Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1945)

zAn international association of showmen meeting weekly in MOTION PICTURE HERALD for mutual aid and progress CHESTER FRIEDMAN, Editor GERTRUDE MERRIAM, Associate Editor QP Sword of Damocles Howard Elliot, manager of the Palace theatre, Verdun, in Quebec, was recently found guilty of violating a provincial statute which forbids managers and owners of theatres to admit children under 16 years of age. The theatre license has been revoked and action instituted by the Quebec legislature to make penalties for violators even more severe than they are at present. Attendance by children in the province was made illegal some years ago following a fire in which many children perished. In answer to the charges made against him, Mr. Howard did not deny the violation, but said: "The children are being penalized for an incident for which they were not responsible." There have been repeated warnings against overcrowding theatres during the past two years, with special emphasis on the consequences following any fire or accident causing injury to members of the audience. There is an obvious moral. It is not the children of Quebec alone who are being penalized. Every exhibitor in that province is being penalized through the loss of children's patronage — "for an incident for which they, too, were not responsible". A A A Promoting Goodwill The upstate theatres in New York certainly went all-out to promote better relations with the churches during Easter, at the same time creating goodwill among the general public. In Albany, through C. J. Latta, Warner theatres zone manager, the use of the Strand, Madison and Delaware theatres was made available for free showings of "King of Kings" on three days during Holy Week. Performances were held in the morning and afternoon under the joint sponsorship of the New York State Council of Churches and the Albany Federation of Churches. The circuit also turned over the Avon theatre in Utica for the same purpose, an annual custom which has won the commendation of the state and local clergy. In Oneonta, the Schine circuit turned over its house, and in Cooperstown the Smalley theatre was donated for special screenings of "King of Kings". The Fabian theatres in Schenectady likewise cooperated through a tieup with the Protestant Council of Churches, Masonic orders and the Knights Templars. Through the efforts of Guy Graves, manager of the Proctor theatre, and Louis Rapp, manager of the circuit's Plaza theatre, special services were conducted at both houses throughout Holy Week from 11:45 to 12:45 daily. On Easter Sunday a procession, headed by the Knights Templars in uniform, made its way through the downtown section to the Plaza. AAA Good Service— Good Results Ralph G. Tiede, manager of the Community theatre, Welland, Ontario, Canada, has forwarded newspaper tearsheets on his recent theatre anniversary advertising campaign. As is the case with a majority of theatremen who are lacking the services of an artist, Mr. Tiede availed himself of the free art service catalogue of his local newspaper for illustrations and cuts. His selection of art and the skill he employed in creating ads which were professional both in appearance and appeal to the readers' eyes indicate that Mr. Tiede makes frequent use of this service and is thoroughly familiar with the excellent results obtainable through its application. AAA Silence Requested Charles Pincus, manager of the Paramount Utah theatre in Salt Lake City, reports that a recent wave of restlessness and noisy demeanor on the part of audiences has been effectively curbed through consistent use of trailers. A different trailer was used every week for a two-months period. The public responded with enthusiastic approval. Letters of commendation, addressed both to the theatre and the general manager of the circuit, in addition to scores of telephone calls, were received. AAA The Employees Suggestion Contest, readopted some months ago by the Famous Players Canadian theatres, is still bearing dividends for the circuit. The current issue of the organization's house organ, "What's New?", lists 15 employees who were awarded cash for ideas and suggestions which were accepted during a two-months period. Included in the winners' list are the names of six women, indicating that the men have no corner on the market of usable ideas. —CHESTER FRIEDMAN MOTION PICTURE HERALD, APRIL 14, 1945 4!