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SHOWMANSHIP CAN LICK THE PRODUCT SHORTAGE, ROSEN TELLS QUIGLEY A WARD PANEL
■ HE winners of the 21st annual Quigley Grand Awards for Showmanship ■JL were selected this week by a panel of 56 top executives of circuit and distribution advertising and publicity departments. The three showmen honored this year are:
W. T. HASTINGS, manager of the Orpheum theatre, Denver, Colo., winner of the Grand Award for large situations.
WILLIAM WYATT, manager of the Virginian theatre. Charleston, West Virginia, winner of the Grand Award for smaller situations.
DAVID B. WILLIAMS, manager of the Gaumont theatre, Preston, England, winner of the Overseas Award.
Enthusiastic confidence that showma nship will solve the problems confronting exhibition today “in an era of product shortage” was expressed by Samuel Rosen, executive vice-president of Stanley Warner, who spoke at the luncheon which followed the judging at Toots Shor’s restaurant in New York.
Mr. Rosen also gave high praise to the Quigley Awards not only as a factor “contributing to the morale of theatre managers everywhere” but also as of “box office value to the industry.”
"Xo matter how well known the story, the stars, the title, or the director, no picture becomes a success all by itself,” the speaker reminded his audience of showmen. “Xo matter how far a picture could go under its own power, it needs the labor of 'bowmen to reach its utmost box office value.
"Today, more than ever, in this critical era of our industry such showmanship is essential to survival. In addition to the product shortage which harasses every exhibitor in the United States, we face widespread entertainment competition from outside the industry and now even our own suppliers have begun to feed this powerful television competition with product.
"And yet,” he added, "looking back at the roadblocks and rugged terrain we have successfully overcome in the past, and looking forward to the developments ahead, I face the future with confidence. I believe in our ability to surmount all obstacles and maintain motion picture theatre exhibition as a great, progressive and dynamic industry.”
Mr. Rosen cited the apprehension with which exhibitors viewed the swift expansion of radio in the 1920s, recalling that its competitive strength was overcome by the introduction of sound pictures and the opening of more luxurious theatres.
“But we can't conquer these new threats or meet today’s competition with a cryingtowel,” he warned. “We have to fight for business and the good fight, the resourceful (Continued on page 16)
LISTENERS. Other dais guests, John O'Connor, David Lipton and Charles Reagan.
THE CHIEF SPEAKER, Samuel Rosen. On the dais with him, Paul Lazarus, Jr., Walter Branson, Martin Quigley, Jerome Pickman.
W. T. HASTINGS
WILLIAM WYATT
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MOTION PICTURE HERALD, MAY 7, 1955