Famous News (Summer 1991)

WORKING AS ONE 791 By David Polny The theme of the management meeting was WORKING AS ONE 91. It was held at Red Deer’s Park Plaza Cinemas and all theatre managers and assistants from Lethbridge, Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton attended. In addition, Brian Holberton, Doug Smith, Sizaldo Medieros and Sharon Mills were present and Lisa Wakey, manager of the Park Plaza, acted as our hostess for the event. The seminar was a one-day event and was structured to maximize one-on-one involvement and the sharing of knowledge about all facets of operations. Management were assigned to work in teams of six. These teams were carefully structured to include a management member from each location in Alberta. Each management member had been asked in advance to develop an information package which would include their staff incentive programs, customer incentive programs and outlines of their promotions. They then presented their programs to the group and everyone involved benefitted from being exposed to a wide range of ideas and programs. That part of the seminar took the morning and when we broke for lunch we viewed an old Famous Players’ training film from the 1940s. Ruth Manning, of Calgary’s South Centre Cinemas, supplied the film. In the afternoon Doug presented citations and acknowledged management achievements. We then went into an open question period with all questions directed to Brian and Doug. Many concerns were addressed and this session gave everyone an opportunity to understand the reasoning behind some of Famous Players’ policies. All delegates received a bag filled with distributor products, concession products and products supplied by independent firms. In addition, the organizing committee of the seminar had worked very hard to gather prizes for those attending the mecting. A weekend for two at the Fantasyland Hotel in Edmonton and another at Calgary’s Westin Hotel are examples of the kind of prizes that were awarded. All in all, it was a highly informative session and I am sure it will be the first of a series. PERFORMANCE TRACKING INCENTIVE PROGRAM RESULTS By Heather McEvoy Summer films make the theatres a busy place and the extra effort from all staff is much appreciated. We are positive that all of the work does help to increase our attendance and we would like to thank everyone for the part they are playing in making this summer such a success. Clothing drives, car washes, bowling nights, seniors’ shows, training seminars, film promotions, newsletters, theatre rentals, gift certificate sales, staff barbeques, appreciation days, baseball games and theatre staff contests are just some of the things which have been organized this summer by our management teams. All this, coupled with long operating hours, special screenings, coupons, midnight shows, operating cost controls, market pricing and our summer concessions’ promotions. All management teams should stop and take a breath, and a bow. We are now in Sector 3 and we are sure your initiatives will prove even more successful in the coming months. Below are the results for Sector 2.: $2,500 Each St. Vital, Winnipeg 622 West Edmonton Mall 605 Station Square, Burnaby 588 Cedarbrae, Toronto 582 Loews, Montreal 570 Square One, Mississauga 560 Richmond Ctr, Richmond 542 Cumberland, Toronto 533 Cinemas, Laval 523 $1,900 Each Parkway 5, Windsor 636 Woodgrove, Nanaimo 614 Richport, Richmond 612 Garden City, Winnipeg 607 Paramount, Edmonton 600 Cinemas, Ste. Foy 517 Paramount, St. John 496 $1,300 Each Capitol, London 612 Londonderry, Edmonton 604 Town Centre, Pickering 549 Runnymede, Toronto 521 $950 Capitol, Chatham 560 Or Central The following promotions, transfers have taken place in the central region: Julie Agnolin has been promoted to manager, Devonshire, Windsor; Brent Gillen transfers to Lambton Mall, Sarnia as manager; The West The following promotions transfers took place in the west: Josephine Mayo has been promoted to manager, Polo Park; Manager Wally Sundquist transfers to the Varsity, Vancouver. The East The following new hire took place in the east: Cecil Morin has been hired as secretary in the Montreal office. Famous News is published by the Public Relations Department of Famous Players Inc., a Paramount Communications company.