Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1929)

October 5 I 9 3 9 1269 MANAGERS' ROUND TABLE CLUB Charles E. Lewis Qhailman and £c/itat. '" 3 Of cModioriat C/i}fociatwn. cfcfkotPmesi <zAJeeting ir> MOTION PICTURE NEWS (j)&uf QVeeA ~-fot c\(utual Sene/lit and l/hoaijeff^ Conducted ByAnExhibitor For Exhibitors "Don't Give Up The Ship" IT must be stated in all truth that the house manager of today is passing through some pretty tough times when one stops long enough to consider what some of the buys must go through. From "nowhere" there are springing into existence all kinds of '"bosses" in the guise of supervisors, district managers, division managers and what not. All in addition to the regular quota of stockholders, general managers and other Mich, apparently, necessary adjuncts to our most gracious show business. But I would like to pass a word or two along to the boys in general to keep their shirts on, as the saying goes, because while some of these "bosses" are genuine showmen who mounted the ladder through real ability there are still some others, unfortunately, who "got there" through politics or marrying the "big-shot's" daughter. But regardless of how they got there, they are "there" nevertheless and must be taken into consideration when they start coming "round to the theatres and telling real managers and real showmen how to handle their jobs. Don't, for the love 'a Mike, lose your heads and fly off the handle by having some sort of a run-in with your "superiors." T was rather depressed during the last week or two to learn that Table Of Contents •II Hurrah For The Murphys «J R. S. Roddick Uses A "Fair Week" •I H. C. Roemer Uses Club Columns q G. B. Odium A Well Known Figure •E I L. Morton A Pepp\ Youngster •I Mystery Angle From H. L. Laurence q "All For A Laugh" <l Richard Dorman's Front Ballyhoo •I F. M. Coughlin Enjoyed His Vacation q "Novelty" For Results Says Cohen «I Meet O. B. Prickett q Williams An Executive-Showman q Wally Baker G. M. For Two Houses q "Sound Motion Pictures" •J Non-Sync. Organ Specialty A Success q "Community Spirit" Says Pete Egan q Introducing J. F. Thames •J Mechling Handling Pub. For Brown Chain •I Glass Opens New House Soon q Keep Plugging "Good-Will" Says Lawrence q Stevenson's Ads Are B. Of Magnets q Matt Reilly's Ballyhoos q U. R. Anderson's Activities q "Personalities" q Box Office Angles «I Nolan's "Black Watch" Stunt q Marc Wolf's Novel Displays q E. E. Bair Springs A New One q Prendergast A Proud Member q "Don't Be A Step-Child" q Jack O'Connell Back At Vita-Temple q Ralph Cokain's Tip On "Tin" Ushers q Harry A. Goren Takes Over The Earle q More New Members For M.R.T.C. some mighty good men "walked the plank" because they talked back when the_\ should have remained silent. Not that I would encourage anybody to be a "yes" man. But I would encourage tact. And plenty of it. Things will be getting down to bed-rock before many more moons, and it is far more advisable to stand by the ship and weather these squalls and storms than to be tossed about on the treacherous waves of jumping from job to job. "It's An 111" Wind' That Blows No Good," as the saying goes. Well, perhaps all these mergers, consolidations and what-nots will kick up wind enough to blow some of the real managers into the positions they are entitled to. And perhaps the same wind will blow some of the excess baggage back to their old callings, where they are far better off than monkeying around in this show business, where at their best they are always at their worst. Stick to your guns and try to keep your heads (and your jobs) whenever you are tempted to throw up the sponge and tell one of your bosses to go jump in the river. May I offer a bit of advice? WHILE IT IS HARD TO LIVE WITHIN ONE'S INCOME LET US BE SOOTHED BY THIS COMFORTABLE REFLECTION—IT WOULD BE HARDER TO LIVE WITHOUT IT. C. E. L