Harrison's Reports (1951)

24 HARRISON’S REPORTS February 10, 1951 as the PCCITO, consider trade practices and film rentals as important organization matters. Consequently, to combine into one organization exhibitors whose interests are diametrically opposed insofar as trade practices are concerned can only cause dissension within the ranks and ultimately a weakening of the organization. An organization is strong and commands respect only if its membership consists of persons with identical interests. By retaining their individual identities, National Allied and TOA will remain strong and, two such strong exhibitor bodies, when united on matters that affect all exhibitors, such as discriminatory tax legislation, would make a powerful force. A STITCH IN TIME Although the reconstruction of theatres damaged or destroyed by fire is exempted from the Government’s ban on theatre construction, exhibitors may not find it easy to rebuild theatres or make repairs because of the fact that many of the materials that will be required for this work either are or soon will be in short supply. Hardware, plumbing, lighting, heating and ventilating, sound and projection equipment, concrete, gypsum, roofing material, metal windows, fire doors, paints and many other items are among the strategic materials that may be difficult to obtain in the near future, so long as the present emergency lasts, and for this reason the prevention of fire hazards becomes all the more important. A similar situation existed in the early days of World War II, at which time the War Production Board’s Service Equipment Division issued a warning to the exhibitors and suggested the following nine safety rules for fire protection: 1 . Pull the main entrance switch at the conclusion of each day’s operation. One employee should be delegated to this task. 2. Do not permit an accumulation of rubbish in closets, poster rooms, boiler or furnace rooms. 3. Appliance cords for vacuum cleaners, work lights or other portable apparatus should be inspected daily and, if found defective, repaired immediately. 4. Smoking in a projection booth should not be permitted under any circumstances. 5. At the conclusion of each day’s run, all films should be removed from the projector magazine or rewinder and placed in the film storage cabinet. Trailers and ad films should never be left exposed. 6. The use of electric or other portable heaters should be avoided while handling film. 7. Porthole shutters should be tested frequently to see that the shutters slide freely. The entire porthole shutter system should be properly fused to insure closing instantaneously in case of fire. 8. Have local fire officials make regular inspections from roof to basement. Their recommendations should be followed implicitly. 9. Faulty electrical contacts and switchboard connections cause the majority of theatre fires. The entire electrical system should be checked frequently and contacts carefully tightened to eliminate this fire hazard. The above safety rules are just as applicable today as they were in 1943. By posting them now in your projection booth and in other convenient places where your staff will be sure to see them, you will greatly reduce the danger of suffering hardships later because of neglect. COMPO URGES COOPERATIVE AD CAMPAIGN TO OFFSET TV CLAIMS To combat the effects of television, Arthur L. Mayer, executive vice-president of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations, urged exhibitors this week to unite with other business men in cooperative newspaper advertising campaigns designed to persuade people to leave their homes and go downtown for their entertainment at least one evening a week. In a letter to the heads of exhibitor organizations, Mayer described the suggestion as a ’’modest start” on a campaign to offset the claims of television that there is no reason to leave one’s home for entertainment. “Hotels, restaurants, bowling alleys, clothing shops, transportation companies,” he wrote, “should be as desirous of getting people out of their homes at night as exhibitors are. The local newspapers should prove allies in such a venture, not only because they would profit from this particular advertising, but because television, by capturing a large slice of national advertising, has made serious inroads on their income.” Mayer said that COMPO had no illusions that this plan was the complete answer to the problem caused by television. “It does, however,” he wrote, “have the virtue of seeking to alert other businesses to a situation which is surely as vital to them as it is to us, and points one way in which the situation may be attacked.” SUNSHINE THEATRE Darlington, Indiana February 5, 1951 Dear Mr. Harrison: Enclosed find check for another year's subscription to Harrison’s Reports, which I have been reading for many, many years, and will continue to read it as long as I am in the motion picture business. I have read with interest, letters from other exhibitors regarding TV’s effect on attendance. While we have quite a few TV sets in our community, I have noticed that they are owned in many cases by people who were never regular picture-goers. In homes where there are children, I notice the kids show up about as usual. I believe the small theatre will survive if given good product at reasonable prices by the major companies. However, I do not think television should be featured in pictures as was done in MY BLUE HEAVEN. If you recall, there were some beautiful scenes on television receivers in the picture. If people can see that kind of entertainment on television, I am sure they will pass up paying for it at the theatre. Very truly yours, Charles A. Marshall