Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

* Ham Changed ...HAVE YOU? Sure, you're still selling entertainment, but what else do you offer? Smart exhibitors have profited by letting us freshen-up their theatre seats . . . replacing all worn and broken parts. It costs so little and there's no interruption of your show schedule. Call today for a free estmate. M ay we give you an estimate’ WRITE, WIRE or PHONE ALPINE 5-8459 MANUFACTURERS— roam Rubber A: Spring Cushions, back and seat covers. DISTRIBUTORS— Upholstery fabrics and general seating supplies. theatre seat seruice to. 160 Hermitage Avenue Nashville, Tenn. Ym Guatantee of Consistent Quality and Outstanding Service For Every Theatre Need! NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY 29 Branches Coast to Coast type of assembly involving theatre managers (and it can be modified to meet other occasions). In such a conference, you as the chairman, are expected to lead the discussions, “keeping the ball in motion” at all times, but not to dictate, or in any way force your own opinions on the group. As a matter or fact, it will be in the best interests of the conference if you restrict your role to that of a moderator and refrain from injecting your own opinions, no matter how strongly you may feel on the subject. By so doing you can maintain a status of relative impartiality and secure better cooperation from the side opposing your own views so long as they are kept quiet. You will, therefore, need to study up on all sides of the coming discussions, trying to learn every facet of the problem and its possible solutions. And in doing this, you will load your program with interesting questions which will stimulate free and open discussion. 'Sou will also want to formulate a simple set of rules governing the conduct of your conference, so that everyone will have an opportunity to be heard, and that no one person or faction will be permitted to monopolize the proceedings. CONDUCTING THE MEETING Having thoroughly planned your agenda and personally inspected the facilities set up for the conference, you should have no trouble on that score. Introductions are always in order at meetings involving any persons who are not in frequent constant contact with one another. Make your own name and position clearly known to all, possibly (if it is a large group) by writing it on the blackboard you have set up for the use of anyone desiring to present some figures. Follow that with a round-thetable introduction of the others. Here a seating plan will be of assistance in the event vou forget someone’s name at the moment. Once the ice is broken, you should outoutline your rules of procedure, putting all on notice that everyone should be heard from, which requires that each should restrict his statement to a reasonable period of time, and to the primary problem at hand. Naturally it is most important that some concrete results be forthcoming from the conference, and this is dependent upon the acceptance by all of the decisions made by the majority. After getting the rules and regulations out of the way, your sole speech making should come in your opening statement defining the problem for discussion. Show your conferees the importance of the problem, the manner in which it af Insist on EPRAD IN-THE-CAR SPEAKERS! • Tops in Sound! • Lowest Maintenance Cost! • Trouble-Free Service! Write for FREE Literature EPRAD 1207 CHERRY ST. • TOLEDO 4. OHIO "The Voice of the Drive-In" Coming Attraction!! THE NEW SUPERIOR PROJECTOR (MMMMMMMMHMMMMMMMT • Curved Anti-Buckle Film Gate • Water Cooler Aperture Support • Adjustable Lens Optical Center For all Apertures • Sealed Ball Bearings • Improved Type Intermittent BLUE SEAL SOUND DEVICES P. O. Box 1008, New Canaan, Conn. YOUR QUESTIONS ARE INVITED. If you have a problem of design or maintenance, the editors of BETTER THEATRES will be glad to offer suggestions. Please be as specific as possible so that questions may be answered most helpfully. Address your letter to BETTER THEATRES SERVICE DEPARTMENT, Rockefeller Center, New York. 16 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 8, 1956