Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1928)

2170 M o ti on Picture N e zv s Editorial By Willliam A. Johnston Dry Goods Association the other day, in commenting on the trend toward forming chains of department stores. 'Ten stores/ he said, 'earning jointly a million dollars, are not going to earn any more just because they are consolidated. Probably they will earn less when the incentive of individual proprietorship is removed. " 'Department store chains will become formidable competition only when they develop a high type of management. That will come. So far, not a single chain of department stores has worked it out!' " The above clear cut statement by Mr. Guernsey is applicable to the chain theatres with no change whatever except to add that theatres, even much more than stores, require the best incentive and attention of individual management. The head of one of the best chains of theatres admitted to me recently that he could not, out of his headquarters city, run a theatre in a nearby city even though its population was remarkably similar in their picture requirements. =;:= * * * CHOWMAN POWER.— Speaking of reorganizations, mergers and what-not, it would seem that what the business lacks most, these days, is man power. And when we say man power, we mean, of course, showman power. For the power of men, in the business, is the power of showmen. It is showmanship that counts in the final analysis. A man may make a lot of mistakes but much may be forgiven him if only he provides importantly the entertainment that rings the box-office bell. On the other hand he may be, by the standards of the counting house a most correct individual. But what will this avail him if he cannot make or sell successful entertainment? The exhibitor sitting back and looking at New York through a long telescope rates the leaders of this business by the product he gets from them. They are as big as, and no bigger than, their show stuff and the way they handle it. He is interested in pictures. The banker can only go so far in this business. If, of course, a business gets leaking badly through the incompetency, irresponsibility or downright graft of those who run it, there's but one thing to do and that is to take the craft to port and rehaul her stem to stern, stop the leaks, heave over the unnecessary ballast and fit her to ride the water. But, after that, it will take sailors to run the ship. And so it takes showmen to run the show business. And the wise and honest banker knows this. I talked with one the other day, an investment banker of thirty years' successful experience. He made a specific statement, that he wouldn't touch a single stock where bankers ran the business. ^ A BIT OF HISTORY.— Tom Meighan has evidently scored in "The Racket," his new picture, and while the congratulations are coming in we would like to add a "me too." Last Winter, Harold Franklin, Tom Meighan and the writer were at lunch at the Lambs. Meighan was considering the Broadway plays and we discussed them. The writer was enthusiastic for "The Racket," and, as a final argument, said : "Remember, I was with you here at the Lambs when George Loane Tucker and you decided to do 'The Miracle Man.' " "That's a hunch," said Meighan. "It's 'The Racket.' " rpHE NEW DAY.— Harold Franklin says: "It is not enough to show sound motion pictures; theatres that devote themselves to sound synchronization must give to this new showmanship understanding and sympathy". A quotation from an editorial written by this wise and expert showman for the West Coast magazine, "Now". His views are of great importance. We shall print them in full later.