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Conversation with Veteran Famous Manager
His Philosophy for Theatre Operation; A proven success!
FAMOUS NEWS Editor Michelina Trigiani, recently spent a day at Mississauga, Ontario’s Square One Cinemas where she had the opportunity to see a busy operation in action and discuss the manager’s role with Jack Boddam.
Coming into my head office job as Editor, where my only contact with our managers is on paper, and where my knowledge of a theatre operation is restricted to an evening out with my husband, I felt I should observe, first-hand, what a manager’s job involves. Jack Boddam set out to show me.
Jack has been managing Square One since it opened seven years ago. Starting out as an usher in the 40’s in his home town of Brampton, Ont., Jack has worked in some 25 Ontario houses.
‘‘T operate the theatre like it was my own.’’
As I write this story, I recall two areas of theatre management which dominated my coversation with Jack. The first is what I term Jack’s ‘‘philosophy’’ of how a manager should approach his job.
‘*I operate every theatre like it was my own,”’ he says. ‘‘I want the company that I work for to receive more than they’re paying, I’m being paid to manage, so I manage. I don’t have any hours. If I’m busy or if I’m needed, I’m here.’’
A big factor in shaping Jack’s ‘‘philosophy’’ has been Famous Players itself. ‘‘I feel the company pays me good money for good
Manager Jack Boddam
Photos by Mickey Trigiani
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management. Famous has always been very fair, or I wouldn’t have stayed.’
Jack believes that the most important aspect of a manager’s job is his consideration for the customer. ‘‘I operate my theatre in the way that works best for everyone and that usually means that the customer comes first and that our own convenience comes second.”’
Jack’s operation certainly reflects his customer’s needs. An example of this is how he schedules his shows. ‘““You’ve got to consider the customer in this. Give him time to eat dinner and find a babysitter. Stagger shows so he has time to buy refreshments. This also alleviates
pressure on the candy counter. Don’t let the last show out too late. You’re inconveniencing the customer.’’
Jack’s theatre is located in a busy suburban mall. Lining up customers for Square One’s four theatres takes
‘organization and split-second tim
ing. ‘‘I consider the customer first in this instance also, but he doesn’t always realize it. I’ve been called an idiot for the way I line people up but most customers realize later that it is the best way. The folks that complain are the older ones who only go to movies now and then and don’t understand the routine nowadays. To soften the idea of a line-up, we never use the word. All my staff ask
May/June, 1981 17