Exhibitors Herald (Jul-Sep 1922)

36 EXHIBITORS HERALD July 29, 1922 Crandall Takes Definite Step to Create Public Confidence Prominent Club Woman at Washington Head of Service and Educational Department (Special to Exhibitors Herald) WASHINGTON, D. C, July 18. — A determined effort to encourage public confidence and co-operation is being made by Harry M. Crandall, this territories regional franchise holder in First National. The first definite step in this plan is the organization of a Public Service and Educational Department under the directorship of Mrs. J. J. Locher, prominent Washington club woman. 1 Copyright: Harris & Euring Harry Crandall AyT RS. LOCHER assumes her new duties ■*■ * well versed in their requirements, having heen for six years chairman of the motion picture committee of the District of Columbia Federated Women's clubs. In inaugurating this department Mr. Crandall takes a progressive step which undoubtedly will be emulated by exhibitors throughout the country. The Washington circuit owner always has been firm in the belief that an exhibitor's most valuable assets are public confidence and the possession of some means of intimate personal contact with the citizenship that constitutes the theatre's patronage. He has observed »that a vast majority of all controversies between the industry and the public have been the result of misunderstanding and misinformation as to both sides. This embraces all the hue and cry about censorship, the need of safeguarding the children's welfare and all of the other questions that have been agitated almost without cessation during recent years. * * * Many months ago Mr. Crandall took steps to bring his organization, both as to personnel and activities, into closer touch with his public, with results that manifested themselves unequivocally at a time when any exhibitor less solidly fortified would have been wiped out of existence. It was in pursuit of this idea that Mr. Locher's cooperation was enlisted. The Crandall Department of public Service and Education establishes the point of contact and the means of discussion and cooperation between the Crandall interests and the public just as Will H. Hays serves as liaison officer establishing contact among producers, exhibitors and public on a national instead of local basis. Mrs. Locher as chairman of the motion picture committee of the Federated Women's Clubs has had under her direction as many as fourteen theatres running special performances for children over a period of four consecutive weeks. She also directed the educational matinees for mothers during Baby Week campaigns. While always a strong advocate of better pictures, Mrs. Locher always has also been emphatically opposed to censorship. Under her direction it will be the purpose of the new Crandall department to form a medium contact and a closer relationship between the exhibitor and the public he serves. The neighborhood motion picture theatre, Mrs. Locher believes, is the logical community center. Church, school and theatre each has its own ethical value in the community life and each is a factoi in the making of good citizenship. Every person in a community should have as much personal interest in his own community theatre and as keen a sense of responsibility in its conduct, as the man who receives its commercial benefits. He is only the custodian of the community's most popular form of entertainment. * * * Every facility will be afforded Mrs. Locher to impress upon the city of Washington that the Crandall enterprises are a species of public utility conducted to enlist the counsel, the advice and the support of every citizen with a spark of civic pride. Studio offices in the Metropolitan Theatre building have been placed at Mrs. Locher*s disposal so equipped as to make easy the entertaining of groups of women at tea for the friendly discussion and analysis of points of common interest. Among the duties which will devolve upon the Public Service and Educational Department will be the arrangement of special matinee performances for children and the establishment of an authentic and reliable bureau of information for the enlightenment of the general public, churches, civic organizations and individuals seeking knowledge of some specialized branch of the industry. Pictures will be obtained for their various needs, whether for their own private exhibition or to be shown at special performances at some one of the Crandall theatres. There will also be a line of activity directed to the more complete Americanization of the patrons of the Crandall theatres. T. O. C. C. Is Formed In Kansas City, Mo. (Special to Exhibitors Herald) KANSAS CITY, MO., July 18.— The Kansas City Exhibitors' Association, in changing its name to the Theatre Owners' Chamber of Commerce of Kansas City, also has adopted new policies and opened up a wide field for future development. Following the meeting last week, one of the several important developments has been an invitation from Mayor Frank Cromwell of Kansas City for a committee from the exhibitors organization to be represented in the mayor's civic body. The theatre owners will participate in all civic and community campaigns in the future. Contrary to the past, membership to the new body can be obtained only by application, accompanied by $50. The prospective member must be a member of the M. P. T. O. A., as the city organization is in no way a departure from the national association. The by-laws require a monthly payment of $5. Headquarters temporarily will be located at 811 Gloyd building. He Will Show His Stunts to Chicago S BARRET McCORMICK, among • the widest known presentation experts, has been engaged by Aaron J. Jones as general director of the new McVickers theatre, which Jones, Linick & Schaefer will open to the Chicago public in September. Commenting on his engagement of Mr. McCormick. Mr. Jones says: "In securing Mr. McCormick to direct the destinies of the picture policy at McVickers I believe we have secured the most thorough and competent executive in the country. It was McCormick who put the Circle theatre, Indianapolis, upon the map and made it the most talked of picture playhouse in the middle west. He then brought the attention of the picture world to the Rivoli theatre in Toledo and after he had firmly established that house, he was called to Los Angeles where he was given complete charge of the Ambassador and Kinema theatres. At present he is managing director of the Allen theatre in Cleveland, but he will terminate his association with that house on August first and join our staff August fifteenth. He is a man of creative imagination, a vast knowledge of synchronization and an artist to his fingers' tips. We believe ourselves most tortunate in being able to intrigue hi? services." Good Will Delegate Represents Stanley (Special to Exhibitors Herald) PHILADELPHIA, PA., July 18.— Malaka Mata, scenario writer and representative of the Stanley Company of America, has been chosen one of the Good Will Delegates for Devastated France to represent Philadelphia. She will be designated Miss Sesqui-Centennial and was nominated :n a newspaper contest with the aid of Jules E. Mastbaum, recently appointed a director for the Sesqui-Centennial celebration. Mrs. Mata with others will sail for Europe on July 22. Will Produce in East (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, July 18.— Rex Ingram will produce "Toilers of the Sea, late this Fall in the East.