerbocker has not been absolutely cleared up in my mind, and in the minds of many others. * * * "After the collapse of the Knickerbocker I closed all my theatres for a period of five days, and no exhibitor can realize how I felt when the Metropolitan was reopened on the sixth day, to have the patrons cheer the picture when it went on the screen — it proved how loyal they were, and it would be of value to every exhibitor in this country to start now and gain the confidence of his patrons. "We received thirty-three hundred letters and telephone calls from people in the District, offering their sympathy and help, and so far as I have been able to learn, not one person in Washington has held me in any way accountable for the accident. "I have had many relatives of thos*. killed in the disaster come to my office ii the most friendly manner to sympathizt with me. Three of them were widow; of men killed. "1 want the exhibitors to remembei that what happened to me is apt to happen to them at any time, and that ii would be a wonderful thing for ever\ exhibitor in America to have his theatn inspected by the best engineer it is pos sible for him to get." Rembusch in Fight With Public Utility (Special to Exhibitors Herald) INDIANAPOLIS, IND., Feb. 28.—/ dispute between the F. J. Rembusch En terprises, which operates a string of mo tion picture theatres in the state, and th' Indiana General Electric Co., concernini electric current for a theatre at Marion Ind., has been adjusted by Carl Wildt director of service of the public servic commission. Rembusch in a complaint to Governo McCray asserted that the Indiana Gen eral Service Co. was using arbitrary metli ods in dealing with him and that the; were about to cut wires leading to th theatre as a result of a dispute over deposit required by the company. Th governor called the matter to the atten tion of the public service commission. 400 Grievance Cases Settled by Committee (Concluded from page 39) into by the board and settled amicabl; to all concerned. Gives Board Personnel The personnel of the board workiiv at present is: F. I. L. M. Club representatives: Jolv Hammel, Paramount; Arthur Abele; Metro, and Murray Bier, Myriad. Theatre Owners' Chamber of Com merce representatives: Leo Brucker, . Alton Bradbury and Samuel Rintzler. Chairman, loscph Klein, Robertson Cole. In speaking of the work of the arbitra tion board, President Brandt of the T. C C. C. said: "It is one of the most constructiv moves ever made in the industry, an when similar boards are at work in a the exchange centers — which they un doubtedly will be — it will do much 1 solve the greatest problem that has eve confronted the exhibitor. By that mean the high rental problem. Tells of Big Loss "One of the most prominent producer told me recently that 33 ]/3 per ce' of the play dates arc lost between tn time of the signing of the contract an its execution. This means a great los to producers, which eventually is bonn to fall on the exhibitors who do pla their dates. This great loss is caused b[ exhibitors contracting for many mor pictures than he can possibly play. W the purpose of tying them up so his con pet itor cannot get them. "With our joint board of arbitrate functioning, the exhibitors arc caution in making their contracts, for they kno that a day of retribution is coming. D this all over the country, and cxhibitoi will contract for no more pictures tha they can play: the loss of play dates, an consequent waste is eliminated." MONEY MAKING IDEAS Which Have Exhibitors to Been Used Successfully by Build Up Their Patronage By E. J. O'NEILL (Broadway theatre, St. George, N. B., Canada) Here's a simple one for small towns that will pay. Put on a Children's Carnival for Saturday matinee, and evening along with a picture. Give prizes for Best Boy, Best Girl, Most Original and Best Combination. You'll get all the kids in town at the matinee and all the grownups in the evening. They'll flock to see them and you'll be surprised what an interest the parents will take to dress them up. It's good. I've tried it and I know. And here's an experience with "Over the Hill" for two days. I sent complimentaries to all the clergymen in town and to about twenty-five real old ladies who never go to pictures. They were so pleased they told everyone and went to the first show. After the show, they spread the news about the picture and I honestly believe they were the means of a lot attending. The clergymen recommended the picture to everyone. Result: Big business and better still many new friends.