Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

18 EXHIBITORS HERALD January 17, 1925 Full Meaning of Public Service Exemplified by Estridge Enloe Pens Sketch About North Carolina Exhibitor Whose Welfare JVork Has Won for Him Esteem of City and State [Public Relations Department] /\SK Mike O’Toole as president of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners A-\ of America, Harry Crandall, Sam Katz and Frank Newman as representative metropolitan theatre owners, what they think of public relations. Unless our surmise is wrong they will tell you that it is the foundation of good showmanship and of success. The full meaning of public relations, or public service, which ever you choose to call it, is exemplified in the activities of James A. Estridge, owner of the Gastonian theatre, Gastonia, N. C., who is secretary-treasurer of the state exhibitors association. A tribute to Mr. Estridge has been written for the Herald by Joseph J. Enloe, executive secretary of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of North Carolina. Mr. Enloe writes: , * * * “I want to give you some pertinent facts regarding one of our most progressive exhibitors in the Old No’th State — Mr. ■ James A. Estridge, owner and manager of the Gastonian theatre, Gastonia, N. C. He is our efficient secretary-treasurer of the M. P. T. O. of N. C. “Mr. Estridge was recently elected a director of the wide awake Kiwanis club, and was sent as a delegate to the national convention. Not long ago the high school officials requested ‘Lorna Doone’ for a special showing to the students and Mr. Estridge complied forthwith, though he had run the picture long before. “Mr. Estridge took his portable and films out to Orthopedic hospital to run a picture for the cripples and it made such a hit with them that he induced the Kiwanis club to visit there with him. As a result the club instructed their big hearted member to buy and install a real machine and run a picture each week and sometimes he runs two a week. The Charlotte exchanges furnish the films gratis, but Estridge pays the operator I. E. CHADWICK is re-elected president of the Independent Motion Picture Producers & Distributors Association. and expenses of film shipments. “There is no way to tell how the children who are bedridden, strapped and incased in plaster paris, etc., appreciate the pictures except that they have some sort of reverence for their benefactor. And the doctors and nurses go to a lot of trouble to carry the girls from their ward into the boys ward where the pictures are shown. “The enclosed clipping is from the Gastonia Gazette, the local daily paper of Mr. Estridge’s town. He is a townsman, a citizen fully appreciated. May he and his work of cheering the little cripple shutins inspire other fellow exhibitors to become better identified in local affairs and endear themselves to the community so that they cannot be easily dispensed with.” sK * Jjs In the clipping referred to the local editor writes of Mr. Estridge: “This is the story of a man who partly worked his way through college running a moving picture show . . . but now he is qne of the biggest moving picture men in North Carolina. His rise to prominence in Gastonia . . . has been rapid. Jim is a loyal member of the Kiwanis club and of the Chamber of Commerce. He holds an enviable record in the Kiwanis club. He has never missed a meeting. Jim is one of the most loyal members of the Chamber of Commerce. He never shirks any committee assignments and is always ready to do his part. “He is one of those quiet unassuming fellows who never makes much noise or display but whose results speak for themselves. “He is very liberal in the donation of machines, films, movie paraphernalia, etc., around town. He frequently helps out at public gatherings. He is especially interested in the N. C. Orthopedic hospital and puts on shows out there every week or so.” Depinet Says Fans, Not Hays, Cleaned Up Films (Special to Exhibitors Herald) ST. LOUIS, MO., Jan. 6.— Ned Depinet, a member of the Universal sales triumvirate, declared in an interview published in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat that the paying public, not Will H. Hays, cleaned up pictures, and that Hays’ assurance that motion pictures are clean has been of tremendous force in convincing the public. O* Toole Gets New Place (Special to Exhibitors Herald) MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., Jan. 6.— With the transfer of Charles H. Friedman to the management of the Producers Distributing office at Seattle, comes the announcement of the appointment of J. E. O’Toole to the management of the local branch. O’Toole was manager of the Selznick office for six years. Paramount Confab Precedes Sailing of De Mille for Europe (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Jan. 6. — After an important conference with executives of the Paramount organization Cecil B. DeMille planned today to sail, the tenth, for an extended European trip. Taking part in the conference aside from the director general were Adolph Zukor, president, Jesse L. Lasky, first vice president, and Sidney R. Kent, general manager, of Famous PlayersLasky Corporation. It is the intention of DeMille to combine business with pleasure on his trip; for this reason he is taking with him Peverell Marley, his photographer, and Mitchell Leisen, assistant art director. Others in the party are Jeanie Macpherson, author of “The Ten Commandments,” Mrs. Cecil B. DeMille, Mrs. E. Claire O’Neill, Julia Fay and Mrs. Louise Covell. It is expected that some time will be spent in Europe seeking material for a successor to “The Ten Commandments” for a 1925 subject. Warner Brothers Aid Blind to Films (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Jan. 6. — A motion picture program for the blind was held here last week. It proved a success. Aided by several scientific laws concerning the characteristics of blind people Warner Brothers invited several hundred patrons of the Ziegler Magazine for the Blind to a trial showing of a selected picture. These laws included the ability possessed by these disabled people to “sense” or “feel” the presence of a thing without seeing it; and their reaction to anything stimulating the imagination. It was found that with the help of these facts, and with a certain “atmosphere” created by fitting music, sounds and frequent vocal assistance, the audience responded heartily to the offering. Vigilance Body Probes Reel Town Corporation (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Jan. 6.— Following an investigation of Kentucky Reel Town Corporation of which Lester Park of New York is president, the National Vigilance Committee reports that “the proposition is not firmly enough established nor has it sufficient tangible assets to warrant calling this offering of debenture bonds an ‘investment.’ ” The committee further states that “Park was connected with a number of propositions that were financed by individuals who have not only received no return but have lost their original investment.” Leak Becomes Manager ^Special to Exhibitors Herald) MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., Jan. 6.— Paramount brought about a number of changes the first of the year in the executive staff under A. W. Nicolls. Among those whose positions were shifted were A. B. Leak, former branch manager for Famous at Sioux Falls, who becornes Minneapolis branch manager, replacing Jack Raper; Ted Mendenhall, who comes to the Sioux Falls office, and A1 Anderson, who will become office manager at Minneapolis.