Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1932)

December 17, 1932 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 53 MANAGERS* ROUND TABLE CLUR zAn international association of showmen meeting weekly in MOTION PICTURE HERALD for mutual aid and progress CHARL! f CHICK ") LEWIS, cbttirman and editor REFLECTIONS OF A WINTER MORNING SOME OF THE INDUSTRY'S non-essentials: Exchange managers who try high-pressure tactics while all the time "Ye Dumb Exhib" is laughing up his sleeve. Accessory plugger who tries to sell a five-'n-ten shootin' gallery enough stuff to plaster the town; then finally ends up by settling for a set of II by I4's. Theatre executives who write too many "pep" letters that have a most depressing effect on the receivers. And — theatre executives who like to write columns. Some of them, by the way (so I'm told), would make far better columnists than execs. But, maybe I'm wrong. Bookers who can only find that extra print when a box of candy or cigars are forthcoming. Otherwise — not a ghost of a chance. Managers who still make callers wait fifteen minutes to a half hour because they think it makes 'em (the managers) important. Assistants who know how to do everything but assist, and at the psychological moment are never to be found where they should be. Bookers who refuse to recognize and value the local manager's point of view regarding bookings. Booking, like house management, is best handled by the man in each town and not by an overlord hundreds of miles away. The manager who strolls into his theatre ten minutes before show time and leaves ten minutes before the last break. He's the bird who is always telling others how to manage a theatre. The showman who never has a moment to spare but can generally be found gossiping over the 'phone and telling confidential things to the opposition manager. (This one ought to be shot at sunrise.) V V V -THINGS I'D LIKE to be doing right now: I Getting the car ready for that Florida trip where I'm sure to meet all those northern theatre execs who always find important work to be done down south after the first of the year. Playing a round of golluf with Al Cuici on the FloridaBiltmore course where I once had hopes and ambitions of trouncing Sonny Shepherd, but settled for a dime-ahole round on the Municipal course out at Miami Beach. Playing the doggies and horsies. Especially at the gorgeous Hialeah Park where the Royal Palms make you dream of fairyland and faraway places. Playing Santa Claus to a flock of loyal guys who are helping to keep those shootin1 galleries open. But it looks like that Santa costume will have to stay in mothballs for another year. Strolling down Hollywood Boulevard after dark ... Or taking a dip in the ocean of Southern California's marvelous beaches . . . Visiting Eddie Eckles at the RKO studios . . . Listening to Pete Smith out on the MGM lot talk about those MGM stars . . . Talking shop with Frank Whitbeck as of yore while hearing the choicest assortment of profanity ever uttered. Or — perhaps — getting into Nashie and starting on a country-wide tour just to see whether those many Round Tablers look as good as I've often pictured them. . . . and you'd be surprised how accurately we can picture a man from his correspondence and type of showmanship. V V V NO THEATRE LOCATED within a reasonable distance of children institutions should overlook those unfortunate kiddies who are inmates of such places. For the mighty small cost involved — generally just the electric juice — you can gather as many of them into your theatre as it will hold and give them one of those shows on Christmas morning that will remain stamped indelibly in their minds as one of the bright spots in their otherwise drab existence. Local bus or traction companies and private individuals will gladly leave the family fireside to bring these youngsters to the theatre. Local merchants will, regardless of good or bad business conditions, support the idea with enough candy and other goodies to help the plan along. The local newspaper will unquestionably get behind the idea and support it with front page publicity; and there are no limits to the good such a performance can do for your theatre, while at the same time you can feel that you have sponsored a worthwhile idea. "CHICK"