Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1929)

M , 'on P i c t u r e X c ic MANAGE IvJ' KCLND TABLE CLUB "Community Spirit" A Vital Factor Says Pete Egan Herewith we present, with great pleasure, a subject on which Pete Egan, of the Capitol Theatre, Regina, Saskatchewan, addressed the Western Division Managers' Convention at Vancouver just recently. We believe that the keynote of this article is of vital in portance to every real theatre manager and showman A few days ago I drove through two Saskatchewan towns. One was larger than the other it is true. But none the less one would be blind, deaf and dumb, and totally paralyzed not to notice the difference between these two unnamed places. In one there were very few trees — many unpainted houses — few signs of energetic action on the part of the people to make their town attractive. In the other well -planned streets lined with trees, the lawns were green and abundant, the business section was very much alive, and everywhere were many evidences that this town was on the map. What is tire cause of all this? I feel that I am safe in saying that 75 per cent of the explanation lies in this — a proper community spirit. A proper community spirit can transform a vi'lage into a town that is talked about — a town into a city, and it can and does keep a city before the eyes of the public. The lack of it can ruin the best place on earth. Now if this thing we call a proper community spirit is so valuable it would be well for us to consider for a little just what it is. Can you buy this spirit in the market of the world? Are you able to import it from other countries? Can you erect an institution in which this strong spirit may be distilled for public use? This necessary factor in a community's life is neither bought nor sold, for it costs nothing, ^nd yet it is one of the most valuable of all the assets of any p'ace. It is as contagious as measles, and yet the health department of every city lives in hope that it will always be at the epidemic stage. It is given freely by the right-minded people of the place and withheld sometimes as though it cost the world's wealth to give it. The name of its mother is co-operation. Let a city develop the factional spirit — the spirit of distrust and jealousy — the knocking attitude and the false methods of the gang, and that city is really on the fair way to ruin. Now a theatre is one of the institutions of a town or city. We are in the business of exchange just as a bank, or a mercantile establishment, or a firm of brokers is in business. We are selling entertainment on the same basis as a merchant sells shoes — cost plus a reasonable margin of profit. There are elements which enter into our work which are different and which are unique, but the bedrock principle is the same. Hence a theatre will suffer from the lack of community spirit on the same proportion as all business will suffer, and likewise it will benefit from a proper community spirit. I mean by that, simply, that in a place where this spirit is properly developed there will be a wholesome enthusiasm for our programmes. There will be more than that. Where there is a proper community spirit patrons of the theatre will give the management the advantage of constructive criticism. Where this spirit is lacking the criticism will be made to the detriment of the theatre. Frank F. Mickley, says : "/ want to say that I aw getting a lot of good points out of the CLUB and have used sonic things in it to very good advantage. In fact I turn to the CLUB news first when I receive the NEWS each week. If I can ever be of any assistance to any of the boys, please call upon me. Cameo Theatre, Allcntown, Pa. The question may well be asked. What can a theatre do to help develop a proper community spirit? The answer i* surely not difficult to find. In the first place the theatre management must show itself willing to cooperate in every worthwhile community undertaking. If a convention is meeting in the city or town, then let the theatre lead the way in special decorations for the occasion, and in the putting out of welcome placards. Again, when a community project is on the theatre can help greatly by extending the courtesy of five minute's time to a selected speaker on the enterprise (by this I mean matters like the Red Cross, etc.) Just here, of course, care must be exercised in case some one may take advantage of this to occupy more time than the patrons will stand for. However, I believe, used with discrimination this bit or service to the community invariably tends to make friends for the theatre. In connection with the occasional free entertainment — there are some things which we can do which will help to develop a proper community spirit. In most cities there is a crippled kiddies' hospital. Several of the little people are always at a stage in their treatment where they can be brought to a show, and any service club in the city or town is always willing to provide transportation to and from the theatre. After all the problem of community life is one of the basic problems of all life. The problem is that of learning to live together. The liquid air professor told us the other day in Regina that even molecules get together when the temperature goes down. So in the presence of all the pressing needs of life with prejudice towards none we need to learn to gel! together. And the true basis of this is friendship that overlaps all barriers of race, creed, politics and natural prejudice. Then we are told that lie who would have friends must show himself friendly. If a theatre shows itself friendly it will certainly have friends, too. And our business, like every other business, needs to live in the midst of such a spirit. J. F. Thames Another Go-Getting Young Showman And now we present to our members, J. F. Thames, Jr., Manager of the Istrione Theatre, Jackson, Miss. Mr. Thames is another one of our typical aggressive, young showmen, and from all appearances, (not only of his picture, but of the material which he is continually engineering), we believe that he will make his mark in the show business. Among his other accomplishments is the ability of doing art poster work, and we are delighted to be able to show some of the things that he has done along these lines. Since he must do this work only in his spare time, it naturally lacks a whole lot of the fine points which would come to a man who could do it more in quently. However, what we show you here is even far superior t.i many of the art posters turned "lit by the so-called professionals in this line. Thank you J. F. and let's hear from you early and often.