The Exhibitor (1959)

# # a 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. From CHICOPEE, MASS. I am interested in acquiring the saveable pink REVIEWS sections for 1929 through 1951. I have all issues published from Sep¬ tember, 195 1, to date. In several of your ref¬ erences I note that the special pink sections have only been published from 1936. Was there another type of review section before that date? Perhaps some other reader would be inter¬ ested in selling his albums of back reviews at a nominal price. If so I will be interested in corresponding with them. HENRY C. MIKOZTOWICZ 301 Front Street EDITOR'S NOTE: Prior to 1936 all trade papers carried tbeir reviews of features and shorts on the regular news pages, or as regular news departments, where it was necessary to scissor them out if permanent files ivere desired. MO¬ T/ON PICTURE EXHIBITOR teas the first to change all that by assembling its reviews into separate cumulatively num¬ bered saveable forms. By mid-1938 all other publications of consequence had followed suit. To obtain our reviews from 1929 to 1936 it would be necessary to photostat pages from the complete bound files that are in existence. From SWAN RIVER, MANITOBA We have recently taken over the Crescent Theatre and find your separate saveable pink REVIEWS sections a great help in buying and booking. However, these were not consecu¬ tively saved and we are wondering whether they are obtainable dating back to September, 1958? In book form or in individual sections as published every-other-week? O. WINTONYK Capitol Theatre & Northern Drive-In EDITOR’S NOTE: Complete seasons of back REVIEWS are available to sub¬ scribers from September, 1934 (Seasons of 1954-33; 1955-56; 1956-57; 1957 58; 1958-59; and 1959-60 from Septem¬ ber 1959 to date). Sold only to regular subscribers, their price is 52 cents per season. A three-ring binder that will hold two full seasons is available for $1.50, or may be purchased from your nearest stationer. From MOCKSVILLE, N. C. We read each and every word of each issue of MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR, and just read all about Miss Janet Juell, the fe¬ male projectionist. In my 40 years in the business I have run every kind of equipment and have had two different women work as projectionists in my booth at odd times. I now own this theatre and have tried to teach my wife. More power to ’em! FRANK D. FOWLER, Owner Princess Theatre EDITOR'S NOTE: If you ever suc¬ ceed in teaching Mrs. Fowler, send us an action picture. From GEORGETOWN, KY. Just as it is now MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR is a wonderful trade magazine. M. W. WALKER, Manager Glenn Theatre From BINGHAMTON, N. Y. Looking back over my 10 year file of MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR, I find an issue in which you forecast that the advent of TV would close a majority of small town theatres. How right you were! Here in Binghamton, in 1950, there were 14 theatres operating on daily schedules. Busi¬ ness was booming and even the balconies were jammed. These were the good old days. Now, in I960, we have only seven theatres remaining. Will it be strictly a first-run busi¬ ness from now on? And what will happen when the post1948 films are sold to TV? It doesn’t look so good, does it? MICHAEL SABAL Cameo Theatre EDITOR'S NOTE: Seven roofed thea¬ tres were lost, but haven’t a number of HONESTLY ... The GREATEST Film in San Francisco! $ More Spectacular than "BEN HUR", ., —{SEE . . , 20-Man Army of Grand Fenwick defeat the United States . , . £ More Provocative than “ON THE BEACH”. . . — {SEE ... the fea/some ' Q-Bomb" on the loose) ... (b More Suspenseful sea adventure than "THE WRECK OF THE MARY DEARE”, . . —•{SEE Grand Fenwick’s official Ivq-baaf attack the Queen Mary) . . . # And Mare tauqhs than ’’OPERATION PETTiCOAT'* Honestly, We’re Kidding, On the Square, But Judge for Yourself , . ^ H7 H7 wpj »p i gmsss ^"THE MOOSE THAT i a ROARED" Stssws: i-M. 8:18, ?:45 i’m; re Sscfsmsrto & Pf*ji«iio SAyview i. Si SM f.S. Am# SEEING "MOUSE" — Attend ”#*« Her" at Caranet; "O# Seech" at United Artist*; "Wreck of Mery Dear*" at Uew*» Warfield, osd "©peratiea Pottieeat" at Gold** Gat*. >0 k ' We are grateful to Subscriber Funderbuck of Newark, Cal., for the attached ad that ran recently in the San Francisco papers. Joshing competitors with a cross-plugging pat of friend¬ liness must prove amusing to potential patrons and must build good will all around. Maybe "THE MOUSE" can teach us all not to take ourselves too seriously. new drive-ins been added to the close suburbs? We wouldn’t give up yet, if we tvere you. A well maintained, clean, and comfortable theatre, that serves its pa¬ trons in a friendly intimate way, has a good chance of survival. We don’t think the post-1948 pirns will be dumped on the market with quite the panic of the pre-1948 ones. From NEW YORK, N. Y. The following General Letter has been directed to all managers: In the interest of contributing to company public relations, and also to afford the op¬ portunity of winning a MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR AWARD of $25 for the Best Concession Promotion of each month, the at¬ tached is being brought to your attention. During the coming year, let’s make every contribution we can to maintain and to im¬ prove the company’s industry relations. This policy really pays off. GERALD SHEA Jamestown Amusement Co., Inc. EDITOR'S NOTE: The General Letter ivas accompanied by a tearsheet of page 36 of the Dec. 16, 1959, issue of the PHYSICAL THEATRE— EXTRA PROF¬ ITS Department of MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR. This is the kind of alert circuit operation that brings success. From NEW YORK, N. Y. I have read the editorial "PERFORM¬ ANCE . . . WITH A CAPITAL P” in the Jan. 27 issue. Let me express not only my personal appreciation, but also the appre¬ ciation and thanks of the company as well, for the fine things you have said. All of us at Universal fully realize the plan¬ ning and the hard work that has been put forth by Mr. Rackmil, and it is nice for you as a trade magazine, especially since your pub¬ lisher is also an exhibitor, to recognize what has been accomplished. H. H. Martin Universal Film Exchanges, Inc. EDITOR'S NOTE: As we have said in this editorial, performance is still the acid test of sincerity. From HUDSON, MICH. In order to increase the audience appeal of our theatre we are developing a THEATRE QUIZ program with the cooperation of the film companies. We must compile a large list of Quiz Questions and Answers. The best questions would be about old movie favorites, movie systems, personnel, etc. We would appreciate it of you could have an "Old Timer” on your staff make up and send us a list of questions and answers such as: 1. What was the first talking picture? 2. What was the first Cinemascope picture? 3. What was the longest picture ever made? 4. Who played the male lead (some im¬ portant show)? This promises to be a good promotional idea that will be of aid to all theatres, and should therefore merit your support. Our prizes will range from $5.00 to $1000.00, with free Flor¬ ida trips, etc. A. C. SCHMIDT, Manager DeLuxe Hudson Theatre EDITOR'S NOTE: Our " Old TirneP’ will send his list. Any other " Old Tim¬ ers” who want to submit their pet ques¬ tions tvill have them printed with credit on this LETTERS page before forward¬ ing to Mr. Schmidt.