Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1946)

tiAn international association of showmen meeting weekly in MOTION PICTURE HERALD for mutual aid and progress CHESTER FRIEDMAN. Editor QP June Symphony June 30 is the deadline for entries in the Second Quarter of the 1946 Quigley Showmanship Competitions. Coming into the home stretch, it is gratifying to report that the number of showmen who have entered campaigns during this period will show another amazing increase, with four weeks more remaining during which entries may be submitted. There is an encouraging note, also, in the number of campaigns which have come in from England, Australia, New Zealand, India, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Cuba, Mexico, China and Venezuela. Entries from Canada and the United States have increased both in quantity and quality of showmanship. AAA The month of June offers theatre managers unusual opportunities for tie-ups and promotions which will reflect in further submissions. Already there are indications that promotions have been initiated' tying in with June brides. Father's Day and school graduation, all of which in some measure will help to create goodwill and maintain prominence for the theatre. This year, the National Father's Day Committee has dedicated June 12 to "hlonoring the American Veteran". There is additional incentive, therefore, for every theatreman to activate himself in some manner on the occasion. The fathers of America, many of whom are veterans themselves, will undoubtedly support any effort to focus attention on veterans' problems. Stage ceremonies with the assistance of veterans' organizations, prominent guests and merchantsolicited gifts to some of the outstanding fathers in the community might be one approach. There are countless other devices which might serve a useful purpose both in promoting goodwill and the theatre box office. June brides offer a natural tie-up where theatremen elect to extend congratulations and to invite the newlyweds to be guests on some future evening. Some theatremen undoubtedly will engage more extensively. One has already arranged with a photographer to take wedding photographs which are to be displayed in the theatre lobby. Patrons will select the finest looking couple to receive the many gifts which have been donated by cooperative businessmen. Other managers, it is assumed, will be busy arranging for an evening's entertainment for the happy couples, including transportation, dinner, a round of the city's high points of interest and, of course, a visit to see the current film offering. Graduation, the other big June event, is again a perfect opportunity to promote goodwill. Aside from the fact that jewelers, photographers and utility merchants are generally anxious and willing to tie up, theatres frequently replace the school auditorium for commencement exercises. Entrants for honors in the Quigley Competitions may submit promotions of this nature to the attention of the Awards Committee. Let's hear from you! AAA Farewell Party At the recent Variety Clubs Convention, we met James O. Cherry, Interstate Theatres supervisor, for whom we worked back in 1929. It recalled our last meeting at the Union Station in hlouston, with a sendoff committee on hand composed of Mr. Cherry, the late Ed. Collins, Barry Burke and Emil Bernstecker, managing director of the Metropolitan theatre in Houston, our immediate boss. There were others there to see us off for Des Moines where we were to take up a new assignment. We recollect how pleased we were at the number of friends we had made during our short stay in hlouston. Two weeks earlier we had been informed that New York executives, including Milton Feld, would arrive to inspect the theatre. There followed a week of frenzied activity getting the house prepared, working nights with the cleaning crew until the fatal day arrived. Completing a twenty-four-hour stretch in which we had gone without sleep, an hour before opening we changed from overalls to a business suit. Having left our coat in the main floor check-room, we gathered up the tickets, change fund and reports and prepared to open house, intending to pick up the coat en route. We were just descending the stairs, minus coat, when Mr. Feld and the others entered the foyer. Suddenly we remember that our innocent breach of etiquette was responsible for the sudden transfer. As we recall it now, the going away committee was probably on hand to see that we didn't miss that train. —CHESTER FRIEDMAN MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JUNE I. 1946 41