Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1929)

48 Motion Picture News November 9, 1929 MANAGE I?*' ROUND TABLE CLUB The Meeting Place Of The Show-World That's what we will have to call Club headquarters before long . . . all the boys, regardless of where they hail from, alirays make it a point to stop in and say hello . . . besides talking shop in general . . . and do we like it? . . . ive'll say ice do . . . there was Al Gillis of Meriden and Waterbury . . . Mr. & Mrs. Hoicard Waugh of the same towns . . . and what a small world . . . seems like we all knotc the same croicd . . . Even Rittenberg . . . or shoidd ire say "Rit" . . . honored us ivith a "howdy" . . . O. B. Odium ... a regular if ever there was one . . . Larry Jacobs. I'll tell him what I think of him in Pittsburgh on the 19th . . . Moloney and Fleisher from up Boston way . . . two of Eddie Anson's oicn boys . . . and many others ichose names we just can't recall at this rambling-fest . . . but all wel* come . . . and hoiv . . . and the more the merrier . . . ITS A PLEASURE. . . . "CHICK" British Member N. G. Farmer, Is Up-To-the-minute A real example of showmanship comes to us from London, England, from our very interested member, N. G. Farmer, who is managing director of Coliseum Thea^ ^ — """" ~ ~ tre, Manor Park, London. Like every other good showman, regardless of where he is located, he has certain set rules by which he trains his staff and his primary consideration is to make his patrons feel at home and comfortable. As a matter of fact, his patrons have frequently commented upon the "eager to please" method employed by Air. Farmer's staff and that in itself is sufficient proof that he has succeeded in the task he set out to accomplish when he trained the employees of that house. Charles J. Brennan says: "Now I am going to crash by enclosing my application for membership in the MANAGERS' ROUND TABLE CLUB, something I have been going to do for many moons. In my estimation, it is invaluable, to the industry, especially so in these days of highpowered exploitation." Managing Director, Rialto Theatre, Newark, N. J. Many of us are apt to get the idea that all proper theatre management begins, and perhaps ends, here in these United States, but if you have that mistaken idea, take a tip and get it out of your head, because we have come across some fine showmanship from theatres far removed from this country, and with some suggestions that we would all do well to take advantage of and follow. A suggestion that Mr. Farmer has successfully worked recently, was to use his non-sync, apparatus for a "Hidden Singer" stunt whereby they secured a phonograph record of some well known composition, and sung by some well known singer, and synchronizing it with an orchestration so that his orchestra played right along with the singer. In this way, after a few rehearsals, they had perfected an idea that gets everyone in the audience interested and has resulted in much fine comment. Such numbers as "The Desert Song," "The Vagabond King," "Indian Love Lyric," etc., were all worked with success by Mr. Farmer, and can be duplicated right here in any theatre that has a non-synchronous equipment. In the line of exploitation, "N. G." does not have to take a back seat for anybody, because we have before us the details of an unusually fine stunt which he engineered and executed in conjunction with "The Lost Patrol." The idea was to broadcast a poster similar to the kind used in that country for like purposes and with 7-inch block letters across the top reading "Lost." The balance of the poster contained information about a certain patrol that had disappeared, and listed all the ten men who were missing. He kept this teaser apart from his regular theatre advertising until a week before the play date when he added a narrow strip in red stating that the picture would be shown at the Coliseum and also the date. He reports that the number of people who stopped to read these posters was surprising, and he was so sold on the idea, that the next picture that presents this type of exploitation will be tied in with it once more. In conjunction with the same picture he worked a tableaux consisting of an automobile truck with a desert setting and. a man dressed in a soldier's uniform standing on guard in this desert setting. His business as a result of these stunts was as good as any week during the best part of the season. Thank you, Mr. Farmer, and let's hear from you again very soon. Sid Finkelstein Shows Real Club Spirit For M.R.T.G. Sid Finkelstein the progressive little manager of the Oasis Theatre in Ridgewood, N. Y., comes forward and shows his fine CLUB spirit by proposing for mem"-— ■" " "" "^™^— "™ """" "" ~~^— bership the following brother managers on his circuit: JAMES THOM, Ritz Theatre, Port Richmond, S. I. JAMES TAYLOR, Liberty Theatre, Stapleton, S. I. GUS GREENWALDT, Capitol Theatre, West Brighton, S. I. JOE BERGEN, Park Theatre, Stapleton, S. I. WILLIE MARR, Strand Theatre, Great Kills, S. I. BILL MORRIS, Stadium Theatre, Tottenville, S. I. We want to take this means of thanking Sid for this fine piece of work, and we are certain that both we and the heads of his circuit are taking notice of his fine activities as a member and a showman. Let's hear from you again, Sid, and try to send us one of your photographs with your next letter.