The Exhibitor (1956)

MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 5 From SARASOTA, FLA. After 28 years with National Screen Service in Boston, I have retired and moved down here. But, since leaving the company four weeks ago, I sure do miss receiving MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR each week. So, to keep up with the times, I am enclos¬ ing my subscription check. HARRY KIRCHGESSNER sdett&te , . . UNSOLICITED • The letters from readers which appear on this page are not solicited. MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR does not suggest questions to readers in order to provide a flow of letters. EDITOR’S NOTE: Harry has many friends, even in other territories besides Boston, who will be happy to know that he is enjoying the balmy Florida breezes. For the record, for Christmas cards, etc., his street address is 2506 South Milmar Drive. Good luck, Harry! From FLINT, MICH. I am back with the Nortown, and I might add back to stay. Show business is too much a part of me, as I am of it, to be able to turn my back on the many wonder¬ ful people connected with it, such as those in your own publication. May I thank you for being so kind in the past, and, as I have said many times before, may I tell you how completely I enjoy MO¬ TION PICTURE EXHIBITOR, and its many valuable departments. F. A. PHILLIPS Nortown Theatre EDITOR’S NOTE: Seven weeks ago Mr. Phillips left the Nortown with a firm resolve to get out of movie busi¬ ness. But his love for the business brought him back. Many, who are equally devoted and have a lifetime invested, will understand. From NEW YORK, N. Y. I think your A-MAN CORNER idea is cne of the finest things done for theatremen n years. And FREE, too! Keep up the good work. For the past 15 years at least, I have read every copy of MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR. I hope to keep subscribing for many years to come. RON FAILES Theatre Manager EDITOR’S NOTE: If the A-MAN CORNER has helped to stop the ftotv of experienced manpower out of this busi¬ ness, we know it has been worthwhile. From LOUISVILLE, KY. Regarding Sam Isaac’s letter from Cum¬ berland in the Nov. 7 issue, I don’t think your current service should be called a TIP ON BIDDING so much as a TIP ON BUY¬ ING, for that is what it is for me. Your opinion on whether a picture is in first, second, or third allocation is very important to me. I would also appreciate such an allocat'on on reissues, since so many branch man¬ agers demand percentage terms for them, regardless of their importance or of the national policy. With me, MOTION PICTURE EXHIBI¬ TOR is TOPS! LOUIS A. ARRU Twilite Drive-In EDITOR’S NOTE: You must be right, Mr. Arru, for we have several dozen other letters telling us we are crazy to consider dropping TIP ON BIDDING. But your proposed name for it sounds best. From KENBRIDGE, VA. Just can’t do without it! My pink review SERVISECTION dated Nov. 28 (page numbers 42 5 7-5 8-5 9-60) was misprinted so that several pages are not readable. Please send me a good one, for I have them all since 1941. WINSTON R. TANNER K and T Theatres (3) EDITOR’S NOTE: While printing 10,000 copies each week we suppose a printer is entitled to make a mistake or tivo. But we’re sorry it happened to such a loyal subscriber. A replacement copy has been sent. From CANON CITY, COL. Please send a copy of the 1957 BOOKING CALENDAR to each of our ( 5 ) theatres. This is a splendid service and we have al¬ ways appreciated having it in our theatre offices — just as we have also appreciated all of the services and news in our copies of MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR. H. L. McCORMICK McCormick Thsatres EDITOR’S NOTE: Done! And thank you! From BIRMINGHAM, MICH. My sincere thanks to MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR, and to the committee of The¬ atre Executive Judges, for the runner-up number two recognition which I received in October, and for the runner-up number one awarded to me in the Nov. 7 issue. I will continue to do my best to promote public attention to the entertainment product on theatre screens, and interest in theatre at¬ tendance. You, and your eminent Judges are to be commended on the manner in which you have stimulated interest and kept showman¬ ship alive. You have generated faith in the industry and in screen product quality. We in turn, as showmen, should cherish our responsibility to bring this quality to the public attention and eventual enjoyment. LEE E. FRASER Bloomfield Theatre EDITOR’S NOTE: While Runner-up Achievement Citations from SHOW¬ MANSHIP SWEEPSTAKES don’t carry prize money with them, you are cer¬ tainly getting close. Keep up the good work, for we and the Judges would like to see every aggressive showman win at least one of those weekly $100 checks. And thanks for your very nice views! From TELL CITY, IND. Please enter our order for two AT-AGLANCE BOOKKEEPING BOOKS and for two binders for the pink SERVISECTION reviews as carried in MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR. We have been using these items since starting in business in 1948. We find them excellent, and can think of nothing that would better them. Please RUSH so that we will have them on hand for the beginning of 1957. JUSTIN O. MURPHY Swiss Theatre EDITOR’S NOTE: They’re RUSHED . . . and should arrive in plenty of time. We have already shipped hundreds of the specially prepared AT-A-GLANCE theatre record keeping books to theatremen who need to keep careful records during 1957. Should anyone like to in¬ spect a sample sheet, just ask for it. From HAMILTON, ONT. (Canada) I would appreciate it if you would send me the last complete list of pictures which have played, or are now available to play on TV. I notice that MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR is the only trade paper that offers this service. I find same very helpful, for I notice that quite a few film companies are still selling pictures to theatres after they have already been sold to TV. JOE DYDZAK Dydzak Drive-In Theatres (5) EDITOR’S NOTE: While it would obviously be silly to compete with free TV by showing the same feature on the same night, there have been some in¬ teresting reports lately about successful grosses in theatres that folloived TV, weeks later, with advertising approaches such as: " See it now in full theatre size”; "Notv see the whole 102 minutes and not the cut down 54 minute TV version”; and "Positively NO COM¬ MERCIALS.” While playable features are still scarce, it is ivorth a try, and then our TV CHECK-LIST will become a reference book. December 19, 1956